MLB Wrap: Pirates clinch 2nd straight playoff bid

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ATLANTA -- Gerrit Cole retired the final 17 hitters he faced, and the surging Pittsburgh Pirates clinched a spot in the playoffs with a 3-2 win over the free-falling Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

The Pirates' win combined with Milwaukee's loss to Cincinnati assured Pittsburgh of no worse than an NL wild card. The Pirates wrapped up their berth exactly one year after clinching a place in the 2013 playoffs.

They reacted to the final out on Tuesday with little emotion. The Pirates exchanged high-fives in a line on the field before sharing hugs in front of their dugout.

Starling Marte gave Pittsburgh the lead with a sixth-inning double. The Pirates, who are still chasing St. Louis for the NL Central title, have won 11 of 13 (see full recap).

Tigers inch closer to postseason
DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Detroit Tigers to a key 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

The win kept Detroit a game ahead of Kansas City atop the American League Central and dropped their magic numbers to five for the division and two for the postseason.

Ian Kinsler started the bottom of the ninth by bouncing a single over Conor Gillaspie's head at third, and Jake Petricka (1-6) walked Torii Hunter. Cabrera then lined a single to left, with Kinsler scoring from second.

David Price took a three-hit shutout into the ninth. Adam Eaton singled, Alexei Ramirez doubled and Avisail Garcia hit a two-run single with one out. Paul Konerko singled with two out, moving Garcia to third and Marcus Semien followed with an RBI single.

Joe Nathan (5-4) then came on to get the last out (see full recap).

King Felix rocked in Mariners' loss
TORONTO -- Dalton Pompey hit his first major league homer and the Toronto Blue Jays roughed up Felix Hernandez for a career worst-tying eight earned runs in a 10-2 victory over the Mariners that further dented Seattle's fading wild-card chances.

Edwin Encarnacion added a two-run shot and R.A. Dickey (14-12) allowed two runs over seven innings to win for the fourth time in five starts.

Seattle lost its fourth straight thanks to another poor effort by a starting pitcher. Mariners starters have failed to complete five innings in any of the past four games, allowing 27 earned runs over 14 2-3 innings in that span for an ugly ERA of 16.56.

The Mariners fell three games out of the second AL wild-card spot with five games remaining.

Despite the win, Toronto was eliminated from playoff contention when Kansas City beat Cleveland (see full recap).

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