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    Friday, May 10, 2024

    Major League Baseball roundup

    The Nationals' Adam Eaton celebrates his home run next to Anthony Rendon during the first inning of Monday's game against Philadelphia in Washington. The Nationals won, 7-2. (Nick Wass/AP Photo)

    National League

    Nationals 7, Phillies 2

    Adam Eaton is rounding into form while the Washington Nationals inch closer to an NL wild card.

    Eaton hit his career-high 15th homer during his second three-hit game in three days, and the Nationals beat Philadelphia on Monday night to strengthen their playoff positioning.

    Eaton connected for a solo drive in the first inning. He is 7 for 14 in his last three games.

    "That ball he hit, that was a rocket," manager Dave Martinez said. "Upper deck. Line drive. He hit the ball really well today."

    Yan Gomes and Trea Turner also homered for Washington, which moved a half-game ahead of idle Milwaukee for the top spot in the wild-card standings. The Nationals reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to three in the opener of a five-game series.

    Philadelphia was pushed to the brink of elimination after beginning the season with great expectations after signing former Washington slugger Bryce Harper to a blockbuster deal. The Phillies have to win their final seven games — including both ends of a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday — while Milwaukee or Washington loses out to have any hope of reaching the wild-card game.

    "I have zero doubts about our guys pushing hard every single game, and as long as we are still in this thing, we are going to act like we're still in it," manager Gabe Kapler said. "We are going to keep fighting. Again, come out tomorrow, win a couple games and you never know what can happen, and that's the way we're thinking about it. We're still in this."

    Washington left-hander Patrick Corbin (14-7) matched his career high for wins in the first season of a $140 million, six-year contract. He allowed one run and three hits in six innings.

    "My fastball felt really good today," Corbin said. "I was able to locate it. I thought some two-seamers were close, just missing a little bit, but felt really good about it. Just kind of kept them off balance. Didn't want to leave any breaking balls there for them to do some damage with. So, kind of a little bit of everything."

    Corbin elicited his loudest cheer of the night when he struck out Harper to end the third. The former Nationals star, who is playing his third series in Washington since joining the Phillies in March, was booed before each of his plate appearances. He went 1 for 3 with a walk.

    Corbin also won 14 games in 2013 and 2017 while pitching for Arizona.

    Gomes went deep in the second and Turner connected in the third against Zach Eflin (9-13), who was charged with five runs and eight hits in five innings.

    "For the most part, I thought I did a really bad job of setting the tone in the game and the series," Eflin said.

    Washington's Anthony Rendon drove in two runs to take over the major league lead with 122 RBIs, one more than Atlanta's Freddie Freeman and Chicago White Sox slugger Jose Abreu.

    Cardinals 9, Diamondbacks 7

    Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer in his return to Chase Field, and St. Louis beat Arizona for its sixth straight win.

    Yadier Molina also connected as the Cardinals moved 3 1/2 games of idle Milwaukee in the NL Central. St. Louis has five games remaining in the regular season while Milwaukee has six.

    The Diamondbacks were eliminated from postseason contention.

    Goldschmidt had a big night in his return to the desert after playing eight years for the Diamondbacks from 2011-18. He got a loud ovation from fans in the first inning.

    Adam Wainwright (14-9) won his fifth straight start, allowing five runs over five innings. Carlos Martínez earned his 24th save.

    Arizona's Alex Young (7-5) surrendered six runs in five innings.

    American League

    Blue Jays 11, Orioles 10 (15 innings)

    Anthony Alford hit a game-ending drive in the 15th inning for his first career homer, sending Toronto to the victory.

    Alford connected against rookie right-hander Ryan Eades (0-1), who was trying to close out a third consecutive scoreless inning.

    Baltimore's Chris Davis homered against Jordan Romano in the 12th, but the Blue Jays tied it in the bottom half on Jonathan Davis' sacrifice fly.

    Jason Adam (3-0) worked one inning for the win.

    Austin Hays homered twice and drove in five runs for Baltimore.

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