In New York, Taiguan Walker was unbeaten in the sixth inning, Brandon Nimo fired his return from the handicap and the Mets beat their city rivals 8-3 in their first Subway series.
The Mets actually led 8-0 when Aaron Judge returned to the sixth inning to end the illusion of finishing eighth in the major leagues this season.
Walker (7-3) was pulled off the hill after 5 2/3 runs and received a standing ovation from hundreds of Mets fans among the 40,047 fans at Yankee Stadium, the most attendance of any team in the United States. New York since before the coronavirus pandemic.
Playing for the first time since a brutal 11-8 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, the Yankees suffered another bitter loss with just three strokes, all in the sixth inning. They lost sixth out of seven games to make their mark at 41-40, having started the day 9 1/2 games behind AL East leader Boston.
Walker was allowed to run twice, hit twice and walk twice; Hit five on 106 throws.
In Atlanta, right-handed Sandy Alcantara delivered six solid runs, Jarrett Cooper attended and drove in two, and the Miami Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in the Grand Slams.
The atmosphere was calm a day after Venezuelan bowler Pablo Lopez was sent off for hitting compatriot Ronald Acuña Jr on his first court of the match.
The Marlins received a crucial pass on Saturday from Alcantara, who saved the hangar from overtime a day after Miami used five reducers to cover nine rounds due to Lopez’s dismissal.
Alcantara walked (5-7) on the first two hits he encountered while walking but then didn’t allow a hit until Curaçao’s Ozzy Albis hit the third with two hits. He allowed a sloppy, five-stroke run with four walks and four strokes, improving to 2-0 with a 2.68 ERA in six games starting against Atlanta.
Dominican Yemi Garcia came close to saving him 13 on 16 after facing four hits in the ninth.
In Cincinnati, Canada’s Joe Foto, Tyler Naquin and Eugenio Suarez of Venezuela provided the attack needed to defeat the Reds also 3-2, who suffered their eighth consecutive loss.
Foto, Naquin and Suarez each provided one decisive song to claim victory.
With the win, the Reds knocked out the Cubs from second place at NL Central, led by the Milwaukee Brewers.
In more results, Blue Jays to Rays 6×3; Tigers to White Sox 11×5; royal family members to 6×3 twins; Phyllis to Padres 4×2; Beer makers to Pirates 11×2, Reds to Cubs 3×2, Dodgers to Nationals 5×3.
