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| B.J. Upton's three-run homer capped another Red Sox collapse. (AP) |
The Reds became the first team to clinch a postseason spot and the Nationals became the second. On Friday, Cincinnati can be the first team to clinch its division.
Full Thursday scoreboard with box scores and recaps for every game
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Johnny Cueto, Reds: It may have just been against the Cubs, but the Reds have to feel a little bit better about their ace following Thursday's victory in Chicago. Cueto wasn't at his best -- he gave up five hits, walked four (one intentional) and struck out just two in six innings -- but he didn't allow a run and picked up his 18th victory of the season on his fourth try. He'd had an 8.22 ERA in his first three starts of the month. With the win -- and backed by basically the team's Triple-A team -- the Reds clinched a playoff spot.
Adrian Beltre, Rangers: Yu Darvish and Zack Greinke both pitched like aces on Thursday, both throwing eight innings of one-run ball. Darvish allowed just four hits, walked one and struck out nine. Meanwhile, Greinke gave up five hits, no walks and struck out eight. Greinke was relieved by Ernesto Frieri, who allowed a single to Michael Young and a two-run homer to Beltre. It was Beltre's 34th homer of the season. Beltre, who missed Wednesday's game with abdominal discomfort, wasn't initially in the team's lineup, but talked his way in. Ron Washington has to be happy he listened.
Pablo Sandoval, Giants: Sandoval hit homers from each side of the plate as the Giants topped the Rockies and cut their magic number to three. Sandoval ended a 41-game homerless streak on Wednesday and homered from the right side in the first inning on Thursday. He hit another left-handed in the six-run fourth.
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Jeremy Hefner, Mets: The Mets right-hander didn't retire an out in his start against the Phillies, giving up six singles in a row before walking Kevin Frandsen with the bases loaded before being pulled. He gave up seven runs while recording no outs and saw his ERA go from 4.99 to 5.79. The Phillies scored eight in the first and then seven in the ninth off of three different pitchers.
Austin Jackson, Tigers: Detroit had just given up the lead to the A's in the sixth inning on Thursday when it appeared Jackson could stop the bleeding on a liner by Oakland's George Kottaras. Instead, Jackson misplayed the ball, allowing two more runs to score, putting Kottaras on third with a triple.
Andrew Bailey, Red Sox: Boston starter Clay Buchholz bested Tampa Bay ace David Price, throwing seven scoreless innings, but his bullpen couldn't handle the 3-0 lead. Junichi Tazawa allowed a run in the eighth before Andrew Bailey gave up five runs on four hits in 1/3 of an inning. Vicente Padilla came into the tied game with one out and two on before giving up a three-run homer to B.J. Upton.
Carp returns: Once thought lost for the season, Cardinals right-hander Chris Carpenter will make his 2012 debut on Thursday -- just in time for another St. Louis playoff run. Carpenter was 4-0 in the postseason a year ago, but hasn't pitched in a game since Game 7 of the World Series. Two months ago he had surgery to reliever a nerve problem that caused numbness on the right side of his body. Carpenter hopes to make three starts before the end of the regular season. While the minor league season is over and he wasn't able to make a rehab start, he gets to face a minor-league quality team in the Cubs. 2:20 p.m. ET
Last gasps: The Braves' divisional hopes and the Phillies' playoff hopes could both be dealt a deathblow in the three-game series in Philadelphia starting on Thursday. Tommy Hanson (12-8, 4.33 ERA) starts opposite Kyle Kendrick (9-11, 3.95) in the first game of the series. 7:05 p.m. ET
Strikeout record: With three strikeouts against the Blue Jays, the Rays pitching staff will set a record for the most strikeouts by a pitching staff in American League history. After striking out eight Red Sox on Thursday, Rays pitchers have fanned 1,264 batters this season, two short of the record set by the 2001 Yankees. The team is also closing in on the record for the most strikeouts by a team's batters in a season. So far, Tampa Bay has struck out 1,225 times -- 99 fewer than the record set by the 2007 Rays. They may break their own record, but not own the outright record, as the A's have struck out 1,264 times this season -- including 12 times on Thursday. The Rays' Friday opponent, Toronto, has struck out 1,150 times this season, fifth most in the AL. 7:10 p.m. ET
• Power nap: The White Sox believe a good nap can help performance. I have trouble disagreeing. [CSNChicago.com]
• Mixed messages: Yunel Escobar's still being dragged across the coles for his insensitive eye black message, but is baseball sending a mixed message as it celebrates hazing? [Platoon Advantage]
• No ticket, no problem: The Giants, Mets, Red Sox and Royals will now allow you to use your iPhone as your ticket. Using Passbook for iOS 6, fans can use digital tickets on their phone for entry. [Slash Gear]
• WAR, what is it good for? Not surprisingly, Angels GM Jerry Dipoto believes Mike Trout should win the American League Most Valuable Player award this season. However, one argument he said he wouldn't make is using WAR, not that he doesn't believe it's a useful measuring stick, but that he doesn't see it as the only number needed. [MLB.com]
• Branch Solo: Harrison Ford talks about playing Branch Rickey in 42. [USA Today]
• Rookie card: Major Leaguers talk about their rookie baseball cards. [MLB.com]
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