CHICAGO — Dusty Baker was missing when the Cincinnati Reds became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot.
The main man in the dugout was sidelined Thursday for a second consecutive game after being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat.
“Obviously we won the last two games for him,” reliever Sean Marshall said after a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs. “We have him in our thoughts, but we got good news on his update.
“Hopefully he’ll be back with us tomorrow and when it really matters, when we clinch [the division]. Hopefully we get to celebrate this weekend with him.”
Ace Johnny Cueto and the National League Central leaders ensured themselves of at least a wild-card spot. Cincinnati cut its magic number to two for winning the division for the second time in three years.
The Reds said Baker would remain in a Chicago hospital for an additional day so doctors could monitor his progress. The manager left Wrigley Field before Wednesday night’s game and underwent another test Thursday.
Baker is expected to return to Cincinnati today. Bench coach Chris Speier ran the team for a second consecutive game.
“He looked good, very good. He’ll be there tomorrow,” said General Manager Walt Jocketty, who visited Baker on Thursday morning.
Jocketty said he didn’t know if Baker would be able to manage when the Reds open a series at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“Chris Speier did an excellent job, but I think he’s [Dusty] missed and we’re looking forward to having him back, and more importantly, we’re hoping for the best with his health,” first baseman Joey Votto said.
“I know he’s excited and happy,” Speier said. “Just wish that he was here to partake in it, but he’ll be back soon.”
Cueto (18-9) pitched six shutout innings as the Red completed a three-game sweep.
The Reds broke a scoreless tie by getting five consecutive singles off reliever Manuel Corpas (0-2) in the seventh during a five-run rally capped by Henry Rodriguez’s tworun double.
Chicago starter Jason Berken allowed just two hits in six innings against a lineup missing most of the Reds’ regulars.
Cueto gave up five hits and four walks and broke a three-game losing streak.
The Reds secured their second playoff appearance in three years despite having the back of their bullpen wiped out by injuries during spring training and losing their best hitter — 2010 National League MVP Votto — for nearly two months.
BREWERS 9, PIRATES 7 Rickie Weeks hit a tying two-run triple and scored the goahead run on Aramis Ramirez’s single, helping surging Milwaukee rally for a victory over host Pittsburgh.
CARDINALS 5, ASTROS 4 Pinch-hitter Carlos Beltran snapped a sixth-inning tie with a two-run double and Allen Craig hit a three-run home run, powering host St. Louis to a victory over Houston. Beltran’s double put St. Louis up 5-3, rewarding Jaime Garcia (5-7) for keeping it close and putting the Cardinals 2 1/2 games up for the second NL wild card with 12 games remaining.
GIANTS 9, ROCKIES 2 Pablo Sandoval hit two home runs, and host San Francisco reduced its magic number to clinch the division to four by beating Colorado. Buster Posey also connected for the Giants to back another strong start by Barry Zito (13-8) as San Francisco completed a four-game sweep.
PADRES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5 Jesus Guzman homered and Clayton Richard was effective enough as visiting San Diego held on to beat Arizona. Richard (14-12) allowed 4 runs and 8 hits in 6 innings to raise his career record against Arizona to 6-0 — including three victories in three starts at Chase Field over the past 10 weeks.
NATIONALS 4, DODGERS 1 Washington brought postseason baseball back to the nation’s capital for the first time since 1933, clinching a playoff spot with a victory over Los Angeles. The Nationals ensured at least an NL wild-card spot behind Ross Detwiler’s six strong innings and Ryan Zimmerman’s RBI double.
PHILLIES 16, METS 1 Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley sparked an eight-run first inning, Ryan Howard added a late grand slam and visiting Philadelphia routed New York. Philadelphia set season highs for runs and hits (21) — including 19 singles.
American League
ATHLETICS 12, TIGERS 4 Seth Smith homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and visiting Oakland avoided a three-game sweep by beating Detroit.
INDIANS 4, TWINS 3 Casey Kotchman singled with the bases-loaded in the 10th inning, giving host Cleveland a victory over Minnesota. Pinch-hitter Shin-Soo Choo doubled off the wall in left-center to start the inning against reliever Anthony Swarzak (3-5). Choo took third on Jason Kipnis’ groundout before Carlos Santana and Michael Brantley were intentionally walked to load the bases. Kotchman bounced a ground ball up the middle against the drawn-in infield for his third hit of the game.
RAYS 7, RED SOX 4 B.J. Upton hit a gameending, three-run home run off Vicente Padilla, capping Tampa Bay’s six-run ninth inning and lifting the host Rays to a victory over Boston. ROYALS 4, WHITE SOX 3 Alex Rios was thrown out at the plate, Alexei Ramirez was picked off third base and AL Central-leading Chicago again failed to come up with a clutch hit in a loss to host Kansas City.
YANKEES 10, BLUE JAYS 7 Streaking Ichiro Suzuki hit a go-ahead, two-run double in a seven-run fourth inning capped by Nick Swisher’s grand slam, and host New York beat Toronto.
Thursday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
St. Louis 5, Houston 4 Cincinnati 5, Chicago Cubs 3 San Diego 6, Arizona 5 San Francisco 9, Colorado 2 Milwaukee 9, Pittsburgh 7 Washington 4, LA Dodgers 1 Philadelphia 16, NY Mets 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland 4, Minnesota 3 (10) Oakland 12, Detroit 4 NY Yankees 10, Toronto 7 Tampa Bay 7, Boston 4 Kansas City 4, Chicago White Sox 3 Texas at LA Angels, (n)
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/21/2012