UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals needed extra innings to maintain their 2 ½-game lead over Pittsburgh in the National League Central.

Tony Cruz slapped an RBI single in the bottom of the 13th to give the Redbirds a 3-2 triumph over Milwaukee. The Brewers led 2-0 in the eighth until Jon Jay hit an RBI single and Jonathan Broxton walked Matt Adams with the bases loaded.

Former Cardinal Kyle Lohse (lohsh) carried a three-hit shutout into the eighth before faltering.

The Brewers' second straight loss leaves then 3 ½ games behind the Pirates for the second NL wild-card berth.

In Pittsburgh, Gerrit Cole allowed two runs and six hits in seven-plus innings as the Pirates completed a three-game sweep of Boston 3-2. Chris Stewart singled home the go-ahead run in the fourth, one inning before Starling Marte's solo homer put the Bucs ahead 3-1.

The Red Sox had runners on first and third with nobody out in the ninth when Will Middlebrooks hit a ball that struck Jemile Weeks down the third-base line, forcing the Boston runner out and allowing Mark Melancon (meh-LAHN'-suhn) to work out of the jam.

The Pirates' fourth straight win reduces their magic number to seven for clinching a playoff berth.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Andre Ethier (EE'-thee-ur) and Dee Gordon supplied RBI doubles while the Los Angeles Dodgers put together a five-run seventh to erase a 4-1 deficit and beat the Cubs 8-4 in Chicago. Yasiel Puig (YAH'-see-ul pweeg) had three hits and singled home the go-ahead run as the Dodgers stretched their lead in the NL West to 2 ½ games over San Francisco.

— Jake Smolinski began his four-hit afternoon by lining an RBI single that sparked the Rangers' four-run first in a 7-2 triumph over the Athletics in Oakland. Tomas Telis (toh-MAHS' the-LEES') had two RBIs for the Rangers, who dropped the A's a half-game behind Kansas City for the first AL wild-card berth.

— Seattle is within one game of Oakland for the final AL wild-card berth after Logan Morrison belted a three-run homer to snap a scoreless tie in the ninth inning of the Mariners' 3-1 victory over the Angels in Anaheim. Mariners ace Felix Hernandez wasn't able to get the victory after holding the Angels to three hits while striking out 11 in seven shutout innings.

— Derek Jeter began his final homestand with a homer before the New York Yankees completed a 3-2 win over Toronto. Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind let a grounder zip through his legs for an error, allowing the winning run to score in the bottom of the ninth.

— Washington's starting rotation gave up runs for the first time in five games, but Gio Gonzalez limited the damage to two runs and six hits in seven innings as the Nationals topped Miami 6-2. The Nats trailed 1-0 until Wilson Ramos (RAH'-mohs) hit an RBI double to spark a five-run fourth.

— Will Venable hit a three-run homer and Alexi Amarista added a solo shot and two RBIs in San Diego's 7-3 victory against Philadelphia. Robbie Erlin held the Phillies to a run and five hits in six innings.

— Colorado beat Arizona 7-6 on Wilin Rosario's two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. Rosario went 4-for-5 with three RBIs in the Rockies' third straight win.

IRVING, Texas (AP) — Ron Washington has admitted being untrue to his wife of 42-years in his first public statement since resigning as Texas Rangers manager two weeks ago. He apologized to his wife, Gerry, who sat nearby while Washington made a 3 1/2 minute statement. The 62-year-old Washington says he is embarrassed for breaking the trust of his wife, calling it a low time in his life.

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