DETROIT — Justyn-Henry Malloy’s eighth-inning sacrifice fly helped the Detroit Tigers rally from a 3-0 deficit to move closer to the postseason with a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday afternoon.

“We do believe in what we can accomplish,” Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch said. “Whether that’s magic, whether that’s momentum, whether that’s mojo, whether that’s vibe, whatever, we love it and we want more of it.”

Detroit, which has won five straight, is tied with Kansas City for the second and third American League wildcard spots, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins.

“We’re bringing the energy right now,” said rookie Colt Keith, who drove in two runs and scored another. “We have such a good team. I love this group.”

The Tigers trailed 3-2 with one out in the eighth, but Riley Greene singled off Garrett Cleavinger (7-5) and Matt Vierling drew a walk.

Keith tied the game with an RBI single, bringing up Malloy — the last position player on the Tigers bench — to pinch hit for Kerry Carpenter. He lifted a fly ball to medium center and Vierling easily beat Jose Siri’s throw.

ROYALS 7, NATIONALS 4: Kansas City completed a series sweep with a victory over the Nationals in Washington.

Pinch hitter Adam Frazier’s one-out, line drive base hit to left field in the top of the ninth drove in two runs, breaking a 4-4 tie and guiding the Royals to their third straight win following a seven-game losing streak.

“It doesn’t surprise me, to be honest,” Royals Manager Matt Quatraro said. “I like to brag on these guys because they’re so professional. They are so matter of fact, turn the page from good or bad. They don’t feel sorry for themselves when they’re getting beat and they don’t get too high when you’re winning. Hopefully they have more to celebrate, but it doesn’t surprise me.”

Salvador Perez’s second single of the game scored Frazier, chasing Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan (3-8).

WHITE SOX 7, ANGELS 0: Chicago averted a record-breaking loss for the third straight day, beating visiting Los Angeles behind Chris Flexen’s sharp pitching performance.

Chicago improved to 39-120 with its three-game sweep of Los Angeles. It has been tied with the 1962 New York Mets for the modern major league record for losses since Sunday’s 4-2 setback at San Diego.

The White Sox have three games left this weekend at Detroit. They finished their home schedule with a 23-58 record.

ROCKIES 10, CARDINALS 8: Charlie Blackmon had three RBI and three runs in one of the final games of his professional career, Michael Toglia had three hits and two RBI, and Colorado avoided a sweep with a come-from-behind 10-8 victory over the Cardinals in Denver.

A two-run, game-tying double from Ezequiel Tovar was the catalyst of a five-run eighth inning for the Rockies, who had lost five of their previous six games. The double was Tovar’s National League-leading 45th of the season. Ryan McMahon’s double to right field in the next at-bat brought home Tovar for what would be the game-winning run.

NOTES

TAMPA BAY SHORTSTOP Wander Franco will go to trial on charges that he sexually abused a minor, a judge in the Dominican Republic said.

After an investigation that lasted over a year, judge Pascual Valenzuela of the northern province of Puerto Plata ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecutors was worthy of the case moving to trial.

No date has been set for the trial, which will be handled by a panel of judges. In the Dominican Republic, there are no jury trials.

DODGERS: Clayton Kershaw is hopeful he can pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, although his stubborn toe injury has still not healed.

The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner has been limited to playing catch this week rather than face hitters. Kershaw went on the injured list Aug. 31 with a bone spur in his left big toe. He didn’t pitch until July 25 after having offseason shoulder injury.

“I’m not giving up,” Kershaw said Thursday before the Dodgers’ series finale against San Diego. “I’m going to keep trying every day. Maybe it will feel better in a day. I’m waiting for that day to happen.”

Because of his toe, Kershaw can’t pitch the way he wants to and other areas of his body are overcompensating for it.

“Whenever my toe feels better, I’m confident I’ll be good,” he said. “But other stuff pops up when I’m not throwing normally. There is just a max percentage that I can throw right now.”

The 36-year-old left-hander was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in seven starts before getting hurt.