Pirates clinch playoff berth with win

Pittsburgh clinched their third straight playoff spot by beating Colorado 13-7 on Wednesday, with Neil Walker recording a career-high six RBIs, including a three-run homer.

The Pirates are now guaranteed of at least a wildcard but still have a chance of overtaking St. Louis, which leads the National League Central division by four games. Both teams have 10 games to play in the regular season, including a potentially decisive series between the two teams at Pittsburgh.

Walker provided the bulk of the offence with a mistimed two-run single in the first and a towering three-run homer in the third off fill-in Colorado starter Christian Bergman (3-1).

Walker ended his night with a run-scoring single as part of a six-run ninth which broke open a previously tight game.

Despite the victory and the securing of a playoff spot, the Pirates could not make up ground on St. Louis, which cruised to a 10-2 home win against Cincinnati.

Matt Carpenter hit a pair of two-run homers and Lance Lynn pitched six scoreless innings for the Cardinals, who improved their major league-best record to 96-56.

Randal Grichuk and Peter Bourjos also homered as the Cardinals hit four for the first time this season.

The Dodgers' Chase Utley hit a leadoff homer and added a tie-breaking RBI double in the eighth inning to lift the Dodgers to a 4-1 victory over Arizona, as they moved closer to being the third NL side to book a playoff spot and end a four-game losing streak.

In the American League, Kansas City edged Seattle in 10 innings to move in on their first division title since 1985; and Toronto widened its lead over New York in the AL East division by shutting out the Yankees.

Toronto moved 3-and-a-half games clear of the Yankees atop the AL East, thanks to three-run shot by Russell Martin which set up a 4-0 win.

Meanwhile, the Los Angles Angels, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Minnesota, San Diego, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Texas, Detroit and Miama also ran out winners.