Rockies, Tigers: Jacob Stallings’ RBI double in the ninth inning helped the Rockies beat the Tigers 4-2 on Thursday afternoon in Detroit. The Tigers began the day three games behind the Twins for the third American League wild card spot and Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal on the mound. With the score tied at 2, Brendan Rodgers led off the ninth with a single off Jason Foley (3-6) and took second on a passed ball. Stallings hit a flare into right field that got past Matt Vierling, allowing Stallings to take second. Pinch-runner Nolan Jones moved to third on a groundout and Jake Cave made it 4-2 with a long sacrifice fly. Tyler Kinley pitched the ninth inning, retiring Zach McKinstry with runners at the corners for his 12th save. Skubal pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits. He struck out six without a walk. The Tigers got a scare when Skubal was hit in the right (non-pitching) hand by Brenton Doyle’s line drive in the sixth inning. Skubal caught the deflection with his pitching hand, but spent several minutes with the Tigers training staff before staying in the game. The next hitter, Ryan McMahon, hit a bouncer back to the mound. Skubal made the play without apparent difficulty, but left after the inning.

Astros: Jason Heyward hit a two-run HR early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in a four-run eighth, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the visiting A’s to avoid a sweep. Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all. Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top. ... The Astros placed OF Chas McCormick on the 10-day IL because of a small fracture on his right hand. The move is retroactive to Wednesday. McCormick, 29, is batting .211 with five homers and 27 RBIs in 94 games this season.

Guardians: RHP Alex Cobb was placed on the 15-day IL with a blister on his middle finger, an injury that could impact the Guardians’ postseason pitching plans. Cobb, who has helped stabilize the team’s rotation since being acquired in a July trade from the Giants, recently developed the blister. He was also sidelined with a broken nail on his index finger. The team made the move before opening a four-game series against the Rays on Thursday. The 36-year-old Cobb is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in three starts for the AL Central-leading Guardians. Cobb recently carried a perfect game into the sixth inning against the Pirates.

Red Sox: LHP James Paxton still is holding out hope that he can recover from injury and pitch for the Red Sox this season, but he also plans to retire at the end of the season. The Red Sox acquired the 35-year-old in a trade with the Dodgers in July, but he strained his calf in his third start for the team.