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Suzuki navigates Mariners past A's

Other MLB results * Indians 13, Red Sox 4 * Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1 * Royals 7, White Sox 1 * Rangers 13, Angels 4 * Marlins 6, Braves 5 * Expos 4, Mets 3 * Marlins 6, Braves 5 * Reds 2, Phillies 0 * Pirates 8, Cubs 2 * Diamondbacks 10, Brewers 4

American League

Ichiro Suzuki had four hits and drove in five runs, and Bret Boone added three hits and two RBIs as the Seattle Mariners beat the first-place Oakland Athletics for the second straight day, 9-3.

Suzuki's two-run single in the fourth gave him 200 hits for the third straight season, and his other three hits were doubles.

Oakland's division lead dropped to three games over Seattle, and the A's magic number to win the West remained at five. Any combination of A's wins and Mariners losses would give Oakland its second straight division title.

Seattle cut Boston's wild-card lead to two games.

Joel Pineiro (15-11) won for just the second time in nine starts. Justin Duchscherer (1-1), recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Sept. 8, lasted four innings, allowing three runs and six hits.

Twins 7, Tigers 3

In Minneapolis, Johan Santana won his eighth straight decision, and Matthew LeCroy and Dustan Mohr homered for Minnesota. The Twins cut their magic number for winning the AL Central to five with their eighth straight win.

Yankees 7, Devil Rays 1

In St. Petersburg, Florida, Andy Pettitte became a 20-game winner for the second time, and New York clinched its ninth straight playoff berth.

The AL East leaders won for the 12th time in 14 games to climb a season-high 38 games over .500, move closer to their sixth consecutive division title and earn at least a wild-card spot in the postseason.

Pettitte (20-8), who has won 15 of 17 decisions since June 14, allowed eight hits, struck out nine and walked one in seven innings to improve to 11-1 lifetime against the Devil Rays.

National League

Albert Pujols homered in the 13th inning Saturday as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 3-2, keeping their faint playoff hopes alive.

The Astros lead the National League Central by one game over the Chicago Cubs, who were scheduled to play later Saturday at Pittsburgh, and five over the Cardinals. St. Louis has six games to go, including the series finale against Houston on Sunday.

Pujols ended it with his 43rd homer, connecting against Dan Miceli (1-3) with one out in the 13th. It was the second game-winning shot of Pujols' career -- the other came July 12 against the Padres. Pujols has 114 career homers, tied with Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner (1946-48) for the most in a player's first three seasons.

Padres 11, Rockies 3

In Denver, Gary Bennett drove in a career-high five runs, and Phil Nevin homered and had three RBIs to lead San Diego over Colorado.

The Padres won for the second time in nine games.

Brian Lawrence (9-15) pitched 7 1-3 innings and had two hits in San Diego's six-run seventh inning.

Jay Payton and Preston Wilson homered for Colorado, which has lost five of seven. Cory Vance (1-2) allowed four runs in five innings in his third major league start.

Giants 6, Dodgers 0

In Los Angeles, Kirk Rueter combined with two relievers on a seven-hitter, and Marquis Grissom went 4-for-5 with an RBI as San Francisco blanked Los Angeles.

The Giants, winners of six of their last seven games, already have clinched the NL West title.

Barry Bonds went hitless in two official at-bats, leaving him three homers behind Willie Mays' 660 for third on the career list.
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