Spencer Jones starts key rally against hometown team as Yankees beat Padres 5-1

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Spencer Jones hit a two-out RBI double against his hometown team to start a four-run rally in the second inning, and the New York Yankees beat the San Diego Padres 5-1 on Saturday.

Carlos Rodón and four relievers held the Padres to three hits as the Yankees (81-61) pulled within a victory of clinching their 34th straight winning season. They've won five of seven games and 13 of 19, and are in control of the American League's top wild-card spot.

The Padres, who have lost six of eight, fell a half-game behind Arizona for the third National League wild card.

The Yankees drew seven walks, with three of those players scoring, and loaded the bases in three different innings.

Jones, a rookie who attended La Costa Canyon High in Carlsbad, doubled into the right-field corner off left-hander Robbie Ray in the second to bring in Ben Rice, who hit a leadoff single and advanced on George Lombard Jr.'s grounder.

Ray then walked three straight batters to bring in a run before Cody Bellinger hit a two-run single. Lombard added a sacrifice fly in the third to bring in Rice, who had walked and advanced on Heliot Ramos' single.

On Friday night, Jones hit an RBI single in the 10th to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead before San Diego's Luis Campusano walked it off with a two-run homer.

Rodón (5-3) earned his first win in five starts by holding the Padres to one run and two hits in five innings while striking out seven and walking three. His only big mistake was allowing Manny Machado's leadoff homer in the fourth, his 25th.

Ray (11-8) permitted five runs on five hits and four walks in 2 1/3 innings, It was his shortest outing since getting only two outs against Atlanta with San Francisco on Aug. 14, 2024.

Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (8-7, 3.29 ERA) and Padres RHP Michael King (9-9, 3.11) are scheduled to pitch in the series finale Sunday.

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San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill tracks down a hit for a single by New York Yankees' Spencer Jones during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

New York Yankees pitcher Tim Hill, right, celebrates with catcher Austin Wells after the Yankees defeated the San Diego Padres 5-1 in a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

New York Yankees right fielder Spencer Jones, right, celebrates with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt after the Yankees defeated the San Diego Padres 5-1 in a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

New York Yankees' Spencer Jones celebrates after hitting an RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

New York Yankees' Spencer Jones runs after hitting an RBI double during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kazuma Okamoto had four hits and two RBIs, including a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, as the surging Toronto Blue Jays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Saturday night to pull even with Cleveland for the final American League playoff spot.

Toronto (72-71) won for the seventh time in eight games and moved over .500 for the first time since the Blue Jays were 4-3 on April 3. The defending AL champions, who were 10 games under .500 on July 28, are tied with the Guardians for the league's third wild card.

Okamoto went 4 for 5 with a double and broke a 3-all tie in the seventh with an RBI single. In the third inning, Okamoto hit an RBI double that hit third base over a diving Josh Rojas and rolled into the left-field corner.

Nathan Lukes had three hits for Toronto, including an RBI single that made it 2-0 in the first. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. scored the first run of the game from first base when Alejandro Kirk reached on a two-out infield single and Rojas committed a throwing error.

Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs and five hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Mason Fluharty (6-1) worked a hitless inning in relief and Louis Varland got three outs for his 33rd save.

Seth Lugo allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings for Kansas City. Craig Kimbrel (1-3) took the loss.

John Rave hit a solo homer for the Royals that tied it 3-all in the fourth. Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez each had an RBI single in the first to pull Kansas City even at 2.

Caglianone exited in the third with left elbow soreness.

The Royals had runners at first and second with no outs down 4-3 in the eighth, but couldn’t capitalize when Vinnie Pasquantino grounded into a double play and Michael Massy grounded out.

Kansas City is 18-8 in its last 26 games at Kauffman Stadium.

Royals RHP Randy Dobnak (2-3, 2.65 ERA) will pitch the series finale Sunday. Toronto had not announced a scheduled starter.

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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single by Kazuma Okamoto during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kazuma Okamoto watches his RBI single during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. beats the tag at home by Kansas City Royals catcher Carter Jensen to score on a single by Alejandro Kirk during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Toronto Blue Jays' Andres Gimenez, left, and Kazuma Okamoto celebrate after their baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)