CINCINNATI — Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run home run while Francisco Liriano allowed only three hits in six innings, lifting the Pirates to a 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Tuesday. The victory was Pittsburgh's 82nd of the year, ensuring they would have their third successive winning season after having none for the previous 20. Liriano (10-7) issued one walk, struck out 10 and also went 2-for-3 with a double and run scored. Third baseman Kang Jung Ho hit a solo homer and Starling Marte went 3-for-5 with a double and run scored for the National League wild-card leading Pirates (82-55), who are 4-1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. Mets 8, Nationals 7: Pinch-hitter Kirk Nieuwenhuis hit a pinch-hit solo homer with two outs in the eighth off Jonathan Papelbon as the first-place New York Mets came back from a six-run deficit to stun the Washington Nationals. The Mets (77-61) extended their lead to six games over the Nationals (71-67). Marlins 6, Brewers 4: Rookie catcher J.T. Realmuto hit two solo homers, including one inside the park, to lead the Miami Marlins to a 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Milwaukee loaded the bases in three successive innings, the third through the fifth, but could not score in any. In total, they stranded 14 runners. Phillies 5, Braves 0: Aaron Nola outduelled fellow rookie Ryan Weber to lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-0 win over the Atlanta Braves. Nola (6-2) threw seven shutout innings with a career-high seven strikeouts. Cubs 8, Cardinals 5: Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo combined for seven RBIs to lead Chicago to an 8-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals and tightening the National League Central Division race. Castro went 2-for-4 with a walk, scoring three runs and driving in four, while Rizzo collected two hits and knocked in three runs as the Cubs (80-57) won their fifth successive game and pulled within 6-1/2 games of first place St. Louis. Other results: Giants 6, Diamondbacks 2; Padres 2, Rockies 1. American League Orioles 2, Yankees 1: Chris Davis led off the top of the ninth inning with his 41st home run, lifting the Baltimore Orioles to a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees. Until Davis homered, the Orioles mustered only a solo home run by first baseman Ryan Flaherty in the sixth. Alex Rodriguez tied the score in the bottom of the sixth when he sent a full count fastball into the first row of the left field seats for his 30th home run. Blue Jays 5, Red Sox 1 (10 innings): Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson led off the 10th inning with a triple that highlighted a four-run inning which gave the Blue Jays an important 5-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The win, coupled with the Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in New York, increased the Jays' lead in the AL East to 1-1/2 games. Royals 4, Twins 2: Edinson Volquez pitched seven resolute innings that allowed the Kansas City Royals to beat the Minnesota Twins. Volquez (13-7) limited the Twins to six hits and two runs, walked none and struck out three. White Sox 7, Indians 4: Carlos Rodon got plenty of run support while leading the Chicago White Sox to a 7-4 win against the Cleveland Indians. Rodon went seven innings and allowed one run on five hits and a walk. He struck out eight. Catcher Rob Brantly hit a three-run home run in the second inning and first baseman Jose Abreu went 3-for-4 with his 26th home run while right fielder Trayce Thompson finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Tigers 8, Rays 7 (13 innings): Rajai Davis' sacrifice fly brought home James McCann with the game-winning run as the Detroit Tigers edged the Tampa Bay Rays in the 13th inning. The left fielder also hit a home run in the third inning, while right fielder J.D. Martinez added his 36th homer. Third baseman Andrew Romine drove in two runs. Other results: A's 4, Astros 0; Rangers 9, Mariners 6. Inter-League Dodgers 6, Angels 4: Corey Seager's RBI double in the sixth inning ignited a four-run rally to help lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-4 win over the Los Angeles Angels. The 21-year-old shortstop had two hits to continue his fast start in the majors since his call-up on Sept. 3. He is hitting .381 (8 for 21) in his first six games. — Agencies
