Royals' bats awaken in 8-4 win over Blue Jays to avoid sweep
MJ Melendez and Emmanuel Rivera drove in two runs apiece, leading Brady Singer and the Kansas City Royals over the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 to end a three-game losing streak.
![Jays beat Yanks for 8th straight, 1/2 game back in wild card](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/bqD1LNc_iSGUyG4IQmGPX99iphg=/800x533/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/63KXMNIT2ND5PLMB3TRTJKOLB4.jpg)
Jays beat Yanks for 8th straight, 1/2 game back in wild card
Bo Bichette thumped a leadoff homer in the first inning and singled in the tiebreaking run in the seventh, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit his 42nd homer, and the Toronto Blue Jays held off the skidding New York Yankees 6-4 for their eighth straight win.
![Rays OF Arozarena, Pirates 3B Hayes among MLB's top rookies](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/0P9NC9IulOfuC_Nwh4w6rYjOwVw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/VNCNHMVLDRHDZMCQAUA4F27YF4.jpg)
Rays OF Arozarena, Pirates 3B Hayes among MLB's top rookies
โINF Ke'Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh Pirates: Hayes, 24, provided some hope for lowly Pittsburgh in September, batting .376 with five homers in 24 games. The slick-fielding son of former big league infielder Charlie Hayes was selected by the Pirates in the first round of the 2015 amateur draft. 6 pick in the 2018 amateur draft batted .291 with 23 homers over three minor league stops in 2019. โOF Ryan Mountcastle, Baltimore Orioles: Mountcastle made his major league debut on Aug. 21 and batted .333 with five homers and 23 RBIs in 35 games. Kim batted .306 with 30 homers, 109 RBIs and 23 steals for the KBO League's Kiwoom Heroes last season.
![Blue Jays clinch 1st playoff spot since 2016, beat Yanks 4-1](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/jEnR_8xWpxiyq35aypKDj3uGJZ4=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RFACB34EUJH6TLE4FKT6HHRKGU.jpg)
Blue Jays clinch 1st playoff spot since 2016, beat Yanks 4-1
Blue Jays players embraced on the diamond at their temporary home of Sahlen Field in Buffalo after Rafael Dolis struck out Aaron Hicks to end it. The Blue Jays trail the Yankees by two games for second place in the AL East. The Blue Jays extended their lead when Cavan Biggio and Bo BIchette hit back-to-back, two-out doubles in the third. TRAINERโS ROOMBlue Jays: RHP Nate Pearson (elbow) was activated off the injured list and RHP Wilmer Font was designated for assignment. Blue Jays: RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 2.86) starts Friday in the opener of a three-game series against Baltimore.
![Garca 1st MLB win, Yankees end 5-game skid, top Blue Jays](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/quPtb4WXlwRiTI4sDdLvhxQgCXk=/1600x1068/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/ZKVODXGINNAPTBZ6E3W5ZXR5L4.jpg)
Garca 1st MLB win, Yankees end 5-game skid, top Blue Jays
New York Yankees starting pitcher Deivi Garcia throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)BUFFALO, N.Y. Deivi Garca earned his first major league win, Gleyber Torres drove in four runs and the New York Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2 on Wednesday night. The Yankees had lost 15 of 20 and fallen to the edge of the expanded playoff field. Luke Voit hit an RBI single that put the Yankees ahead 3-2 in the fifth and Torres added a two-run double. UP NEXTNew York RHP Gerrit Cole (4-3, 3.63 ERA) will start Thursday against Baltimore LHP Keegan Akin (0-0, 2.08) in the opener of the Yankees four-game weekend series against the Orioles.
![LEADING OFF: Reds eye return after positive test; Rays-Yanks](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/2BETTJhW8cztWic6Z6jyPo22Mpw=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/RPCTDF3SQ5E2JAYMJS6SVKABZU.jpg)
LEADING OFF: Reds eye return after positive test; Rays-Yanks
Players, coaches and other organization members were retested for the coronavirus Saturday and Sunday after one player was sidelined because of a positive result. The Reds made travel plans for Kansas City and expected to start Luis Castillo (0-2) in the series opener, assuming its played. TIGER TRYOUTSDetroit is unleashing a few of its top prospects this week, including left-hander Tarik Skubal. The Braves hope that formula works again with Tomlin, used mostly as a reliever during his two seasons in Atlanta. But, for now, the team has decided not to turn to a pair of top prospects, Ian Anderson and Tucker Davidson.
![Braves' Markakis hits walkoff HR after opting into season](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/Q_zhExS-1D7mNcjIY491AZp4KKg=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/Z44MUGZSM5EL3ITWFOFCNQRIAE.jpg)
Braves' Markakis hits walkoff HR after opting into season
Atlanta Braves' Nick Markakis, left, celebrates with Adeiny Hechavarria (24) after hitting a game-winning home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Atlanta. Markakis was added to the active roster on Wednesday after changing his mind about sitting out the year. Following the homer, Braves players circled home plate with plenty of distance, waving their hands in the air as Markakis finished his trot. Manager Charlie Montoyo said before the game Waguespack was recalled when right-hander Trent Thornton was placed on the 10-day injured list. Following a chat with home plate umpire Alan Porter, Waguespack left the field without making a pitch and Montoyo instead brought in Rafael Dolis.
![LEADING OFF: Yanks-O's open patchwork series; Marlins off](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/U_wo_t5ojs7C-p1JvWjNAmQM2RM=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/E74HTS7UH5HJBC5KSZ4FXZ3MOE.jpg)
LEADING OFF: Yanks-O's open patchwork series; Marlins off
Were drinking out of a fire hose on all this stuff right now, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. The Marlins season has been suspended through Sunday after the club registered at least 15 players with positive coronavirus tests. NOT-QUITE-HOME OPENERThe Blue Jays play their first home game of the season in Washington after officially being the visitors in DC for games Monday and Tuesday. The truth is, theres no place like home, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. We feel comfortable playing at home, but thats not going to happen.Nationals ace Max Scherzer is set to face Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson, making his major league debut.
![LEADING OFF: Yanks-O's open patchwork series; Marlins off](https://www.wsls.com/resizer/1U03u81CM6k64Ad39p8EYA7Dcp8=/1600x1066/smart/filters:format(jpeg):strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/C7QXOD3DHZGSLEVLEWVZQQZJ5U.jpg)
LEADING OFF: Yanks-O's open patchwork series; Marlins off
Were drinking out of a fire hose on all this stuff right now, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. The Marlins season has been suspended through Sunday after the club registered at least 15 players with positive coronavirus tests. NOT-QUITE-HOME OPENERThe Blue Jays play their first home game of the season in Washington after officially being the visitors in DC for games Monday and Tuesday. The truth is, theres no place like home, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. We feel comfortable playing at home, but thats not going to happen.Nationals ace Max Scherzer is set to face Blue Jays right-hander Nate Pearson, making his major league debut.