2018 – The Rockies win their 8th consecutive game, 5 -2 over the Nationals, to clinch a postseason slot for the second straight year. David Dahl homers for a fifth game in a row in support of Kyle Freeland’s pitching.
2017 – Giancarlo Stanton hits two homers in a 7 – 1 Marlins win over the Braves, to reach the total of 59 for the season with three games left to play. He is now within sight of Roger Maris’s total of 61 in 1961 which many observers consider as the “true” major league record, given that those who have eclipsed it have all been tainted by allegations of steroids use.
2016 – John Jaso becomes the first player to hit for the cycle in the history of PNC Park when he pulls off the rare feat in an 8 – 4 Pirates win over the Cubs. The last Pirates player to amass a cycle had been Daryle Ward, in 2004.
The Dodgers are all set to clinch the NL West title for a third straight year, but the Giants delay their party for at least a day as pinch-hitter Alejandro De Aza drives in the winning run with a 12th-inning sacrifice fly. The 3 – 2 loss is the fourth in a row for Los Angeles, which fails to take advantage of the presence of ace Zack Greinke on the mound. The Dodgers’ magic number remains at 2 with 6 games left to play.
Chris Denorfia of the Cubs does something unprecedented when he homers as a pinch-hitter for Fernando Rodney in the bottom of the 11th inning to give his team a 1 – 0 win over the Royals. His blast off Miguel Almonte is the first-ever pinch-hit, walk-off homer in extra innings in a 1-0 game.
The Athletics avoid a monumental collapse, saving their season when Sonny Gray tosses a six-hit shutout to beat the Rangers, 4 – 0, and ensure Oakland’s place as the second wild card team in the American League. The A’s had the best record in the majors at the All-Star break, but end up just one game ahead of Seattle for the final postseason slot in the AL.
For the second straight season, a pitcher tosses a no-hitter on the last day of the regular season. After Henderson Alvarez last year, it’s Jordan Zimmermann’s turn to shine, as the Nationals defeat Miami, 1 – 0. It is the first no-hitter in Nats history, although they recorded four such games when they were the Montréal Expos. Ironically, Alvarez ends up the loser, allowing a solo homer to Ian Desmond in the 2nd for the only run of the game. LF Steven Souza saves the day by making a tremendous catch of a line drive by Christian Yelich to end the game.
The Pirates bang 6 homers, their most since 2007, as they defeat the Reds, 8 – 3, to ensure they will host Cincinnati in the National League Wild Card Game in two days. Neil Walker hits two of the homers, and Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Marlon Byrd all also homer off loser Bronson Arroyo; Andrew Lambo completes the feast with his first major league long ball, off Logan Ondrusek.
The Rangers move the start of their game to 11:05 AM local time to avoid a poor weather forecast and beat the Angels, 7 – 4 for their 6th straight win as they benefit from five Angels errors. Joe Nathan pitches the 9th inning in a driving rainstorm to nail the win; for the Angels, Erick Aybar ties a team record with three doubles. With the Rays’ 7 – 2 loss to the Blue Jays, who get homers from rookies Ryan Goins and Kevin Pillar, Texas is now tied with Tampa Bay for the second American League wild card spot with one game left. The Indians, 5 – 1 winners over the Twins behind Scott Kazmir, now have a one-game lead as they hold on to the first spot.
2B Darwin Barney of the Cubs makes a wild throw to first base after fielding Justin Upton’s ground ball in the 8th inning of the Cubs’ 8 – 3 loss to the Diamondbacks. The miscue ends Barney’s 141-game errorless streak, tying Placido Polanco’s all-time record for a single season, set in 2007.