-ANAHEIM, Calif. — Two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani pitched no-hit ball into the eighth inning and extended his hitting streak to 14 games, leading the Los Angeles Angels over the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Thursday night.
In his final home start of the season, Ohtani (15-8) issued a leadoff walk to Tony Kemp before retiring the next 22 batters. Conner Capel broke up the no-hit bid with a sharp grounder that deflected off sliding shortstop Livan Soto’s glove and into left-center field with two outs in the eighth.
Dermis Garcia followed with a clean single to left before Ohtani retired Shea Langeliers on a grounder to third to end the inning.
Ohtani had a perfect game through 5 1/3 innings at Houston on April 20 before Jason Castro lined a single in the sixth.
Luis Rengifo, Taylor Ward and Max Stassi had solo home runs for the Angels. They have won four straight and five of six.
It was Oakland’s 100th loss, marking the first time since 1979 it has reached triple digits in the loss column. Cole Irvin (9-13) took the loss.
CUBS 2, PHILLIES 0
CHICAGO — Philadelphia lost its fifth straight game as it fights for the National League’s final wild-card berth, falling to Chicago.
Philadelphia had a half-game lead over Milwaukee after the Brewers’ home loss to Miami later Thursday.
Seeking their first playoff berth since 2011, the Phillies have lost the first three games of a season-ending 10-game trip and 10 of 13 overall since peaking at a season-best 80-62.
Philadelphia holds the tiebreaker against Milwaukee, winning the season series 4-2. The Phillies go to major league-worst Washington for four games, then close with three at AL-best Houston.
Bryce Harper had three of six hits for the Phillies, who are 1 for their last 21 with runners in scoring position. J.T. Realmuto went 0 for 4 and struck out twice in his 1,000th game.
Cub rookie Javier Assad (2-2) allowed five hits in five innings. Keegan Thompson gave up a hit over three innings for his second big league save and first this year. Ranger Suárez (10-6) was the loser.
MARLINS 4, BREWERS 2
MILWAUKEE — Avisaíl García came off the injured list and hit a grand slam in the eighth inning in Miami’s victory over Milwaukee.
The Brewers have six games remaining, all at home — three more against Miami and three against Arizona.
Garcia’s 411-foot blast came off Freddy Peralta (4-4), a regular starter making his first relief appearance of the season.
García, who was with the Brewers in 2020 and 2021, was put on the injured list Sept. 13 with a left hamstring strain. He was sent to Triple-A Jacksonville for a rehab assignment Monday before being activated Thursday.
Tommy Nance (1-3) pitched the seventh inning after being activated from the injured list. Dylan Floro worked the ninth for his ninth save.
GUARDIANS 2, RAYS 1
CLEVELAND — Rookies Oscar Gonzalez and Steven Kwan drove in runs in the eighth inning and Cleveland kept Tampa Bay from clinching an AL wild-card spot.
Tampa Bay had a chance in the ninth, loading the bases on three walks by Trevor Stephan. But Ji-Man Choi struck out and Isaac Paredes flied out short right as Stephan earned his third save.
The Guardians have 37 come-from-behind wins and extended their team record to 29 victories in their final at-bat. Enyel De Los Santos (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth as Cleveland improved to 20-4 since Sept. 4.
Shawn Armstrong (2-3) was the loser.
RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 3
BOSTON — J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer to break an eighth-inning tie, Zack Kelly GOT his first career victory and Boston beat Baltimore to drop the slumping Orioles to the brink of elimination in the wild-card race,
Baltimore has lost five of its last six games. Toronto wrapped a wild-card spot with the Orioles’ loss.
Zack Kelly (1-0) allowed one hit and struck out one in one shutout inning. Kaleb Ort pitched the ninth for his first career save. Dillon Tate (4-4) allowed Martinez’s homer.
Kyle Stowers homered for the Orioles.
GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 4
SAN FRANCISCO — Ford Proctor hit a grand slam for his first career home run, Carlos Rodón struck out 10 in six scoreless innings and San Francisco beat Colorado to complete a three-game sweep.
Austin Wynns and Wilmer Flores also drove in runs to help San Francisco beat Colorado for the eighth straight time.
The Giants have won four games in a row and nine of their last 10 to get back to .500 at 78-78. They trail Philadelphia by 5 1/2 games for the third and final National League wild-card position with six games remaining.
Sean Bouchard homered for the Rockies. They have lost five straight games and nine of their last 10.
Rodón (14-8) limited Colorado to just two hits while taking over the NL lead with 237 strikeouts. Camilo Doval finished for his 27th save.
Ryan Feltner (3-9) was the loser.
TIGERS 10, ROYALS 3
DETROIT — Willi Castro and Javy Báez homered and Detroit beat Kansas City to sweep the three-game sweep and move out of last place in the AL Central.
Detroit (63-92) has won six straight, matching its season high and ensuring the Tigers will not lose 100 games. The Royals (63-93) dropped into the division cellar.
Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5) allowed five hits and four walks in 6 2/3 shutout innings. Jonathan Heasley (4-9) took the loss.
WHITE SOX 4, TWINS 3
MINNEAPOLIS — September call-up Mark Payton had two hits and an RBI and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning to help Chicago beat Minnesota to end an eight-game losing streak.
Reynaldo López (6-4) pitched the seventh for the victory. Liam Hendriks pitched a perfect ninth for his 34th save. Caleb Thielbar (4-3) was the loser.
DODGERS 5, PADRES 2
Miguel Vargas hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat San Diego 5-2 on Thursday night to slow the Padres’ playoff push.
The Dodgers added to their franchise single-season record with their 108th win. They’ve already clinched the NL’s No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs and reduced their magic number to one for home-field advantage through the World Series.
Los Angeles lefty Andrew Heaney (4-3) relieved opener Brusdar Graterol and pitched four innings for the win. David Price worked the ninth for his second save.
The Dodgers trailed 2-1 going into the sixth before scoring three runs on four hits and a walk off Pierce Johnson (1-2), plus a double steal.
MARINERS 10, RANGERS 9, 11 INNINGS
The Mariners got a solid starting pitching effort from rookie right-hander George Kirby, lockdown work from the bullpen and just enough offense, led by Eugenio Suarez’s three hits, to grind out a 3-1 victory over the Rangers.
Having lost eight of their past 11 games coming into Wednesday night, the much-needed win came on an evening where the Blue Jays, Rays and most important, the Orioles, all lost.
Kirby’s only run allowed came in the first inning when new Rangers nemesis Josh Jung, who drove in all five runs in Texas’ 5-0 win over the Mariners on Tuesday night, singled home a run.