Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes, of the New York Mets, decided this Monday in the tenth inning with a home run the victory of his team 2×1 against the Miami Marlins, in a duel between two teams fighting for the playoffs in the Big leagues.
Jose Reyes had scored the tying run in the eighth inning for the Mets.
Both teams are now tied for second place in the NL East, and 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild-card spot on the circuit.
The victory went to reliever Josh Smoker (1-0), who worked the eighth inning perfectly, while the setback went to Nick Wittgren (4-3), who was also punished by Céspedes’ home run.
The ‘fish’ have lost five of the last seven games, although they have only allowed 20 runs in the last nine games.
The Marlins scored their only run when Japan’s Ichiro Suzuki and Xavier Scruggs had back-to-back doubles in the eighth. For the Asian it was his hit number 3,011.
In Kansas City, the defending champion Royals defeated the New York Yankees 8×5 with excellent pitching by Dillon Gee and a three-run homer by Venezuelan Alcides Escobar.
Gee (6-7) allowed four runs for the Monarcas, who also had RBIs from Lorenzo Cain, Kendrys Morales and Alex Gordon.
The setback was for the Dominican starter Michael Pineda (6-11), who had allowed only five hits in the first five innings. The Quisqueyan came to withdraw 15 ‘reals’ in a row.
The defending champions (69-62) now closed within five and a half games of the Cleveland Indians, leaders of the American League Central Division and two of the second wild card ticket.
In Arlington, Texas, the Japanese Yu Darvish, from the mound, and the Puerto Rican Carlos Beltrán, with the wood, led the Rangers to a 6×3 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Darvish (5-3) struck out nine men in 6 2/3 innings and Beltran had three hits, including a home run.
The disaster was for the also Japanese Iwakuma (14-10), who lost his third start in a row.
In other results, Nationals to Phillies 4×0, Blue Jays to Orioles 5×1, Red Sox to Rays 9×4, Indians to Twins 1×0 in 11 innings, Cardinals to Brewers 6×5, Tigers to White Sox 4×3 and Astros to Athletics 6×0. (AFP).