GARY SANCHEZ

Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead grand slam over the Green Monster in the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat Boston 5-3 to tie the Red Sox for the top spot in the AL wild-card race.

Yankees reliever Clay Holmes threw a wild pitch with two outs in the ninth inning that let the tying run score, then Austin Hays chopped an RBI single in the 10th that lifted the Baltimore Orioles to a 3-2 win and dropped New York back in the AL wild-card race.

Joey Gallo hit a two-run shot in the 10th inning for his second homer of the game, Aaron Judge went deep again and had four RBIs, and the New York Yankees outlasted the Chicago White Sox 7-5 in another back-and-forth thriller.

Jose Altuve hit a three-run homer to cap a startling six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning, setting off a frenzied celebration and lifting the Houston Astros over the New York Yankees 8-7.

Slumping DJ LeMahieu and the skidding Yankees hope to get back on target when they start a set at Target Field against the Twins on Tuesday night.

For a third straight year, the Washington Nationals have dug themselves an early hole.

Major League Baseball is full of huge numbers.

Giancarlo Stanton busted out of his slump with two rocketed home runs — one with the highest exit velocity this season — and New York connected four times, sending the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians.

FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German throws to first in a pickoff-attempt during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in New York. German has started the process of talking to teammates about his domestic violence suspension that has kept him off the mound since September 2019. “Exciting to be back on the field, be back with my teammates,” Germán said. Germán missed the final nine games of the regular season and all nine of New York’s playoff games. AdBack with the Yankees for the start of spring training, Germán spoke with his New York teammates last week and issued a public apology the next day.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020, in Cleveland. Here comes the New York Yankees and all their autumnal aura. And because of the condensed schedule, the Indians and Yankees will be meeting for the first time in 2020. Pitching will be more of a premium than ever, which is why the Indians feel so good confident because Bieber will get them started. It's the playoffs, and Indians All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor has been telling his younger teammates that there's nothing like it.

New York Yankees' Gary Sanchez reacts after he struck out swinging in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)CLEVELAND – Slumping slugger Gary Sánchez will be benched in favor of Kyle Higashioka in the New York Yankees lineup for their wild-card opener Tuesday night. “It’s kind of beyond what I would have imagined at the beginning of the season,” Higashioka said. Cole pitched to Higashioka in his final four regular season starts, a span when the Yankees ace was 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA. “I know Gary,” Higashioka said.

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2020, file photo, Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo talks with members of the media during the team's "Winterfest" baseball fan festival in Washington. The Nationals and Rizzo finalized a multiyear contract extension Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Brock died less than a week after Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seavers death at 75. During their stellar careers, Brock and Seaver faced each other 157 times -- the most prolific batter/pitcher matchups for either star. Keuchel (6-2, 2.19 ERA) threw five scoreless innings, then was pulled after tossing a few warmup pitches before the sixth.

New York Yankees' Gary Sanchez trots toward home after he hit a home run during the second inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)BALTIMORE Slumping New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez has been temporarily benched by manager Aaron Boone, who hopes the rest will help the slugger regain his stroke. Boone discussed the move with Sanchez, who would have preferred to work his way out of the slump while on the field. To his credit, behind the scenes he's working his tail off and wants to be in there," Boone said. Sanchez does not have a multi-hit game this season and has only seven homers and 15 RBIs over 100 at-bats.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Mike Brosseau got some payback against the New York Yankees, hitting two home runs as the Tampa Bay Rays topped their AL East rivals again with a 5-2 victory Wednesday night. The Rays improved to 20-4 in their last 24 games and moved 4 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees. Tampa Bay also avoided consecutive losses for the first time since a five-game skid from July 29 to Aug. 2. Tampa Bay right-hander Charlie Morton returned after missing three weeks with right shoulder inflammation and pitched two-plus hitless innings while being limited to 38 pitches. Yankees: Visit the crosstown New York Mets in a makeup Thursday, the final Subway Series game of the season.

(AP Photo/John Minchillo)NEW YORK The last time the New York Yankees lost eight in a row, it was a different millennium. Frazier drew a leadoff walk in the ninth from Betances (0-1), a four-time All-Star with the Yankees before signing with the Mets last offseason. Happ held the Mets to three hits in 7 1/3 shutout innings, becoming the first Yankees starter to reach the eighth this season. The Mets will be the home" team at Yankee Stadium in the second game. Prized pitching prospect Deivi Garcia will start one game for the Yankees, making his major league debut.

Back in his comfort zone Friday night, the New York Mets outfielder took a starring role in a Subway Series instant classic. We all were extremely happy to just be back on the field and be back playing baseball, Smith said. Smith, a 25-year-old Black man, cried Wednesday night reflecting on a recent shooting by police of a Black man in Wisconsin. 42 for the second game only. Inspired by the emotional comments from the usually upbeat Smith, the Mets staged a walkout protest against racial injustice with the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Masahiro Tanaka delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)NEW YORK Injury fill-in Clint Frazier had three hits, including a home run, and scored twice in his season debut as the Yankees beat Atlanta 6-3 Wednesday night, sweeping a two-game set. The Yankees tied it in the bottom of the frame, clubbing back-to-back homers for the first time this season. Yankees: Judge (lower body tightness) did not play, a night after the oft-injured slugger was lifted for a pinch-hitter. Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (3-0, 3.22 ERA) should get his first taste of baseballs longest-running rivalry.

(AP Photo/Kathy Willens)HOUSTON New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman became the latest high-profile player to test positive for the coronavirus, his diagnosis announced Saturday hours after the Houston Astros canceled another practice due to virus concerns. Also testing positive was Kansas City backup catcher Cam Gallagher said he has the virus. Gallagher, who said he is asymptomatic, participated in an intrasquad game on Friday night before receiving his positive test results on Saturday. His confusion stemmed from the fact that he didnt experience symptoms and also had multiple negative tests. DeShields, who had mild symptoms, had been in Cleveland for a few days but wasnt cleared until Saturday after testing negative twice.

The opener carried a somber feel after Stantons comebacker drilled Tanaka in the right side of his head in the third at-bat of the session. Tanaka was released from the hospital Saturday night after a CT scan came back negative, and he is in concussion protocol. Chapman threw a bullpen, and Snchez took live at-bats against Paxton, who looked sharp in his first simulated game of this camp. The big left-hander walked Snchez to start, then struck out Miguel Andjar, Tyler Wade and Snchez successively. That predator once crashed into the protective netting along the first base line shortly before a game while hunting a pigeon.

Boston Due to a change in policy by the Trump administration, hundreds of immigrant children receiving medical care in the U.S. are facing possible deportation. The children are in the country legally and many suffer from serious diseases, including cancer. But, this week they received a denial notice, giving them 30 days to leave the country or face deportation. But this week, his family received a notice, giving them 33 days to leave the country or face deportation. Citizenship and Immigration Services changed the medical deferment program, leaving hundreds of immigrant children in limbo.