Giants beats Padres as they clinch first playoff berth

The San Francisco Giants clinched their first postseason berth since 2016 on Monday night, using a five-run first inning against Yu Darvish as a springboard to a 9-1 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres.

Tommy La Stella led off the bottom of the first with a home run and Evan Longoria added a three-run shot, helping the Giants post their eighth consecutive win. San Francisco clinched no worse than a National League wild-card berth, while San Diego trails Cincinnati by a half-game for the NL’s second wild-card spot.

Mike Yastrzemski and Brandon Belt also hit homers for the Giants. Six San Francisco pitchers combined on a seven-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a bullpen game, with Zack Littell (3-0) getting the win.

San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres interim pitching coach Ben Fritz (53) talks to starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) after he allows two runs by the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

The Padres’ only run came in the third on back-to-back doubles by Trent Grisham and Fernando Tatis Jr. Darvish (8-10) was pulled after the fourth, charged with eight runs on six hits.

Yankees 6, Twins 5 (10 innings)

Gary Sanchez singled with one out in the 10th inning after Aaron Judge hit a game-tying, three-run homer with two outs in the eighth and New York rallied from a five-run deficit for a victory over visiting Minnesota in a makeup game.

The Yankees won for only the fourth time in 16 games following a 13-game winning streak. The Twins lost for the fourth time in five games.

San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants closing pitcher Kervin Castro (76) and catcher Curt Casali (2) react after defeating the San Diego Padres at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Joey Gallo also homered for New York. Minnesota got home runs from Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton.

Blue Jays 8, Rays 1

Alek Manoah allowed one hit in eight scoreless innings, Breyvic Valera had three RBIs and host Toronto Blue defeated Tampa Bay for its 12th win in 13 games.

Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit solo home runs and Teoscar Hernandez had his first career five-hit game for the Blue Jays, who amassed 17 hits. Manoah (6-2) struck out 10 and did not allow a walk.

Tampa Bay’s Ryan Yarbrough (8-5) came on in the third inning and allowed seven runs on 10 hits in 2 1/3 innings. Austin Meadows homered for the Rays in the ninth inning.

Dodgers 5, Diamondbacks 1

Clayton Kershaw pitched into the fifth inning during his return from the injured list and Justin Turner homered and finished with three RBIs as host Los Angeles beat Arizona.

San Francisco, California, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Victor Caratini (17) watches as San Francisco Giants third baseman Evan Longoria (10) celebrates with right fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) and shortstop Brandon Crawford (35) after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the first inning at at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

After missing more than two months because of left elbow inflammation, Kershaw came back to give up one run on four hits over 4 1/3 innings with one walk and five strikeouts. He threw 50 pitches. Phil Bickford (4-2) tossed one scoreless inning for the victory.

The Dodgers won their fourth consecutive game to remain 2 1/2 games behind the Giants. Josh Rojas had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who saw a modest two-game winning streak end.

Astros 15, Rangers 1

Jose Siri hit his first two major league homers and Houston recorded eight extra-base hits in a blowout victory at Arlington, Texas.

Yordan Alvarez also went deep twice and Alex Bregman homered for the Astros, who produced 16 hits while improving to 12-4 against the Rangers this season.

Cristian Javier (4-1) entered in the second inning after Astros starter Jake Odorizzi sustained a right foot injury. Javier yielded a run on three hits and a walk in 2 2/3 innings. He struck out six. Rangers starter Spencer Howard (0-4) gave up six runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Mariners 5, Red Sox 4

Mitch Haniger clubbed a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift host Seattle over Boston in the opener of a three-game series between AL wild-card hopefuls.

Haniger’s 33rd homer of the season, against Ryan Brasier (0-1), put Seattle up 5-2. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers hit back-to-back solo homers with two outs in the eighth to pull Boston within a run.

Mariners reliever Diego Castillo (4-5) earned the win after striking out two in a scoreless seventh. Seattle rookie starter Logan Gilbert matched a season high with nine strikeouts over six innings of two-run ball. Drew Steckenrider tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to record his ninth save.

Cardinals 7, Mets 0

Adam Wainwright allowed four hits in six effective innings to beat Rich Hill in a matchup of 40-year-old starting pitchers, and Wainwright’s batterymate, Yadier Molina, collected three hits as visiting St. Louis pulled away to rout New York.

Paul Goldschmidt homered in the fifth inning after hitting an RBI single in the third, and he scored on Nolan Arenado’s single in the ninth. Molina added an RBI single in the ninth, and Dylan Carlson hit an RBI double early in the game as St. Louis won for the fifth time in six games.

Edmundo Sosa and Harrison Bader added run-scoring singles in the ninth for the Cardinals, who collected 15 hits.

Marlins 3, Nationals 0

Sandy Alcantara took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as visiting Miami defeated Washington.

Josh Bell ended Alcantara’s no-hit bid when he lined a single off the base of the right field wall with two outs in the seventh.

Alcantara (9-13) pitched eight innings, giving up just the one hit and striking out seven without a walk. He threw 96 pitches. Dylan Floro tossed a one-hit ninth for his 11th save.