October 2

The Rockies defeat the Cubs, 2 – 1, in 13 innings in the Wild Card Game. After scoring off Jon Lester in the 1st, the Rockies’ bats go quiet, while the Cubs tie it with two outs in the 8th when Javier Baez doubles off Adam Ottavino, scoring pinch-runner Terrance Gore. However, the Cubs, whose bat have gone stone cold of late, waste a number of other chances. Tony Wolters, the Rockies’ third catcher of the game, drives in Trevor Story with a two-out single off Kyle Hendricks in the 13th for the go-ahead run, and Scott Oberg preserves the win as Colorado will continue its travels, moving to Milwaukee, WI for Game 1 of the NLDS, its fourth city in four games.

Unbeknownst at the time, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will become the last player to be issued a four-pitch intentional walk when he gets a free pass in the top of the eighth inning off Nationals relief pitcher Reynaldo Lopez in Miami’s 10-7 loss in Washington. In an effort to speed up the game, the implementation of the strategic base-on-balls will become automatic next season, making it unnecessary to throw four balls out of the strike zone to walk a batter.

There are still three postseason slots to be attributed when all 15 games start simultaneously at 3:00 pm ET on the final day of the major league season. The Orioles are the first to clinch a wild card spot, defeating the Yankees, 5 – 2, behind a pair of homers by Matt Wieters. Next, the Giants defeat the Dodgers, 7 – 1, in the last game behind the mike for legendary broadcaster Vin Scully and they clinch the second NL wild card slot. The Tigers are then eliminated when they lose, 1 – 0, to the Braves. Finally, the Blue Jays hang on for a 2 – 1 win over the Red Sox that makes them the host the Wild Card Game while the Red Sox lose home field advantage to the Indians in the Division Series. Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez takes a no-hitter into the 7th in winning his 15th of the year and claims the AL ERA title in the process.

White Sox starter Chris Sale whiffs James McCann on a called strike for his 270th strikeout of the season, breaking the franchise single-season mark established in 1908 by Ed Walsh. The Chicago right-hander finishes his seven-inning of work in the team’s 2-1 victory over Detroit at U.S. Cellular Field with seven strikeouts to extend the record to 274.

The Orioles take Game 1 of their ALDS, 12 – 3, over the Tigers. The game is close until the O’s score 8 times in the bottom of the 8th to run away with the score, but before that, Nelson Cruz opens the score with a two-run homer off Max Scherzer in the bottom of the 1st, and J.J. Hardy hits a solo shot off Scherzer in the 7th to make it 4 – 2. Chris Tillman is the winner.

The Royals win again in extra innings, defeating the Angels, 3 – 2, on Mike Moustakas’ homer off Fernando Salas in the top of the 11th in Game 1 of the other ALDS. Both Angels runs come off homers against Kansas City starter Jason Vargas, one by Chris Iannetta in the 3rd and the other by David Freese in the 5th. Danny Duffy, the Royals’ seventh pitcher, is the winner, while Greg Holland gets the save.

2013 – The Rays shut out the Indians, 4 – 0, in the American League Wild Card Game, behind the pitching of Alex Cobb, a solo homer by Delmon Young and a two-run double by Desmond Jennings.

On the penultimate day of the regular season, the Yankees maintain their one-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East when Raul Ibanez homers off Boston’s Andrew Miller in the bottom of the 12th inning to give New York a 4 – 3 win. Earlier, the Orioles had defeated the Rays, 1 – 0, when Chris Davis homered for the sixth straight game, tying a club record, with a solo shot off James Shields in the 4th inning. Shields sets a Tampa Bay franchise record by striking out 15 opponents in the loss.