American League
Michael Cuddyer hit the first pitch of the 11th inning into the left-field seats and the Minnesota Twins beat Detroit 5-4 Friday night, putting the Tigers one defeat from tying the modern-day record for losses.
If Detroit (41-119) loses today or tomorrow against the Twins, the Tigers will tie the post-1900 record of 120 losses set by the 1962 New York Mets.
PHOTO: EPA
"I don't want it to happen, but I don't know what else I can do or they can do right now," Detroit manager Alan Trammell said. "Honestly, if we do win the next two games, yeah great, but with 119 losses, we're still going to be talked about. But this week has really been uplifting to watch this effort."
Lew Ford's double gave Minnesota a 4-3 lead in the 10th, but the suddenly scrappy Tigers, who had won three straight, tied it in on Shane Halter's RBI single.
"We've had it there all year, but we haven't played like we should," Halter said. "It just goes to show you these guys do have some intensity and passion. I just wish we would've done it all year, and not just in the last few games. We wouldn't be in this situation if we had."
Eddie Guardado (3-5) blew a save in the 10th, but earned the win after Cuddyer's fourth homer off Franklyn German (2-4). LaTroy Hawkins pitched the 11th for his second save.
Yankees 11, Orioles 2
Orioles 3, Yankees 2
In New York, Yankees rookie Jorge De Paula took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his first major league start, but New York was denied its 100th win when Baltimore rallied for a doubleheader split.
Jorge Posada hit his 30th homer to tie Yogi Berra's club record for a catcher as the Yankees won the first game.
Jerry Hairston tied the game with a two-run triple in the eighth, and rookie Robert Machado had a one-out single in the 10th off Chris Hammond (3-2) for the go-ahead run.
Ruben Sierra's two-run homer in the first inning off Rodrigo Lopez held up until the eighth inning.
The Yankees put runners on first and second with none out in the ninth, but couldn't score against Kerry Ligtenberg (4-2). Jorge Julio worked the 10th for his career-high 36th save.
Alfonso Soriano, Juan Rivera and Aaron Boone also homered for the Yankees against Damian Moss (1-5) in the first game.
Andy Pettitte (21-8) tied his career high for victories set in 1996. He won for the 17th time in 20 decisions. It was his fourth straight victory.
Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 2
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Pedro Martinez threw three scoreless innings in his final playoff tuneup, and Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer as Boston beat Tampa Bay.
With their 17th win in 24 games, the Red Sox improved to 95-65 -- the first time Boston has won that many since advancing to the World Series in 1986.
Boston manager Grady Little named Martinez the starter for the playoff opener Wednesday at Oakland.
John Burkett (12-9) allowed two runs and four hits over three relief innings for the win.
Jeremi Gonzalez (6-11) hit Boston's Nomar Garciaparra in the arm with a pitch in the third inning. It was the 95th batter hit by Tampa Bay's staff this season, one more than the major league record set by the Devil Rays last year.
National LeagueJuan Pierre stole two bases and singled three times to spur the Florida Marlins over the New York Mets 4-3 Friday to clinch their first playoff berth since winning the 1997 World Series.
The Marlins will face the National League West champion Giants in a best-of-5 series beginning Tuesday in San Francisco.
"We're happy to get in, but this is just the beginning," said Derrek Lee, who drove in two runs. "We want to go deep in the playoffs."
Leadoff batter Pierre, a catalyst all season, set a team record with 64 stolen bases, reached a career high with 203 hits and played a part in Florida's first three runs.
The Marlins trailed Philadelphia in the wild-card race last Saturday, but pulled away with five consecutive wins. At 90-70, they're 20 games above .500 for the first time since 1997. The victory put 72-year-old manager Jack McKeon in the postseason for the first time. Florida is 74-48 (.607) since he took over May 11.
With the win, Florida eliminated the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs, still vying for the NL Central title, from wild-card contention.
"We always went to the playoffs in high school," said 23-year-old pitcher Josh Beckett, Florida's probable starter in the opening playoff game. "This time I actually get to drink beer."
Carl Pavano (12-13), the No. 5 starter on a strong pitching staff, limited New York to six hits and three runs in 7 1-3 innings. Ugueth Urbina got his sixth save.
The Marlins' rapidly expanding bandwagon attracted 33,215 fans, the largest crowd of the week and the fourth-largest of the season in Miami.
Aaron Heilman (2-7) took the loss.
Braves 6, Phillies 0
In Philadelphia, Horacio Ramirez pitched six sharp innings as Atlanta moved closer to clinching home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs with a victory over Philadelphia in the final night game at Veterans Stadium.
The Phillies, atop the NL wild-card standings a week ago, lost their sixth straight game. They were eliminated from the playoff race Thursday night after being swept by Florida.
Ramirez (12-4) allowed five hits and no walks. Jaret Wright pitched a perfect seventh, Ray King and Will Cunnane worked the eighth and Kent Mercker got the final three outs to complete the five-hitter.
The Phillies are closing Veterans Stadium after 33 seasons. They're moving across the street into Citizens Bank Park next season.
See the Scoreboard on p19 for the results of other MLB games.
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