Two teams clinch division titles today. The Athletics secure their second straight AL West crown with an 11 – 7 win over the Twins as Coco Crisp hits a three-run homer and Jed Lowrie and Daric Barton add solo shots, negating a homer and 6 RBIs by Twins rookie Oswaldo Arcia. In the NL East, Atlanta wins its first title since 2005 as its closest pursuers, the Nationals, lose, 4 – 2, to the Marlins. The Braves then defeat the Cubs, 5 – 2, as they now set their eyes on finishing the year with the best record in the National League.

Two teams clinch division titles today. The Athletics secure their second straight AL West crown with an 11 – 7 win over the Twins as Coco Crisp hits a three-run homer and Jed Lowrie and Daric Barton add solo shots, negating a homer and 6 RBIs by Twins rookie Oswaldo Arcia. In the NL East, Atlanta wins its first title since 2005 as its closest pursuers, the Nationals, lose, 4 – 2, to the Marlins. The Braves then defeat the Cubs, 5 – 2, as they now set their eyes on finishing the year with the best record in the National League.

With most of the interest now focused on the wild card races, the Indians compete a four-game sweep of the Astros with a 9 – 2 win to hold on to one of the two spots available in the American League. The Indians become the first team since the 1961 Yankees to record six four-game sweeps in one season.

With most of the interest now focused on the wild card races, the Indians compete a four-game sweep of the Astros with a 9 – 2 win to hold on to one of the two spots available in the American League. The Indians become the first team since the 1961 Yankees to record six four-game sweeps in one season.

With their sixth straight win, 8 – 4 over the Padres, the Giants clinch the NL West title. They have won 18 of their last 24 games to turn what was a close race with the Dodgers into a blowout. Madison Bumgarner picks up his 16th win.

With their sixth straight win, 8 – 4 over the Padres, the Giants clinch the NL West title. They have won 18 of their last 24 games to turn what was a close race with the Dodgers into a blowout. Madison Bumgarner picks up his 16th win.

The Yankees and Orioles both win in extra innings as they remain separated by one game in their epic race for the AL East crown. New York trails Oakland, 9 – 5, going into the bottom of the 13th after three A’s homers, but the Yankees manage to tie the game and win, 10 – 9, on a 14th-inning run. For its part, Baltimore scores three times in the 13th to beat Boston, 9 – 6, for the team’s 16th consecutive extra-innings win.

The Yankees and Orioles both win in extra innings as they remain separated by one game in their epic race for the AL East crown. New York trails Oakland, 9 – 5, going into the bottom of the 13th after three A’s homers, but the Yankees manage to tie the game and win, 10 – 9, on a 14th-inning run. For its part, Baltimore scores three times in the 13th to beat Boston, 9 – 6, for the team’s 16th consecutive extra-innings win.

Gio Gonzalez becomes the second pitcher in franchise history to win 20 games in a season when Washington beats Milwaukee at Nationals Park, 10-4. The 27 year-old southpaw joins Ross Grimsley, who accomplished the feat in 1978 when the club played in Montreal as the Expos.

Gio Gonzalez becomes the second pitcher in franchise history to win 20 games in a season when Washington beats Milwaukee at Nationals Park, 10-4. The 27 year-old southpaw joins Ross Grimsley, who accomplished the feat in 1978 when the club played in Montreal as the Expos.

The Cardinals blow a 6 – 2 9th-inning lead in losing to the Mets, 8 – 6. SS Rafael Furcal misplays a potential double play grounder to start New York’s six-run outburst. Jason Motte walks three batters – who all score – and Marc Rzepczynski is charged with the loss. The loss is only St. Louis’s third over their last 16 games and they are 2 games back of Atlanta in the National League wild card race.

The Cardinals blow a 6 – 2 9th-inning lead in losing to the Mets, 8 – 6. SS Rafael Furcal misplays a potential double play grounder to start New York’s six-run outburst. Jason Motte walks three batters – who all score – and Marc Rzepczynski is charged with the loss. The loss is only St. Louis’s third over their last 16 games and they are 2 games back of Atlanta in the National League wild card race.

Thanks to Shane Victorino’s million-dollar pledge, the renovated 105 year-old Nicetown Boys & Girls Club celebrates its grand opening. The inner-city facility, now named after the Phillies’ All-Star center fielder, is only the second club in the country to bear the name of a major leaguer, with the ‘Flying Hawaiian’ sharing the distinction with Willie Mays.

Thanks to Shane Victorino’s million-dollar pledge, the renovated 105 year-old Nicetown Boys & Girls Club celebrates its grand opening. The inner-city facility, now named after the Phillies’ All-Star center fielder, is only the second club in the country to bear the name of a major leaguer, with the ‘Flying Hawaiian’ sharing the distinction with Willie Mays.

Leo Nunez is placed on the restricted list by the Marlins without the club listing a reason, but the Associated Press has reported that the Florida closer, whose real name is Juan Oviedo, needs to return to the Dominican Republic to deal with legal issues pertaining to the use of fake identification documents. The 29 year-old right-handed reliever used his childhood friend’s identity to receive a more lucrative deal due to being believed only to be 16 years of age instead of 17 when signing his first major league contract.

Leo Nunez is placed on the restricted list by the Marlins without the club listing a reason, but the Associated Press has reported that the Florida closer, whose real name is Juan Oviedo, needs to return to the Dominican Republic to deal with legal issues pertaining to the use of fake identification documents. The 29 year-old right-handed reliever used his childhood friend’s identity to receive a more lucrative deal due to being believed only to be 16 years of age instead of 17 when signing his first major league contract.

Matt Moore strikes out 11 in 5 innings in his first major league start as the Rays beat the Yankees, 15 – 8. The wins prevents a four-game sweep and moves the Rays back within two games of Boston in the wild card race. Having clinched the AL East title the previous day, the Yankees use a line-up full of youngsters and trail 13 – 0 after 5 innings as Moore earns his first major league win.

Matt Moore strikes out 11 in 5 innings in his first major league start as the Rays beat the Yankees, 15 – 8. The wins prevents a four-game sweep and moves the Rays back within two games of Boston in the wild card race. Having clinched the AL East title the previous day, the Yankees use a line-up full of youngsters and trail 13 – 0 after 5 innings as Moore earns his first major league win.

The Diamondbacks hire Kevin Towers as the team’s general manager, bypassing the interim GM Jerry Dipoto, a highly-regarded administrator within the organization and throughout baseball for the job he did replacing Josh Byrnes. During Towers’ 14-year tenure in the same position with the Padres, San Diego won four division titles and played in the 1998 World Series against New York.

The Diamondbacks hire Kevin Towers as the team’s general manager, bypassing the interim GM Jerry Dipoto, a highly-regarded administrator within the organization and throughout baseball for the job he did replacing Josh Byrnes. During Towers’ 14-year tenure in the same position with the Padres, San Diego won four division titles and played in the 1998 World Series against New York.