Mets miss playoffs, Cleveland caps historic comeback

(AFP) The New York Mets sealed their season’s collapse on Sunday with a dramatic loss in Miami, missing out on the final playoff berth, which instead went to the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds entered Sunday’s regular-season finale holding the National League’s third wild-card spot.

Juan Soto's only path to the postseason was a Mets win against the Miami Marlins coupled with a Reds loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee did its part by beating Cincinnati 4–2, but the Mets failed to capitalize, falling 4–0 to the Marlins.

Soto managed only a walk in three plate appearances, while Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor added a single.

This early exit marks a major disappointment for the Mets, who were considered title contenders after reaching the Championship Series last season.

Earlier this year, the Mets made a massive gamble in their push for a World Series, acquiring Soto from the crosstown Yankees with a 15-year, $765 million deal.

The plan appeared to be working in June, when the Mets owned the league’s best record at 45–24, before collapsing despite avoiding major injuries to Soto or their other stars.

“It’s hard to even put into words. It’s pain, it’s frustration. We came in expecting so much, and now we’re heading home,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, from Venezuela, admitted afterward.

"It was a team made not only to get to October but to go far in October," he said.

Soto, meanwhile, said he believes in the team's future "100 percent." "One season is not going to determine what we have here. We have everything it takes to go all the way," he said.

Ohtani sets Dodgers record

The Reds, who finished with the same 83–79 record as the Mets, will face the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, starting Tuesday in the wild-card round.

The Los Angeles Angels, leaders of the National League West at 93–69, finished the season with a decisive 6–1 victory over the Seattle Mariners.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, from Japan, launched his 55th home run of the year, breaking the record for Los Angeles.

The previous franchise record was 54 home runs, also set by Ohtani last year.

Ohtani finished the season third among Major League hitters in home runs, behind Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies with 56 and Cal Raleigh of the Mariners with 60.

Raleigh, who was held to a single hit on Sunday, finished two home runs short of tying the American League record, set by Aaron Judge of the Yankees.

Rocchio caps historic comeback for Cleveland 

In Cleveland, the Guardians clinched the American League Central division title, completing one of the greatest comebacks in Major League Baseball history.

The Guardians (88–74) finished ahead of the Detroit Tigers (87–75) after trailing by 15½ games in early July.

Cleveland clinched the division title for the second consecutive year with a thrilling 9–8 win over the Texas Rangers, coming from three runs down in the 10th inning.

In the bottom of the 10th, George Valera drove in runs following a double by Josh Naylor, and Venezuelan Brayan Rocchio finished the rally with a three-run home run.

The Guardians will face the Tigers in one wild-card matchup, while the New York Yankees will take on their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox, in the other.

The Yankees defeated the Baltimore Orioles 3–2, but in the other key matchup on the final day, they fell short of overtaking the American League East lead as the Toronto Blue Jays routed the Tampa Bay Rays 13–4.

Mexican Jonathan Aranda starred for the Rays, hitting two home runs in the game.