MLB postseason push goes down to the wire
A photographic look at baseball's playoff race.
Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, top, hitches a short ride on Prince Fielder after the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 2-1 in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 in Minneapolis. Fielder had a two-run home run off Twins pitcher Jared Burton as the Tigers built their AL Central Division lead to three games.Jim Mone/The Associated Press
New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi looks down while his team plays the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Toronto, September 30, 2012. The Yankees overcame a four-run deficit to beat Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Sunday and remain tied with Baltimore atop the AL East.MARK BLINCH/Reuters
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Zack Greinke reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Texas Rangers Nelson Cruz (L) in the second inning of their MLB American League baseball game in Arlington, Texas September 30, 2012. The Angels rallied for a 5-4 victory in the opener of their day-night double header. Their fourth loss in five games meant the Rangers wouldn’t have an opportunity at home to clinch their third consecutive AL West title. An Angels' loss would have clinched the Orioles' first postseason berth since 1997.MIKE STONE/Reuters
Washington Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki sits in the dugout after losing their MLB National League baseball game 10-4 and the series to the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis, Missouri September 30, 2012. The Cardinals’ win kept the defending World Series champions in the hunt for the Naitonal League’s second wild-card spot.SARAH CONARD/Reuters
Los Angeles Dodgers' Matt Kemp and Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Josh Roenicke watch Kemp's solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Los Angeles. It was his second home run of the game. Kemp homered twice, Joe Blanton pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning, and the desperate Dodgers climbed within two games of the second NL wild-card spot with a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.Mark Terrill/The Associated Press
Baseball fans honour retiring Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones as he takes the field for the first inning of their baseball game against the New York Mets at Turner Field Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in Atlanta. The Braves have already clinched an NL wild-card spot and are on track to host the one-game playoff, which Medlen would start.Dave Tulis/The Associated Press
Detroit Tigers' Prince Fielder celebrates as he rounds the bases with his two-run home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Jared Burton in the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 in Minneapolis. The Tigers won 2-1 to take a three-game lead over the White Sox in the AL Central pennant race.Jim Mone/The Associated Press
Seattle Mariners' Carlos Triunfel, right, slides safe at third base beneath the tag of Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson in the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Oakland, Calif. Triunfel advanced to third on a sacrifice fly hit by Franklin Gutierrez. The Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 5-2 on Sunday, to complete a series sweep, staying right on the heels of Texas in the AL West race.Ben Margot/The Associated Press