SAN DIEGO -- San Diego right-hander Michael Wacha posted his 13th victory of the season as he hurled the Padres to a 12-2 win over St. Louis, in their home finale Sunday.
Wacha, the former Pleasant Grove graduate, ran his personal record to 13-4 by holding the Cardinals to two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out six and walked one against his original team. The 6-foot-6 pitcher's only mistake was allowing Luken Baker's two-run homer in the seventh inning, his second of the season.
Wacha has posted records of 11-2 for the Red Sox last year and 13-4 for the Padres this year.
Juan Soto hit a 461-foot homer and had four RBIs for San Diego, which was pushed closer to elimination from the playoff picture even by defeating St. Louis.
Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. made a spectacular leaping catch to rob pinch-hitter Michael Siani of a home run in the sixth. Tatis did a little dance and acknowledged the crowd's ovation.
Jose Azocar also homered for the Padres, who had nine extra-base hits in winning for the ninth time in 10 games. Their best stretch of the season is likely coming too late as they moved closer to elimination from the wild-card race after the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks both won.
ROYALS 6, ASTROS 5
HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros know they need to get it together -- and quickly -- for a chance to defend their crown this postseason after being swept at home by one of baseball's worst teams and falling farther behind Texas in the AL West.
"It sucks not being able to win right now and getting swept, but we've just got to forget and go to Seattle and play," outfielder Mauricio Dubón said. "Everybody knows what's going on. So we've just go to go there and be focused and try to win baseball games."
Nelson Velázquez hit two home runs and Salvador Perez and Matt Duffy also homered as the Kansas City Royals built a big lead early Sunday and held on for a 6-5 win over the Astros.
Houston dropped 2 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the division and is a half-game ahead of Seattle for the third and final wild card spot.
Houston finished 39-42 at Minute Maid Park, its first losing record at home since 2014.
"It's tough to take," manager Dusty Baker said. "What can I say?"
Kansas City (54-102) has won six straight games and 10 of 11.
The 102-loss Royals took five of six from the Astros this season.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, YANKEES 1
NEW YORK -- The New York Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, getting mathematically eliminated with a rainy loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks as Zac Gallen got his 17th win.
Arizona won for the sixth time in seven games and remained in position for the NL's second wild card, a half-game ahead of the Chicago Cubs. The Diamondbacks also clinched their first winning season since 2019.
On a windy, raining afternoon when fly balls became unpredictable, Gallen (17-8) allowed three hits in six innings, struck out eight and walked two.
NATIONALS 3, BRAVES 2, GAME 1
WASHINGTON -- Jackson Rutledge earned his first major league victory while combining with three relievers on a six-hitter, and Washington defeated Atlanta in the first game of a doubleheader.
Sean Murphy homered for Atlanta, which was denied in its first attempt to win its 100th game of the season.
Jacob Young drove in two runs for last-place Washington, which had lost two in a row and eight of its last 11.
ORIOLES 5, GUARDIANS 1
CLEVELAND -- Kyle Gibson pitched seven strong innings, Adley Rutschman reached base four times and Baltimore moved closer to clinching the AL East title.
Baltimore has a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place Tampa Bay in the division and reduced its magic number to three. Baltimore has six games remaining and holds the tiebreaker over the Rays.
Gibson (15-9) allowed one run and five hits while striking out four. The right-hander was pulled after a leadoff double in the eighth.
BLUE JAYS 9, RAYS 5
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- George Springer hit an inside-the-park, three-run homer, made a diving catch and threw out a runner, helping Toronto beat Tampa to take two of three in a series of potential playoff opponents.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered twice, making an impressive bat flip after the second, and Bo Bichette also went deep for the Blue Jays. Toronto extended its lead for the second AL wild card to two games over Houston and 2 1/2 games ahead of Seattle.
Isaac Paredes hit his 30th homer for Tampa Bay, which has clinched at the least the AL's top wild card.
MARLINS 6, BREWERS 1
MIAMI -- Jon Berti had his second career multihomer game, and Miami beat Milwaukee, the second straight day they prevented the Brewers from clinching the NL Central.
Josh Bell also went deep, Jorge Soler had three hits and Jazz Chisholm Jr. doubled twice for the Marlins, who remained one game behind the Chicago Cubs for the third NL wild card spot. Milwaukee's division lead over the second-place Cubs was cut to six games.
Marlins starter Edward Cabrera (7-7) allowed one run and five hits in five-plus innings with five strikeouts.
Berti homered in the second on a slider from Freddy Peralta (12-10), who gave up four runs and nine hits in three innings.
CUBS 4, ROCKIES 3
CHICAGO -- Patrick Wisdom put Chicago ahead with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Seiya Suzuki had two hits and scored twice, and the Cubs helped their playoff chances by beating Colorado.
Yan Gomes also drove in two runs for the Cubs, who remained a game in front of Miami for the National League's final postseason berth. Chicago is a half-game behind Arizona for the second of three wild cards.
Brendan Rodgers and Nolan Jones homered for the Rockies in their franchise-record 99th loss.
REDS 4, PIRATES 2
CINCINNATI -- TJ Friedl hit a two-run homer and drove in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning as Cincinnati bounced back from a historic collapse the night before to beat Pittsburgh.
Joey Votto received ovations from the crowd all day and singled in what could be his final home at-bat for the Reds.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand added a solo homer for Cincinnati, which stayed 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the final National League wild card. The Reds have five games remaining, all on the road.
Kansas City Royals' Nelson Velazquez (17) celebrates with Salvador Perez (13) after hitting a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez hits a home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Hunter Brown wipes his face after giving up a home run to Kansas City Royals' Nelson Velazquez during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) celebrates after hitting a home run as Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz stands behind home plate during the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates with José Abreu (79) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael Wacha delivers during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in San Diego. Wacha notched his 13th victory of the season in the Padres' 12-2 win. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
Houston Astros center fielder Mauricio Dubón dives while catching a fly ball by Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters during the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)