Maris Jr: Bonds, McGwire illegitimate, Judge to be HR king

Roger Maris Jr. considers the home run feats of Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa to be illegitimate and says Aaron Judge should be recognized as the holder of the big league season standard if the New York Yankees slugger hits No. 62. Maris says "baseball needs to look at the records." In 1961, Roger Maris broke the record of 60 set by Babe Ruth in 1927. Maris' mark stood until McGwire hit 70 in 1998, and that was topped by Barry Bonds' 73 in 2001. McGwire admitted using steroids, while Bonds and Sosa maintained they didn't knowingly use PEDs.

Giants beat Rockies 6-3 to keep slim playoff hopes alive

Joc Pederson had a two-run triple and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Wednesday night to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. Mike Yastrzemski, Brandon Crawford and Ford Proctor also drove in runs to help San Francisco beat Colorado for the seventh straight time. The Giants have won eight of their last nine games and trail Philadelphia by 6 1/2 games for the third and final NL wild-card position with seven games remaining. Alan Trejo homered for the Rockies. They have lost four in a row and eight of their last nine.

George Kirby, Eugenio Suarez lead Mariners past Rangers, 3-1

George Kirby allowed one run over six innings, Eugenio Suarez had three hits and an RBI and the Seattle Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Wednesday night. Trying to secure a playoff spot for the first time since 2001, Seattle rebounded after dropping the series opener Tuesday night. The Mariners got a boost in the playoff picture when every other team in the American League wild-card race lost. Baltimore dropped 4 1/2 games behind the Mariners for the final wild-card spot. The Mariners are a half-game behind Tampa Bay and two back of Toronto for the top wild card. Kirby (8-4) was coming off his worst start of the season, when he gave up five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings against Oakland.

Freeman has RBI single in 10th, gives Dodgers 107th win

Freddie Freeman singled in Mookie Betts with one out in the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 1-0 to set the franchise single-season record with their 107th win. The win by the NL West champion Dodgers kept the Padres' magic number at four for clinching a wild-card berth in a full season for the first time since 2006. It also put the Dodgers in position to win their ninth straight series against the Padres since June 2021. The series finale is Thursday night. The teams went to extra innings for the second straight night.

Fans miss 61 HR ball, Jays bullpen coach gets it to Judge

When Aaron Judge's American League record-tying 61st home run dropped into Toronto's bullpen, coach Matt Buschmann picked it up. He and Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano passed it to Yankees reliever Zack Britton, who made sure it got to Judge. The coach's wife, Fox Sports reporter and former ESPN anchor Sara Walsh, joked on Twitter that she was announcing a divorce before adding she was joking and her husband decided Judge and Roger Maris' family should get the ball, Frankie Lasagna was one of two fans who almost caught the drive.

Trout hits 38th homer, Lorenzen sharp as Angels beat A's 4-1

Mike Trout hit his 38th home run, Michael Lorenzen went five strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels continued their success against the Oakland Athletics with a 4-1 victory. Taylor Ward also homered, while Lorenzen (8-6) gave up an unearned run to lower his ERA to 0.45 against the A's this season. The Angels extended their winning streak over Oakland to five games. Rookie Conner Capel drove in the run for the A's, who lost for the fifth time in their last six games and are one defeat from reaching 100 loses for the first time since 1979.

Nola gives up key homer as Phillies lose 3-1 to Cubs

and five hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked none. Chicago won for the seventh time in eight games.

Correction: White Sox-Twins story

In a story published September 28, 2022, about the White Sox-Twins game, The Associated Press erroneously reported the final score. It was 8-4.

Astros lose 5-2 to Diamondbacks as Walker gets key hit

The Houston Astros lost out on an opportunity to clinch the top seed in the AL when Christian Walker capped Arizona's three-run 10th inning with a two-run single, sending the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 victory. With the loss and the New York Yankees' 8-3 win at Toronto, the Astros' magic number to clinch the AL's top seed remained at one. Arizona ace Zac Gallen pitched seven innings of two-run ball. Reyes Moronta got the win, and Mark Melancon pitched the 10th for his 18th save.

Rosario has pinch single in 10th, Guardians beat Rays 2-1

Pinch-hitter Amed Rosario had a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning to give the Cleveland Guardians a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday night. Rosario, who wasn't in the starting lineup as manager Terry Francona rests his regulars after wrapping up the the AL Central, batted for Luke Maile, He lined the first pitch over the head of right fielder Manuel Margot to score Oscar Gonzalez. Gonzalez began the inning as the automatic runner against Javy Guerra (2-1). Andrés Giménez was intentionally walked. After a sacrifice, Will Brennan was also intentionally walked before Rosario hit the winner. Guardians rookie Gabriel Árias hit his first major league home run in the third. James Karinchak (2-0) struck out the side in the 10th.

Brewers boost playoff hopes with 5-1 victory over Cardinals

Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 over six scoreless innings and Devin Williams delivered four big outs late to boost the Milwaukee Brewers' playoff hopes with a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. The victory, Milwaukee's first since last Saturday at Cincinnati, combined with the Phillies' loss to the Cubs in Chicago moved the Brewers within a half-game of Philadelphia for the third and final NL wild-card spot with seven to play.

MLB playoff primer: Things to know as postseason nears

Major League Baseball's postseason has a little more heft this year. The playoffs are rapidly approaching, with the final regular season games set for Oct. 5. The postseason begins two days later with a field of 12 teams, up from last year's 10. The playoffs include a best-of-three format for the opening wild-card round. The three games will be scheduled on consecutive days from Oct. 7 to Oct. 9 at the higher seed's field. The first team that gets two wins advances. After that, the playoffs will be business as usual. The division series will be best-of-five, while the league championship series and World Series will be best-of-seven.

Escobar rallies Mets past Marlins in 10, back into 1st alone

to rally the New York Mets past the Miami Marlins 5-4 and back into sole possession of first place in the NL East. By overcoming a four-run deficit, the Mets moved a game ahead of the Braves heading into a three-game showdown between the teams in Atlanta this weekend. The defending World Series champions lost 3-2 in 10 innings at last-place Washington, one night after pulling even with the Mets. Of course, Hurricane Ian could affect the schedule in Atlanta, where the teams are set to square off Friday night following a mutual off day.

Yankees star Judge hits 61st home run, ties Maris' AL record

Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris' American League record of 61 home runs in a season, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run drive for the New York Yankees in the seventh inning that led them over Toronto Blue Jays 8-3. The 30-year-old slugger drove a 94.5 mph belt-high sinker with a full-count from Tim Mayza over the left-field fence at Rogers Centre. The 117.4 mph drive took just 3.8 seconds to land 394 feet from the plate. and it put the Yankees ahead 5-3. Judge watched the ball clank off the stands, just below two fans who reached over a railing.

Braves fall to Nationals 3-2 on Abrams' walk-off hit in 10th

CJ Abrams' third hit of the game drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th to give the Washington Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves, who fell into second place in the NL East. The Braves (97-59) are a game behind the New York Mets. The teams open a three-game series Friday in Atlanta, weather permitting. Victor Robles bunted leading off the 10th against Jackson Stephens (3-3). Robles was initially called safe, but the call was overturned, with Alex Call moving to third. With the infield in, pinch-hitter César Hernández walked. Lane Thomas grounded to third, but Abrams singled to right, scoring Call.

Judge ties Maris AL mark with 61st HR, lifts Yanks over Jays

Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris' American League record of 61 home runs in a season with a tiebreaking, two-run drive in the seventh inning that lifted the New York Yankees over the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3. The 30-year-old slugger drove a 94.5 mph belt-high sinker with a full-count from left-hander Tim Mayza over the left-field fence at Rogers Centre. The 117.4 mph drive took just 3.8 seconds to land 394 feet from the plate, and it put the Yankees ahead 5-3. Judge watched the ball clank off the stands, just below two fans who reached over a railing.

Orioles shut down by Rich Hill in 3-1 loss to Red Sox

Anthony Santander and the Baltimore Orioles were shut down by Rich Hill and three relievers in a 3-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, hurting their chances of rallying in the AL wild-card race. Robinson Chirinos accounted for Baltimore's only run with his fourth homer in the eighth inning. The Orioles lost for the fourth time in five games. They were 3 1/2 back of Seattle for the third AL wild card heading into the day. Santander went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts one night after he homered from both sides of the plate in Baltimore's 13-9 loss at Fenway Park. The slugger went 8 for 20 with six homers and nine RBIs in his previous four games.

Roger that! Yankees' Aaron Judge hits 61st home run, ties Maris' AL record

Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris' American League record of 61 home runs in a season, hitting a tiebreaking, two-run drive for the New York Yankees in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Padres beat Dodgers 4-3 in 10 to reduce magic number to 4

Jorge Alfaro drew a bases-loaded walk from Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the 10th inning and the San Diego Padres beat the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 to reduce their magic number for clinching a wild-card berth to four. The Padres started the winning rally against Kimbrel when Kim Ha-seong sacrificed automatic runner José Azocar to third. Juan Soto was intentionally walked, Manny Machado struck out and Brandon Drury walked to load the bases. Alfaro worked the count full before walking to bring in Azocar.