Houston Astros' George Springer (4) reacts after being called out at home plate as Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, left, and home plate umpire Mark Carlson, right, watch during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, in Houston. The Astros lost a replay challenge of the play. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Houston Astros' George Springer (4) reacts after being called out at home plate as Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras, left, and home plate umpire Mark Carlson, right, watch during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, in Houston. The Astros lost a replay challenge of the play. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

New York — Gary Sanchez homered and almost hit another while Tampa Bay was trying to intentionally walk him, leading the hard-charging Yankees to their season-best seventh straight win, 5-1 over Tampa Bay on Saturday.

The Yankees closed within three games of AL East-leading Boston, their closest to the lead since mid-April. They began the day one game behind Baltimore and Detroit for the second wild-card spot, with the Orioles playing the Tigers later at night.

New York’s Masahiro Tanaka (13-4) struck out 10 and took a shutout into the eighth inning. Chris Archer (8-18) tied the Tampa Bay record for losses in a season, set by Tanyon Sturtze in 2002.

Dodgers 5, Marlins 0

Miami — Los Angeles pitcher Rich Hill was removed after throwing seven perfect innings against Miami.

Hill (3-0) had thrown 89 pitches and struck out nine when first-year manager Dave Roberts replaced the 35-year-old left-hander with Joe Blanton at the start of the eighth inning.

Blanton stuck out Christian Yelich and retired Marcell Ozuna on a groundout before Jeff Francoeur singled to left. Grant Dayton gave up Dee Gordon’s two-out infield hit in the ninth that put two on, and Kenley Jansen retired Martin Prado on a groundout to complete the two-hitter.

Astros 2, Cubs 1

Houston — Rookie Alex Bregman homered and Collin McHugh pitched five effective innings, leading Houston to the victory.

Bregman put the Astros ahead with an opposite-field home run to right-center against John Lackey (9-8) in a two-run third.

Mariners 14, Athletics 3

Oakland, Calif. — Seattle ace Felix Hernandez pitched six scoreless innings to continue his dominance at the Oakland Coliseum.

Cardinals 5, Brewers 1

St. Louis — Randal Grichuk made two key plays and Adam Wainwright pitched eight strong innings to help St. Louis beat Milwaukee.

Grichuk made a perfect throw to the plate to cut down Jake Elmore trying to score from second in the eighth.

Nationals 3 Phillies 0

Washington — Bryce Harper hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Washington over Philadelphia.

Harper struck out in each of his first three plate appearances, all against Philadelphia starter Jerad Eickhoff.

Stephen Strasburg isn’t sure whether he will pitch again this season. The Nationals star left Wednesday’s start in the third inning. Tests determined he has a strained flexor mass in his right elbow and the injury is not related to his ligament, which needed Tommy John surgery.

Orioles 11, Tigers 3

Detroit — Matt Wieters hit two of Baltimore’s four home runs, and Orioles chased Jordan Zimmermann in the second inning and moved back ahead of Detroit in the AL wild-card race.

Adam Jones and Chris Davis homered in the first inning off Zimmermann (9-6), and Wieters connected in the second and sixth innings.

Reds 8, Pirates 7

Pittsburgh — Joey Votto celebrated his 33rd birthday with four hits, including a home run, and Cincinnati beat collapsing Pittsburgh.

Royals 6, White Sox 5

Chicago — Whit Merrifield hit a go-ahead two-run double in a three-run seventh inning and Kansas City held on.

Royals closer Wade Davis gave up a single to Tyler Saladino and a double to Adam Eaton to lead off the ninth before Melky Cabrera’s infield single cut the deficit to one.

With the tying run on third and one out, Davis struck out Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau for his 23rd save as the Royals remained four games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.