Manny Machado hit a walk-off grand slam, his third home run of the game as the Orioles beat the Angels 9-7. The teams combined for ten home runs, the Angels blowing a 5-0 lead. The game was significant because the Angels were leading the race for the second wild card, and all three Al-East contenders were losing at some point during the day. A win by the Angels and a loss by the Orioles would have put them, the Rays, and the Blue Jays four games back with five teams ahead of them. Baltimore gains, and the Blue Jays and Rays stay in striking distance, with five teams within 1 1/2 games of the wild card, the Twins and Angels tied for the second slot.

The Red Sox blew an early lead but came back against the New York bullpen to take the game against the Yankees 9-6. The Yankees scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take a lead, but the Red Sox answered with four of their own in the bottom of the inning. Boston now leads the division by five games, taking three of four from the Yankees. It’s not a safe lead by any means, but the Red Sox have held off any charge the Yankees have mustered lately.

The beat up Nationals, traveling cross country, kept up their winning ways with a 7-1 victory against the Padres. Max Scherzer was supposed to start, but went on the disabled list due to continuing neck problems. The Nationals, Dodgers, and Astros are proving that depth really matters, as each teams sustained multiple injuries to starts this season that would cripple most clubs. It was great veteran pitcher going on the DL day as Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester hit the injury list earlier. Both the Cardinals and Cubs won as well.