Jordy Mercer’s first career grand slam pushed the Pirates to the brink of something even rarer: A series win at Miller Park. Mercer’s slam off Matt Garza capped a five-run sixth. Top Milwaukee prospect Orlando Arcia answered with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning — his first career home run — but the Pirates held on, 5-3, to remain 2 1/2 games back of the second National League Wild Card.

Jose Reyes and Asdrubal Cabrera opened the bottom of the first inning of the Mets’ 9-4 win on Friday with back-to-back homers off Phillies starter Adam Morgan, marking just the second time in franchise history the Mets have opened a game with consecutive dingers.

The reliever who finally allowed a run, Peter Moylan, was philosophical after the Royals’ amazing streak of consecutive scoreless relief innings ended on Friday at 41 1/3. “I think the good thing about a streak ending is that it’s an opportunity for another one to start,” he said.

While his teammates celebrated Friday’s 3-1 victory over the White Sox on Friday night, veteran left fielder Norichika Aoki quietly dealt with Mariners officials and then made some phone calls after being informed he was being optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma.

It’s time to clone him.

The slow jogs have almost become a nightly event for Gary Sanchez, who insists that he doesn’t hear a thing while making that 360-foot trip around the basepaths. If so, the rookie might be the only one not caught up in an exciting display that has kept the Yankees in the postseason chase.

The Tigers have withstood injuries and stayed in contention with three young pitchers in their rotation. Friday was a reminder why their chances still rely on the veteran ace.

Following Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the Astros, the Rays optioned right-hander Tyler Sturdevant to Triple-A Durham and activated infielder/outfielder Nick Franklin.

Top prospect Alex Reyes will make his first Major League start on Saturday when he fills in for Mike Leake, who has been diagnosed with shingles. Manager Mike Matheny announced the starter switch after the Cardinals’ 3-1 victory over Oakland on Friday.

As the Pirates gear up for a playoff push, they may be getting a return to form from Andrew McCutchen.

Justin Upton’s go-ahead two-run homer punctuated a sixth-inning outburst in support of Justin Verlander, sending the Tigers to their fifth consecutive win with a 4-2 victory over the Angels on Friday night at Comerica Park.

One of the longest runs in the 16-year history of Beat the Streak came to an end on Friday, when the Astros’ Jose Altuve endured a rare hitless game. User csteele12 entered the day with 48 straight successful picks in MLB.com’s flagship fantasy game, one shy of the all-time leader and nine away from topping Joe DiMaggio’s hallowed 56-game hitting streak. But that’s where the streak ended, as Altuve went 0-for-4 against the Rays at Minute Maid Park.

The semifinals of the best throwback jersey voting pit the White Sox against the Nationals and the A’s vs. the Astros.

In need of another storybook run as they look to scale the National League Wild Card standings, the Mets on Friday turned to a player best known for his flair for the dramatic. Wilmer Flores slugged his third career grand slam, Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Reyes combined for three additional homers and Bartolo Colon cruised, leading the Mets to a 9-4 win over the Phillies at Citi Field.

Concerned about Jacob deGrom’s consecutive poor starts, the Mets spent this week digging into the Trackman technology available to them at ballparks around the country, hoping to spot the root cause of their ace’s struggles. Coming away convinced that deGrom’s issues are mechanical, not health-related, the team will spend the next 10 days attempting to fix them.

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones exited Friday’s game against the Yankees in the second inning with a left hamstring strain, though the injury isn’t believed to be serious.

There are many reasons for the Royals’ recent resurgence, not the least of which has been the return of outfielder Lorenzo Cain, who missed much of July. On Friday, K.C. improved to 17-8 in games Cain has played since his July 29 return.