Top News:
David Pinto / baseballmusings.com:
Alvarez in the Ninth — Henderson Alvarez comes out for the top of the ninth inning, pitching a no-hitter in a scoreless game. He'll face the pitcher's spot, Don Kelly, and Andy Dirks as the Tigers and Marlins continue to look for offense. — Update: Alex Avila pinch hits and grounds back to the pitcher.
Discussion:
Baseball Prospectus, Fish Stripes and Bless You Boys
RELATED:
Clark Spencer / MiamiHerald.com:
Henderson Alvarez closes Miami Marlins season with no-hitter — After the lone run scores on a wild pitch, Henderson Alvarez secured the fifth no-hitter in team history on the last game of the season. — Detroit Tigers catcher Brayan Pena was the first to sense it when the pitch squirted past his glove.
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Associated Press:
Astros' strikeouts set single-season record — HOUSTON — The Houston Astros have broken the major league record for strikeouts by batters in a season. — J.D. Martinez took a called third strike from New York Yankees reliever Dellin Betances that ended the ninth inning Sunday …
Discussion:
baseballmusings.com
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Yanks Top Astros 5-1 in 14, Enter Uncertain Future — HOUSTON — Mark Reynolds hit a tiebreaking homer in a four-run 14th inning, and the New York Yankees went into an offseason of uncertainty Sunday with a 5-1 victory over the Houston Astros, whose 15-game losing streak was the longest at the end of the season in more than a century.
Discussion:
CBS New York, The Crawfish Boxes and Canadian Press
TSN.ca:
Blue Jays host Rays with wild card spot on the line — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - The Tampa Bay Rays appeared headed toward a postseason spot this weekend, but losing the first two meetings of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays has their playoff fate in a cloud.
Discussion:
Canadian Press, Bluebird Banter, baseballmusings.com and DRaysBay
RELATED:
TSN.ca:
Indians eye playoff spot, sweep of Twins at Target Field — The Sports Network — (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians' hot streak has put their playoff destiny in nobody's hands but their own. — Currently the holders of the AL's first wild card spot, the Tribe can punch …
Discussion:
Canadian Press, Twinkie Town and Athletics Nation
Andy Martino / NY Daily News:
Mike Piazza returns to enter Mets Hall of Fame as chilly relationships begin to thaw — Will his return to Queens on Sunday for the induction signal the beginning of a phase in which the former Met catcher inches toward becoming a more regular presence? — This happens when a memory is so intense …
Discussion:
Metsblog, Amazin' Avenue and ESPN
RELATED:
Mark Herrmann / Newsday:
Mike Piazza to be inducted into Mets Hall of Fame Sunday
Mike Piazza to be inducted into Mets Hall of Fame Sunday
Discussion:
Metsblog
Mark Saxon / ESPN:
Dodgers shut down Matt Kemp — LOS ANGELES — Just days before their first playoff appearance in four seasons, the Los Angeles Dodgers learned Sunday they'll be without center fielder Matt Kemp throughout the postseason. — A Sunday morning MRI to Kemp's injured left ankle showed significant swelling …
Discussion:
True Blue LA
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Associated Press:
Oakland Shuts Out Seattle 9-0 in Finale — SEATTLE — Sonny Gray threw five shutout innings in his final start before the playoffs, Oakland had a pair of four-run innings and the Athletics closed out the regular season with a 9-0 win over Seattle in Eric Wedge's final game as Mariners manager.
Discussion:
Athletics Nation
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Canadian Press:
Fresh off new $90M deal, Pence leads Giants over Padres — SAN FRANCISCO — Hunter Pence followed his first long-term contract with his first game-ending hit with San Francisco. — Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Discussion:
McCovey Chronicles
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Jeff Todd / MLB Rumors:
Giants Extend Hunter Pence
Giants Extend Hunter Pence
Discussion:
Metsblog, San Francisco Giants, McCovey Chronicles, Minor League Ball, MLB Daily Dish, Amazin' Avenue and Al's Ramblings
Michael Baron / Metsblog:
Final Score: Mets 3 Brewers 2 — The Least You Should Know... The Mets tied the game at two in the eighth inning when Juan Centeno attempted to sacrifice Juan Lagares to second, but the Brewers threw the ball away at first, allowing Lagares to score all the way from first base.
Discussion:
Amazin' Avenue and Brew Crew Ball
Canadian Press:
Royals beat White Sox to end best season in 24 years — CHICAGO — Bruce Chen pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Kansas City beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Sunday in the finale of the Royals' best season in 24 years. — Kansas City won three of four in Chicago and went 17-10 …
Discussion:
South Side Sox
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Marlins name Hill president, Jennings GM — MIAMI — The Marlins on Sunday announced a new structure for their front office, naming Michael Hill president of baseball operations and Dan Jennings general manager. — Jennings has been with the club for 12 seasons, as the organization's vice president …
Discussion:
HardballTalk