Cardinals smoke Astros in final game  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Chris Carpenter and the St. Louis Cardinals earned at least a tie for the NL wild card, beating the Houston Astros 8-0 on Wednesday night.  —  The Cardinals and Atlanta began the day even in the wild card race.

Braves Complete Colossal Collapse, Lose to Phils  —  ATLANTA (AP) — With the season on the line, the Atlanta Braves couldn't get the final three outs.  —  Now, they'll have the whole winter to ponder an unprecedented collapse.  —  Braves closer Craig Kimbrel surrendered the tying run in the ninth …

Hitless in last 46 at-bats, Velez sets dubious mark  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Eugenio Velez has broken a modern-day major league record for a non-pitcher by going hitless in his final 46 at-bats.  —  Velez grounded out to second as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning …

Wakefield: “I definitely want to come back” in 2012  —  No matter what happens to the Red Sox in their 162nd game - or 163rd, for that matter - Tim Wakefield isn't ready to call it a career.  —  Wakefield, 45, said in an interview Tuesday that he fully expects to return to the Red Sox next year.

Reyes Hits, Then Sits and Eventually Celebrates  —  Citi Field was expected to be the stage Wednesday for a bit of drama featuring one of baseball's most effervescent characters.  —  Jose Reyes was entering the last day of the regular season locked in a battle with Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers …

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jon Lester stood in front of a pack of reporters and cameramen, wearing a sharp suit with nowhere to go but home.  —  Someone asked the Boston Red Sox pitcher what he will remember most about this season, and without hesitation he whispered a one-word answer.  —  “September.”

Marlins start ‘new era,’ introduce skipper Guillen  —  MIAMI — Ozzie Guillen was introduced as the Florida Marlins' manager at a news conference before their final game of the 2011 season and last ever at Sun Life Stadum.  —  “Welcome to a new era in Marlins baseball,” owner Jeffrey Loria said …

MLB announces 2011 postseason schedule  —  CC Sabathia has started 12 games over the last four postseasons — in 2007 with the Indians, 2008 with the Brewers, and the last two years with the Yankees.  He has pitched in November and is happy to hear that no one will pitch that month in 2011.

Perfect Greinke Gives Brewers Home-Field Advantage  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Zack Grienke capped a perfect season at home to help the Milwaukee Brewers clinch home-field advantage in the first round of playoffs with a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Pavano, Twins Top Royals 1-0, Avoid 100 Losses  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Trevor Plouffe's RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning gave Carl Pavano and the Twins a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, helping Minnesota stave off a 100-loss season.

Tolman ends tenure as Indians bench coach  —  Cleveland plans to shift Alomar to role alongside Acta next year  —  DETROIT — Tim Tolman has decided the time has come to leave the Indians' bench.  —  On Wednesday, Cleveland announced that Tolman and the team mutually agreed that he would step …

Cabrera stakes claim to batting title, Tigers top Indians  —  DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera singled and doubled, all but wrapping up the American League batting title, and Jhonny Peralta hit a tie-breaking homer in the eighth inning to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Wednesday night.