MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Tucker Barnhart and Eugenio Suárez had RBI singles a three-run 10th inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Minnesota Twins 5-3 in a regular-season finale that determined postseason matchups. Cincinnati became the National League’s seventh seed and will play No. 2 Atlanta starting Wednesday.
Minnesota clinched its second straight American League Central title despite the defeat when the Chicago White Sox lost to the Cubs. The Twins host No. 6 Houston starting Tuesday. Joey Votto had a based-loaded walk in the 10th for the Reds.
The Twins will play in the first game of the expanded 16-team MLB playoffs, by hosting the Astros at 1 p.m. Tuesday on ABC. Game 2 is set for Wednesday at noon on ESPN2. Game 3, if necessary, will be on Thursday.