New York Yankees' Tyler Austin drop his bat and watches his two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Yankees' Tyler Austin drop his bat and watches his two-run home run in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York — Brett Gardner made a leaping catch at the top of the left-field wall on Justin Smoak’s bases-loaded drive for the final out, and the New York Yankees held on during a nervy ninth inning to beat the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on a misty Tuesday night.

A scrambly September game with October implications seesawed to the last swing, and turned at the end in favor of the Yankees. New York won its third in a row and sent Toronto to its fourth loss in five games.

At a season-high seven games over .500, the Yankees closed within 4½ games of first place, their smallest deficit since April, and remained 3½ back for the AL’s second wild card.

The Blue Jays had already scored twice in the ninth off Dellin Betances when they loaded the bases with one out. Blake Parker, the eighth New York pitcher, suddenly became an unlikely closer, and he struck out Kevin Pillar.

Smoak was up next, and he hit a drive to deep left. Gardner ran back, jumped and corralled the ball at the top of the padding. He immediately leaped in the air to celebrate as the Yankees rushed out to congratulate him. A few minutes later, a replay of the catch drew another ovation from the fans.

Orioles 11, Rays 2

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Manny Machado capped a six-run fourth inning with a grand slam off Jake Odorizzi, leading Baltimore over Tampa Bay.

Chris Davis and Adam Jones also homered for the Orioles.

White Sox 2, Tigers 0

Chicago — Jose Abreu hit his fifth homer in seven games, Miguel Gonzalez came off the disabled list to throw 6 innings of six-hit ball and Chicago cooled off Detroit.

The Tigers went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left nine men on in their fourth loss in 15 games.

Detroit fell one game behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and stayed 4 1/2 games behind first-place Cleveland in the AL Central.

Cardinals 9, Pirates 7

Pittsburgh — Matt Carpenter, Randal Grichuk and Jhonny Peralta all homered off closer Tony Watson with two outs in the ninth inning, helping St. Louis rally past Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals were down to their last strike when Carpenter sent a long drive to right-center to tie it 6-6. Grichuk followed two batters later with a two-run shot off Watson (2-4), and Peralta piled on with a solo homer as St. Louis held on to the second wild card in the NL.

Astros 4, Indians 3

Cleveland — Corey Kluber lost for the first time since July 3 after Marwin Gonzalez connected for a three-run homer off Cleveland’s ace in the second inning, leading the Astros over the Indians 4-3 on Tuesday night.

Kluber (15-9) had won his previous seven decisions, a span during which he dominated the way he did while winning the Cy Young Award in 2014.

Nationals 9, Braves 7

Washington — Pinch-runner Michael A. Taylor scored the go-ahead run on catcher Tyler Flowers’ throwing error as part of a three-run eighth inning and Washington defeated Atlanta.

Taylor pinch-ran after Braves reliever Jose Ramirez (2-2) walked Ryan Zimmerman. Taylor stole second and, after Danny Espinosa’s walk, scored when an off-balance Flowers threw pinch-hitter Ben Revere’s bunt attempt well to the left of third baseman Adonis Garcia.

Phillies 4, Marlins 3

Miami — Adam Morgan snapped his major league-worst streak of nine consecutive losses, Odubel Herrera scored three runs and Phillies spoiled Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton’s return.

Morgan (2-9) allowed five hits and one run in six innings. He hadn’t won since May 10, going 0-9 with a 6.72 ERA in his last 15 appearances, 13 of those starts.

Stanton was activated from the disabled list about an hour before the game and delivered a pinch-hit single in the fifth for Miami, which lost for the 10th time in 11 games.

Mets 5, Reds 3

Cincinnati — Yoenis Cespedes hit the most damaging of New York’s four homers, a two-run shot in the seventh inning, as the Mets rallied for their 13th straight victory over Cincinnati.

Overall, New York has won 13 of 17 to tighten the NL wild card race.

Brewers 12, Cubs 5

Milwaukee — Jonathan Villar homered to start a five-run first inning against Jason Hammel, and Milwaukee cooled off Chicago.

The NL Central-leading Cubs had won seven of eight and were 41 games over .500 after winning Monday’s series opener.

Royals 10, Twins 3

Minneapolis — Kendrys Morales had two home runs, including a three-run blast in Kansas City’s seven-run ninth inning.

Morales hit a two-run shot in the first inning to help the Royals overcome the loss of catcher Salvador Perez, who left the game with a right wrist contusion after he was hit by a pitch in the sixth inning.

Brian Dozier hit his 39th home run of the season for the Twins, moving him into a tie with Rogers Hornsby (twice) and Alfonso Soriano for fourth-most home runs by a second baseman in a season.

Notes Tigers Activate Zimmermann

Chicago — Detroit Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was activated from the disabled list and is scheduled to start Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Zimmermann, 9-5 with a 4.44 ERA in 16 starts, allowed six runs and six hits while getting five outs in his last start with Detroit on Aug. 4.