New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird hits a three run homer against Toronto Blue Jays in the tenth inning at Rogers Centre. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports

Agencies/AFP

Toronto’s Mark Lowe thought he made a good pitch on his 2-2 slider to Greg Bird in the 10th inning on Tuesday, only for the Yankees first baseman to line the pitch to right field for a three-run homer that led to a 6-4 victory.
“Down and away, bottom of the zone and he just leaned out and got it,” Lowe (1-3) said. “Great piece of hitting.”
Bird’s 10th homer of the season brought the Yankees (83-67) to within 2-1/2 games of the first-place Blue Jays (86-65) in the American League East.
“I was pretty pumped up,” Bird said.
“It’s a big win for us, a big team win. It was a cool atmosphere, real intense here. A lot of back and forth. I think the fans definitely got their money’s worth. That was a great game.
“We’re still definitely in it.”
Yankees right fielder Carlos Beltran had homered on a 1-0 fastball from right-hander Liam Hendriks for his 17th homer of the season in the eighth to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Blue Jays catcher Dioner Navarro then tied it with his fifth homer of the season on a first-pitch fastball with one out in the ninth against left-hander Andrew Miller (3-2).
The Blue Jays loaded the bases in the ninth after Navarro’s homer but third baseman Josh Donaldson struck out to send the game to extra innings.
“It’s tough to do anything with two outs, (Donaldson) has done it so many times,” Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said.
“So many guys in that locker room have done that. They battled. Navarro gets that big home run and we load the bases. That’s one thing about this group, they keep coming at you.”
Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada allowed six hits, three walks (one intentional) and two runs while striking out three in 6-2/3 innings. Yankees right-hander Luis Severino allowed three hits, three walks and two runs with three strikeouts in six innings. Miller gave up the 35th homer of the season by Toronto designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion in the bottom of the 10th but still got the win.
 
Pirates top Rockies, inch closer to playoff spot
The Pittsburgh Pirates did not bother to stick around their clubhouse for a possible celebration after they beat the Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Tuesday. It’s a good thing because Pittsburgh were unable to seal a post-season berth with the San Francisco Giants sealing a 4-2 win at San Diego later on Tuesday.
Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said he had met with his senior players who decided the team would not wait in the clubhouse for the outcome of the Giants game but return to their hotel.
“When it’s official, it’s official ... I’d rather go home and go to bed,” said Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen, implying his team’s goals are higher than just clinching a playoff spot.
The Pirates scored in each of the first four innings, totaling their six runs, against Colorado starter Chris Rusin (5-9) on Tuesday to clinch their 91st win of the season.
J.A. Happ (10-8) worked 5-1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts after 82 pitches
Happ has gone 6-1 with a 1.73 ERA in his past seven games.
“I felt OK,” said Happ, who yielded a homer to catcher Wilin Rosario in the second and two runs in the third.
“I felt like I’ve had better fastball command in previous games. Definitely gave it what I had tonight. It was a battle out there. Left a few pitches over the plate. Overall felt like I kept us in there.”
Mark Melancon retired the side in order in the ninth and earned his 49th save, extending his franchise record. He is trying to become the seventh National League reliever to save 50 or more games in a season and the first since Craig Kimbrel (50) with the Braves in 2013.
“He’s closing ball games as efficiently as anybody in the major leagues,” Hurdle said.
“He does it with miss-hits, not big strikeout numbers. He’s a pro out there.”     

Arrieta becomes MLB’s first 20-game winner
Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, who is a candidate for the Cy Young Award as the top pitcher, became Major League Baseball’s first 20-game winner of the season on Tuesday.
Arrieta pitched a solid complete game outing, striking out two batters in the ninth in the Cubs 4-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field stadium.
Arrieta, who improved to 20 wins and six losses on the season, got all the support he needed on third baseman Kris Bryant’s third inning two-run home run.
The 29-year-old Arrieta gave up just three hits, struck out 11 and walked one. Arrieta is the Cubs’ first 20-game winner since Jon Lieber went 20-6 in 2001.
It was his fifth consecutive game of eight or more innings and his fourth complete-game of the season.