The Pirates blew a ninth-inning lead against the Reds on Sunday, ensuring the franchise yet another losing season.

Pittsburgh was 16 games over .500 on Aug. 6, but has lost 18 of 23 to fall to 77-82.

The Pirates extended their major North American professional sports record -- 20 straight losing seasons.

The Orioles and Yankees are tied atop the American League East with four games left in the regular season.

Baltimore needs one more win within the division to capture home-field advantage in the event of a one-game playoff against New York for the division title.

The Orioles are now 41-27 in the division and the Yankees are 37-31.

The Nationals defeated the Cardinals on Saturday, cutting their Magic Number to one as they look to win the National League East.

Washington has put on hold a champagne celebration until they win the division. They clinched a playoff berth earlier this month.

The Cardinals routed the Nationals on Friday night, reducing their magic number to clinch a playoff berth to three.

The win by St. Louis eliminated Arizona from playoff contention.

The defending World Series champions are currently in the lead for the second Wild Card berth in the National League. The Dodgers are their closest competition.

Reds starter Homer Bailey threw the season's seventh no-hitter, beating the Pirates 1-0 on Friday night, according to an ESPN.com report.

The seven no-hitters matches the modern record for most in a season, tying 1990 and 1991. There were eight no-hitters in 1884.

Gio Gonzalez became the first 21-game winner in the majors and the Nationals beat the Phillies 7-3 Thursday night to move closer to an NL East title. 

"We have to keep fighting," Gonzalez said. "It won't be easy. We just want to do what we've been doing all year."

Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is the first 20-game winner on a sub-.500 team since Roger Clemens with the Blue Jays in 1997 and a legitimate NL Cy Young Award contender.

Dickey limited the Pirates to three runs in 7 2/3 innings Thursday before departing with a three-run cushion. The Mets held on for a 6-5 win as Dickey improved to 20-6.

"It was as hard as it's ever been to not get emotional, that's for sure," Dickey said. "I mean, from the get-go, from the introductions to the last pitch."

Freddie Freeman hit a game-winning home run on Tuesday night as the Braves beat the Marlins 4-3, clinching a playoff berth in the process.

It was fitting that Freeman launched the deciding home run. On the final day of the 2011 season, he grounded to first base to begin a double-play that ended Atlanta's season after a historic September collapse.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth against Miami to pick up the win. In last year's finale, he blew a ninth-inning lead in the eventual loss.

Finally, Chipper Jones started the team's rally on Tuesday night with a leadoff double. He went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts in the 2011 finale.

The Braves defeated the Phillies behind a strong effort from Tim Hudson on Sunday, reducing their magic number to two with nine games left.

Atlanta currently holds down the No. 1 Wild Card spot in the National League. They are six games ahead of St. Louis, who would be the second entrant if the season ended Sunday.

Eric Chavez criticized the Athletics for how they celebrated hitting three home runs in the top of the 13th inning at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

The Yankees went on to win the game in 14 innings and afterward Oakland defended their right to celebrate as they wished.

"Listen, we've got 17 rookies in here, you know?" Jonny Gomes said. "I mean, these guys are playing the game to have fun, you know? These guys aren't playing the game to go to arbitration. These guys aren't playing the game for free agency. They're playing the game for fun, you know? And when you take fun out of the game, you're going to have 17 rookies crumble."

Chavez told the New York Post that Oakland's "orchestrated clapping, cheering celebration" was "high schoolish" and "pretty unprofessional."

"That's his business if he wants to come out and say things like that," A's catcher Derek Norris said. "We're going to play our game, and if nobody likes it, it just gives everybody another reason to hate us. It seems to be a common theme with us."