Called up from Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Barry Zito gave up two runs, two hits and a walk in the eighth inning in his first big league game since 2013 in the A's 5-1 loss to the Astros on Sunday.

"Just being in spring training with them was awesome," the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner said. "Obviously being able to be with the team during the regular season is huge. It's a bonus for sure. I didn't expect it. That's an understatement."

The Cardinals have become the first team to clinch a postseason berth this year despite losing to the Cubs on Saturday.

The Cardinals fell at Wrigley Field, but manager Mike Matheny's team later sealed a playoff spot when San Francisco lost to Arizona. The Giants' defeat ensured St. Louis at least an NL wild-card slot.

St. Louis has the best record in the majors at 92-56 

Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant hit back-to-back homers, and tempers flared for the second straight game as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 5-4 on Saturday for its fifth straight win to tighten the NL Central race, according to an ESPN.com report.

Justin Verlander wasn't pleased about being yanked from Friday's matchup against the Royals with one out remaining in the ninth inning, but the Tigers ace was irked more by the blanket of boos that serenaded manager Brad Ausmus on his walk to the mound than his own exit.

"There were a lot of positives tonight," Verlander said after the team's 12-inning win against the Royals. "I'm a big believer in positive energy, 

Cubs manager Joe Maddon unleashed a tirade directed at the Cardinals on Friday after Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of the team's 8-3 win.

The Cubs believe Cardinals reliever Matt Belisle intentionally threw at Rizzo in retaliation for St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday being hit by a pitch on the helmet in the fifth inning. Rizzo was hit on the leg by Belisle, who was ejected along with Cardinals manager Mike Matheny.

Zack Greinke wasn't happy with his previous start, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings against the Angels, but still got the win.

Greinke used that last outing as motivation in his eight-inning domination of the D-Backs on Sunday, a 4-3 Dodgers win.

Greinke pitched eight scoreless innings to lower his major league-leading ERA to 1.61.

''Just trying to get back to pitching like normal,'' Greinke said.

The San Francisco Giants and Mike Leake share mutual interest in a continued relationship.

The Giants acquired Leake in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds earlier this summer.

Leake, 27, has a 3.16 ERA in 25.2 innings with San Francisco and Bruce Bochy has been pleased with the right-hander.

Kris Bryant hit a huge home run and tied a club rookie record for RBIs, and the Cubs beat the D-Backs 6-4 to complete a three-game sweep Sunday.

Bryant's drive leading off the fifth was calculated at 467 feet, the longest by a Cub since Anthony Rizzo hit a 475-foot blast in 2013, according to ESPN Stats and Info. 

Justin Verlander could have whined about the lack of run support in the team's loss to the Indians on Sunday. After all, it has been a troubling trend for the Tigers ace in all but two of his past 10 starts.

He was in no mood, however, to place blame on his teammates after they surrendered their 13th loss in the past 16 games.

"We had a lot of our key pieces that were missing, and quite honestly, we've missed them all year, whether it's been injuries early on or trades after the second half," said Verlander, who was saddled with the loss Sunday despite making his sixth straight quality start. "It's kind of disappointing that we never had a chance to play as the team that was constructed, but that's the game of baseball. It happens sometimes."

David Price pitched seven innings to earn his 100th victory, Jose Bautista hit his 32nd home run of the season and the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 5-1 on Saturday, according to a Yahoo.com report.

''That's awesome,'' Price said of reaching the milestone. ''It took parts of seven seasons to get here. There's been a lot of good games and I'm pumped with every one I get.''