Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine took it upon himself Sunday to clear the air about comments he made before Friday’s series opener vs. the Blue Jays.

With 18 games left on the Pirates’ schedule, center fielder Andrew McCutchen is batting .341 with 28 home runs. Put another way, with his team battling for its first winning season and first postseason appearance since 1992, McCutchen is threatening to cross the finish line with a combination of numbers never before turned in by a Pirates player.

Ryan Braun hit as many home runs — two — as rookie right-hander Wily Peralta surrendered hits over eight scoreless innings, and the Brewers beat the Mets on Sunday, 3-0, to hold firm in their improbable bid for a National League Wild Card.

Clinging to hopes of winning the second National League Wild Card spot, the Phillies are in need of a strong showing against the Mets, beginning with Monday’s opener at Citi Field.

Delivering two hits, including a bases-loaded triple, Patrick Corbin drove in four runs, and the D-backs avoided a sweep by defeating the Giants on Sunday, 10-2, at Chase Field.

Omar Vizquel broke open a scoreless contest in the seventh with an RBI single and then Adeiny Hechavarria followed with a two-run home run to give the Blue Jays a 5-0 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Rogers Centre.

Mark Trumbo’s early three-run homer gave the Angels a 4-0 lead and Dan Haren and the bullpen managed to hold off the Royals late in a 4-3 victory.

It’s already been a landmark year for Major League Baseball in its effort to develop the game in Latin America, and the trend continued this month.

Chipper Jones and the Braves will face off against Wade LeBlanc and the Marlins in the opener of a three-game series on Monday at Marlins Park.

Reds manager Dusty Baker made two defensive changes before the bottom half of the 11th inning with the Reds holding a one-run lead against the Marlins.

Always one to deflect praise, first-year manager Robin Ventura has led the White Sox to first place in the American League Central this season.

Always one to deflect praise, first-year manager Robin Ventura has led the White Sox to first place in the American League Central this season.

Stephen Drew hit a leadoff homer in a five-run third inning, and rookie right-hander Jarrod Parker earned his 11th victory of the season Saturday night as the surging A’s came from behind to beat the Orioles, 5-2.

Stephen Drew hit a leadoff homer in a five-run third inning, and rookie right-hander Jarrod Parker earned his 11th victory of the season Saturday night as the surging A’s came from behind to beat the Orioles, 5-2.

Juan Rivera hasn’t had many at-bats since the Dodgers’ flurry of trades brought in new players. But he always was ready to play and, when he got called upon with the game on the line on Saturday night, he delivered.

Juan Rivera hasn’t had many at-bats since the Dodgers’ flurry of trades brought in new players. But he always was ready to play and, when he got called upon with the game on the line on Saturday night, he delivered.