Bryan Mitchell earned his first major league win, combining with Luis Severino and Tyler Clippard to shut down the dangerous Toronto Blue Jays, and the Yankees kept up their surprising surge with a 2-0 victory Wednesday night that completed a three-game sweep in New York.

Starlin Castro homered and Brian McCann had an RBI single for the Yankees, who have won four straight and 10 of 14. They closed within 2½ games of Baltimore for the second AL wild card and are 3½ behind skidding Toronto, which is a game behind the Red Sox in the AL East.

Marcus Stroman (9-7) struck out eight in five innings but the Blue Jays lost for the fifth time in six games. They were swept for the third time this season, first since May 16-18 by Tampa Bay.

Rays 7, Orioles 6 — Corey Dickerson had a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning to help Tampa Bay beat Baltimore and avoid a three-game sweep in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Orioles and Tigers begin a three-game series Friday night.

Dickerson, in a 2-for-28 slide, tied the score 6-all with an RBI single in the fifth and got the decisive hit during the seventh off Mychal Givens (8-2).

White Sox 7, Tigers 4 — Avisail Garcia hit a go-ahead single against his former team in a four-run eighth inning for host Chicago.

The Tigers wasted a chance to move into a tie with Baltimore for the second wild card.

Jose Abreu led off the eighth with a single for his third hit and scored on Justin Morneau’s double off Shane Greene (3-4). After Todd Frazier grounded out, Garcia singled to right-center. Tyler Saladino and Adam Eaton added RBI singles.

Nationals 5, Braves 4 (11 innings) — Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg winced after throwing a pitch and was forced to leave in the third inning of his first start back from the disabled list, and host Washington went on to defeat Atlanta.

Strasburg, making his first start since Aug. 17 after being sidelined by soreness in his right elbow, exited after 2⅓ innings, allowing a run on two hits.

There was no announcement on the severity of the injury.

Athletics 4, Angels 1 — The entire infield ran to the mound to congratulate Jharel Cotton on a memorable major league debut for host Oakland.

The 24-year-old righthander (1-0) allowed one run and two hits over 6⅓ innings, striking out three and walking two in a 102-pitch performance that stymied Los Angeles.

Mets 6, Reds 3 — Noah Syndergaard lasted five shaky shutout innings and New York won its fifth in a row, beating host Cincinnati for a three-game sweep.

Pirates 4, Cardinals 3 — Jung Ho Kang led off the eighth with a home run and host Pittsburgh snapped an eight-game losing skid.

Indians 6, Astros 5 — Carlos Carrasco (11-7) overcame a home run and an apparent bug in his eye to pitch into the eighth for host Cleveland.

The game-time temperature was 87 degrees, causing swarms of midges to journey from Lake Erie to the muggy ballpark.

Marlins 6, Phillies 0 — Andrew Cashner matched his season high for strikeouts with nine over 5⅓ innings and earned his first win for host Miami by shutting out Philadelphia.

Brewers 2, Cubs 1 — Jonathan Villar hit two home runs and Keon Broxton robbed Anthony Rizzo of a homer in the ninth for host Milwaukee.

Twins 6, Royals 5 — Miguel Sano's hustle led host Minnesota to a pair of early runs and his RBI double tied the game in the decisive seventh inning, helping the Twins dodge a series sweep by Kansas City.

Rockies 6, Giants 5 — Cristian Adames hit a two-run double in the ninth off veteran Joe Nathan to rally host Colorado past San Francisco.