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PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Mitch Keller scattered five hits over six shutout innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the suddenly listless New York Mets to an 8-2 loss Tuesday night.
The NL East-leading Mets failed to get a runner to third base against Keller (5-10) while dropping their third straight against teams playing out the string.
The Mets have lost three in a row for just the third time this season and saw their lead over Atlanta shrivel to a half-game. The Braves played in Oakland later Tuesday night.
Taijuan Walker (10-4) labored through five innings as the Mets lost for the fifth time in his last six starts. Brandon Nimmo hit a two-run home run in the seventh to cut New York's deficit to two.
Rodolfo Castro hit his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot that clanged off the foul pole in right field in the third inning to stake the Pirates to a 3-0 lead. Rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz had three hits for Pittsburgh, including a 421-foot home run in the eighth that bounced into the Allegheny River.
ORIOLES 9, BLUE JAYS 6
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Adley Rutschman hit a bases-loaded double during a five-run third inning and Baltimore beat Toronto in a heated game in which both benches briefly emptied in the middle of the seventh.
Then tempers flared when Bryan Baker appeared to make a "chirping" signal with his hand toward the Toronto dugout after striking out Matt Chapman for the third out. Benches and bullpens emptied, and although order was quickly restored, Blue Jays interim manager John Schneider was ejected during the bottom of the inning and came out to give plate umpire Jeff Nelson an earful.
The Orioles pulled within 3 1/2 games of Toronto for the last American League wild card. They were swept by the Blue Jays in a doubleheader Monday.
Baltimore seemed to be treating this like a must-win game -- or close to it. Dillon Tate (4-3), Cionel Perez and Felix Bautista all worked more than an inning in relief. Four Orioles relievers combined to throw six innings, with Bautista getting the final six outs for his 12th save.
Bo Bichette homered again for Toronto -- his fourth in the past two games -- but Mitch White (0-4) couldn't make it out of a wild third inning in which he walked three and hit a batter.
RAYS 8, RED SOX 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Randy Arozarena hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Christian Bethancourt and Yu Chang went deep back-to-back in the sixth and surging Tampa Bay beat Boston.
The Rays are an AL-best 22-10 since Aug. 4, and moved within 4 1/4 games of the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
With Tampa Bay scheduled starter Drew Rasmussen scratched and placed on the paternity list for the birth of son early Tuesday, six pitchers combined on a six-hitter. Garrett Cleavinger (1-1) allowed one hit during a scoreless third and fourth to get his first win since June 20, 2021.
Boston’s Triston Casas hit his first major league homer. Rich Hill (6-6) was the loser.
CARDINALS 4, NATIONALS 1
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Nolan Gorman broke out of a slump with a homer and two RBIs to help St. Louis beat Washington.
Jose Quintana (5-6) gave up a run on five hits and he struck out five in five innings for first win since Aug. 10. The Cardinals have won five of their last six games and 19 of their last 22 at Busch Stadium.
Ryan Helsley pitched around a leadoff double in the ninth for his 14th save in 18 opportunities. Brendan Donovan also homered for St. Louis.
Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt was held to one hit and did not drive in a run as he continued his Triple Crown pursuit. Goldschmidt leads the NL with a .329 average and 107 RBIs. He has 34 homers to trail Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber (36) and Atlanta's Austin Riley (35).
Paolo Espino (0-7) took the loss.
PHILLIES 3, MARLINS 2
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Bryce Harper got a gift double in the ninth inning when Miami left fielder Brian Anderson slipped chasing a flyball, then hustled home on Jean Segura's single to send Philadelphia over the Marlins.
Edmundo Sosa homered and doubled and Aaron Nola struck out 10 for the playoff-contending Phillies. They rebounded from a poor road trip in which they lost five of six to the sub-.500 Diamondbacks and Giants.
Anderson drove in both runs for the Marlins. Miami lost its eighth in a row.
Tommy Nance (0-3) intentionally walked J.T. Realmuto, and Segura lined a single to right. Harper just beat the throw by Avisail Garcia. David Robertson (4-2) was the winner.
GUARDIANS 4, ROYALS 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Shane Bieber pitched eight sharp innings, Jose Ramirez drove in two runs and AL Central-leading Cleveland beat Kansas City.
Bieber (9-8) allowed a run and four hits. He struck out seven and walked one. James Karinchak pitched the ninth for his first save.
The Royals lost their 82nd game, meaning they'll have a losing record for the sixth straight season.
Salvador Perez hit his 20th home run for Kansas City, the sixth year he's reached the mark. Kris Bubic (2-11) was the loser.
RANGERS 4, ASTROS 3
HOUSTON (AP) -- Corey Seager scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the seventh and Texas snapped a nine-game losing streak, beating AL West-leading Houston.
Houston's Framber Valdez (14-5) had his six-game winning streak end. The left-hander surrendered four runs, two earned, on six hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 and walked four.
Taylor Hearn (6-7) pitched two shutout innings for the win. Jose Leclerc pitched around a walk in the ninth for his third save.