JAKE Odorizzi pitched five strong innings and the Atlanta bullpen finished with four scoreless frames to help the visiting Braves beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) to clinch their fifth straight National League East championship.
Kenley Jansen retired the side in order in the ninth inning, striking out two, to post his league-leading 41st save. Jordan Groshans flied out to end the game.
It was the 22nd division title for the Braves, the most in major league history. The defending world champions were 10 1/2 games behind the New York Mets on May 1 before winning 77 of their next 110 games.
Atlanta pushed across the go-ahead run in the fifth when Travis d’Arnaud doubled, went to third on a grounder to first and scored on a swinging bunt from William Contreras. Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. hit an RBI single in the second. Miami tied it in the fourth when Jesus Sanchez hit a fence-clearing solo homer to left field.
In other games, it was the Rangers 3, Yankees 2 (Game 2); Yankees 5, Rangers 4 (Game 1); Padres 6, Giants 2; A’s 2, Angels 1 (10 innings); Mariners 7, Tigers 6 (Game 1); Mariners 9, Tigers 6 (Game 2); Guardians 5, Royals 3; Mets 4, Nationals 2 (Game 1); Mets 8, Nationals 0 (Game 2); Rockies 5, Dodgers 2; Reds 3, Cubs 2; Red Sox 6, Rays 0 (5 innings); Cardinals 8, Pirates 7 (10 innings); Brewers 3, Diamondbacks 0; White Sox 8, Twins 3; and Astros 10, Phillies 0.
Rangers 3, Yankees 2 (Game 2)
Aaron Judge hit his American League-record 62nd homer of the season, but Leody Taveras’ two-run homer was the difference as Texas topped New York in the second game of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas.
Three pitches into the game, Judge ended the suspense by blasting home run No. 62 off right-hander Jesus Tinoco, surpassing Roger Maris as the AL’s single-season home run record holder. Maris’ 61 had stood since 1961.
Kolby Allard (1-2) picked up the win in relief, allowing one run in four innings, and Matt Moore earned his fourth save. Yankees starter Gerrit Cole (13-8) gave up three runs, two earned, in six innings. He fanned nine to set the franchise single-season record with 257 strikeouts, breaking the mark of 248 set by Ron Guidry in 1978.
Yankees 5, Rangers 4 (Game 1)
Kyle Higashioka hit a game-tying home run and Aaron Judge scored the go-ahead run that lifted New York to a comeback win over Texas in Game 1 of a doubleheader in Arlington, Texas.
Sitting on 61 home runs, Judge went 1-for-5 as the designated hitter.
Rangers right-hander Jon Gray logged six innings, giving up three runs on four hits, including two home runs. Yankees right-hander Jameson Taillon yielded four runs on seven hits in six innings in his final start before the playoffs.
