KETEL Marte’s single keyed a four-run rally, Zac Gallen battled through six innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks swept their National League wild-card series with a victory 5-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
Arizona overcame a 2-0 deficit to complete a sweep of the best-of-three series, having escaped a 3-0 hole to win the opener 6-3 Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila). The Diamondbacks will open the NL Division Series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Gallen (1-0) allowed two first-inning runs but kept the NL Central champions from adding on. The right-hander gave up five hits, struck out four and walked three in a 100-pitch effort.
The Diamondbacks scored four runs in the sixth to go in front 5-2. Marte lined a two-run single to center to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2, chasing Peralta. Tommy Pham scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Abner Uribe, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. blooped an RBI single to shallow left.
In other games, it was the Rangers 7, Rays 1; Twins 2, Blue Jays 0; and Phillies 7, Marlins 1.
Rangers 7, Rays 1
Nathan Eovaldi tossed 6 2/3 strong innings, fueling Texas to a two-game sweep of Tampa Bay in an American League wild-card series at St. Petersburg, Fla.
Evan Carter belted a two-run homer and Adolis Garcia also went deep for the fifth-seeded Rangers, who advanced to face the Orioles in the AL Division Series. Eovaldi (1-0) allowed one run on six hits and struck out eight without walking a batter.
Rays starter Zach Eflin (0-1) permitted five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings. Tampa Bay was swept in the wild-card round for the second year in a row.
Twins 2, Blue Jays 0
Carlos Correa went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Minnesota held on for a win over Toronto in Minneapolis to complete a sweep in a best-of-three AL wild-card series.
The Twins will face the Houston Astros in the AL Division Series. Minnesota secured its first playoff series win since 2002, when it beat Oakland in the ALDS. Twins right-hander Sonny Gray (1-0) struck out six batters in five scoreless innings.
Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (0-1) allowed one run in three-plus innings. Toronto tallied nine hits, all singles, and stranded nine runners on base. The Blue Jays scored one run in two playoff games after averaging 4.6 runs per game in the regular season.
