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Ichiro inches toward a record as Mariners win

Ichiro Suzuki, right, of the Mariners signs autographs before the start of a game with the Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Sunday. Seattle won the game 9-0. PHOTO: AP

American League

Ichiro Suzuki moved within six of George Sisler's 84-year-old record of 257 hits in a season, and the Seattle Mariners beat Texas 9-0 Sunday to damage the Rangers' playoff hopes.

Baek Cha-seung (2-4) allowed just three hits in eight innings, and Scott Atchison pitched the ninth to complete the three-hitter.

With a come-from-behind victory Saturday, the Rangers (86-69) had closed within two games of AL West-leading Oakland (88-66), which played later Sunday at Anaheim (86-68). The Angels start a four-game series in Texas on Monday.

Ryan Drese (14-9) had won his three previous starts and had a 2.87 ERA at home but gave up six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Red Sox 11, Yankees 4

In Boston, Curt Schilling (21-6), who leads in the major leagues in wins, allowed one hit in seven innings as Boston battered Kevin Brown (10-5) in his return from a broken left hand.

Boston's Pedro Astacio and New York's Brad Halsey were ejected in the eighth inning for throwing inside to batters.

After losing Friday's opener, Boston won the final two games and took the season series (11-8) for the first time since 1999. The Red Sox (93-62), who began the day six games ahead of Anaheim in the wild-card race, closed within 3 1/2 games of first-place New York (97-59) in the AL East.

Boston scored four runs in the first inning off Brown, who got just two outs in his first appearance since breaking his non-pitching hand when he punched a clubhouse wall in frustration. The Red Sox made it 7-0 in the second against Esteban Loaiza, who allowed seven runs in 4 2-3 innings.

Orioles 5, Tigers 0

In Baltimore, Rodrigo Lopez (14-8) pitched a three-hitter for his second career shutout while Baltimore completed a 6-0 season sweep.

Miguel Tejada homered and drove in three runs, and B.J. Surhoff also connected for the Orioles.

Detroit, blanked in its last 21 innings, has lost five straight and seven of eight. Mike Maroth (11-12) allowed five runs and nine hits in 7 2-3 innings.

White Sox 5, Royals 1

In Chicago, Jon Garland (11-11) gave up one run and five hits in 8 1-3 innings, and Damaso Marte finished for his sixth save. Wilson Valdez hit his first career homer, a drive off Brian Anderson (5-12), as the Royals dropped to 57-98 -- their second-most losses behind 2002 (62-100).

Angels 6, Athletics 2

In Anaheim, California, Troy Glaus drove in three runs to back John Lackey, and the Anaheim Angels beat Oakland 6-2 Sunday to pull within one game of the AL West-leading Athletics with a week to play.

Oakland (88-67), which has had sole possession of the first place since Aug. 6, dropped to 10-14 in September. After taking two of three from the A's, Anaheim (87-68) goes to Texas for a four-game series starting Monday before closing with three games at Oakland.

National League

Alex Cora's second homer in two days provided the unexpected spark Los Angeles needed.

The light-hitting second baseman homered and drove in two runs again, and the Dodgers moved 2 1/2 games ahead of the Giants in the NL West with a 7-4 victory over San Francisco on Sunday.

Barry Bonds' 703rd homer gave the Giants a third-inning lead. But Cora was just one of several heroes for the Dodgers, who took two of three weekend games in San Francisco.

A day after sitting out in observance of Yom Kippur, Shawn Green drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth to put the Dodgers ahead.

Jayson Werth hit a two-run homer off Brett Tomko (11-7), who lost for the first time in 12 starts since July 29. Jeff Weaver (13-12) allowed nine hits over six innings for his first win in six starts, and Eric Gagne got six outs to earn his 45th save in 47 chances.

In their final home series of the season, the Giants wasted a chance to reclaim the wild-card lead from the Cubs. San Francisco remained a half-game behind Chicago.

Mets 3, Cubs 2

In New York, Al Leiter pitched two-hit ball for six innings to earn his first win in six weeks, and New York kept Chicago from improving its playoff chances.

The Cubs managed only seven runs in 30 innings over the weekend, losing two of three games to the lowly Mets. Sammy Sosa, in a 5-for-41 slump, went 0-for-12 in the series.

New York capitalized on wildness by Kerry Wood (8-8) to score three runs in the first inning. Leiter (10-8) had been 0-4 in seven starts since beating Arizona on Aug. 14. Braden Looper finished the three-hitter, earning his 28th save.

Braves 6, Marlins 3

In Atlanta, the Florida Marlins were eliminated from postseason contention, losing to Atlanta as John Thomson held the Marlins to one run in seven innings. Florida has lost six straight -- its longest skid since May 2003.

Dontrelle Willis (10-11) gave up six runs and seven hits in six innings, dropping the NL Rookie of the Year to 1-3 in seven starts since Aug. 14. Florida finished 5-14 against the Braves this season.

Chipper Jones drove in two runs for Atlanta, raising his total to 95 with six games remaining. Jones, trying to join Sammy Sosa as the only NL players with nine straight 100-RBI seasons, had just 34 at the All-Star break after playing hurt for much of the first half.

Thomson (14-8) improved to 5-0 in seven starts since Aug. 15, allowing four hits.

Cardinals 9, Rockies 3

In Denver, Albert Pujols hit his 46th homer to move within one of the major league lead and Jason Marquis pitched seven strong innings, helping St. Louis beat Colorado for its fifth straight victory.

Pujols was 4-for-5 with four RBIs, Hector Luna tied a career high with four of the Cardinals' 16 hits and St. Louis (103-52) moved 6 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees for the best record in baseball.

The Rockies closed out their worst home season at Coors Field.
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