Baseball-Highlights of Saturday's early MLB games

Oct 3 (The Sports Xchange) - Highlights from early Major League Baseball games on Saturday: - - - - Orioles 9, Yankees 2 (Game 1) Gerardo Parra got four hits and three RBIs while Manny Machado homered and also drove in three runs as the Baltimore Orioles rolled to victory over the New York Yankees in the first part of a day-night doubleheader. The Baltimore win stopped the Yankees (87-73) from clinching home field for the upcoming wild-card playoffs. The magic number for that remains at one -- either a Houston loss or a Yankees win would clinch home field for New York. The Astros play Saturday night in Arizona. Parra finished 4-for-5 with his three RBIs. The right fielder doubled twice and singled twice and also added a stolen base as the Orioles (79-81) won a third straight game and are trying to avoid finishing with a losing record. They will need to win their last two to reach that goal. Machado went 2-for-5, including a solo homer in the fifth. The third baseman drove in one run on a ground-out, another on an infield single plus a third on that homer. - - Nationals 3, Mets 1 (Game 1) Center fielder Bryce Harper launched a tie-breaking, two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals beat the New York Mets in the opener of a day-night doubleheader at blustery Citi Field. With the win, the Nationals (82-78) locked up their fourth straight winning season while damaging the National League East-winning Mets' hopes of earning home field advantage in the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. New York is 89-71 and a game behind the Dodgers entering play Saturday night. If the Mets and Dodgers finish tied, the Mets get home field based on winning the season series 4-3. - - Royals 5, Twins 1 Needing a win to keep their slim postseason hopes alive, the Minnesota Twins' playoff chances unraveled for good in a sloppy seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals. The Royals scored four times in the seventh, taking advantage of a two misplays by the Twins in the field, on the way to victory at Target Field. Minnesota was officially eliminated from the American League wild card race. The Twins entered the day two games behind the Houston Astros for the second wild card spot. - - Angels 11, Rangers 10 The Los Angeles Angels rallied for five runs in the ninth inning to dash the Texas Rangers' hopes of clinching the American League West on Saturday with a stunning comeback victory. Texas led 10-6 going into the ninth before the Angels hit back-to-back homers off Texas closer Shawn Tolleson, who was pitching for the fifth consecutive game. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf came on in relief of Tolleson and after retiring the first batter allowed a double to designated hitter Albert Pujols. Ohlendorf struck out left fielder David Murphy before the wheels came off for Texas. The Angels put together four straight two-out singles, with catcher Carlos Perez tying the game at 10 before second baseman Johnny Giavotella served a soft single to center to give Los Angeles the lead. Joe Smith, the ninth Los Angeles pitcher, worked a perfect ninth to complete the improbable comeback. The Rangers can still clinch the West with a Houston loss Saturday or Sunday, or a win over the Angels on Sunday. - - (Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)