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Twins win with five double plays

Boston Red Sox right fielder Trot Nixon watches his two-run homer off New York Yankees starter Mike Mussina in the second inning of their American League baseball game in New York's Yankee Stadium on Sunday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Minnesota turned five double plays for the first time in 11 years and Scott Baker pitched six strong innings as the Twins beat the Cleveland Indians 6-1 on Sunday, keeping pressure on Detroit and Chicago in the race for postseason play.

The Twins closed within one game of Detroit in the American League Central and moved four games ahead of the White Sox in the wild-card race. Minnesota has won eight of 10.

Baker (5-8) allowed one run and six hits. The right-hander came in 0-3 with a 6.64 ERA in four career starts against the Indians.

Matt Guerrier pitched the final three innings for his first career save. Kevin Kouzmanoff grounded into his second double play of the game to end it.

The last time Minnesota made five double plays in a game was June 3, 1995, against Texas.

Torii Hunter's two-run single with the bases loaded broke a 1-1 tie in the third against Paul Byrd (9-8).

Orioles 12, Tigers 8, 10 innings

At Detroit, Miguel Tejada hit a tie-breaking single to spark a four-run 10th inning and help Baltimore beat Detroit.

Athletics 5, White Sox 4

At Oakland, California, Frank Thomas dealt another big blow to his former team's dwindling playoff hopes, hitting a three-run homer to help Oakland beat Chicago.

Red Sox 6, Yankees 3, 1st Game

Red Sox 5, Yankees 4, 2nd Game

At New York, Boston beat New York twice in one day for the first time in 30 years, rallying on Mark Loretta's ninth-inning sacrifice fly. In the opener of the teams' second straight doubleheader, David Ortiz's league-leading 49th homer and Kevin Youkilis' three-run double in the seventh boosted Boston.

Blue Jays 5, Devil Rays 3

At Toronto, Aaron Hill hit a homer in the eighth inning to lead Toronto past Tampa Bay.

Rangers 8, Angels 1

At Arlington, Texas, Vicente Padilla pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning, Gary Matthews Jr. hit a two-run homer and Texas beat Los Angeles.

Mariners 10, Royals 5

At Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Snelling and Kenji Johjima homered to lead Seattle.

Pinch-hitter Terrmel Sledge singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on Sunday to take over first place in the National League West for the first time since Aug. 9.

The victory gave the Padres a half-game lead over Los Angeles, while the Dodgers took a one-game lead over Philadelphia for the wild card.

Sledge singled to right off Jonathon Broxton to score pinch-runner Khalil Greene from second base. Josh Bard singled with one out, Greene came into the game and Geoff Blum walked.

With the bases loaded, Broxton (3-1) struck out Brian Giles and retired Josh Barfield on a foul popup to keep the Dodgers within one run.

Scott Linebrink (7-3) shut out Los Angeles in the eighth, and Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his 39th save in 43 chances. The save was his 475th, three shy of Lee Smith's major league record.

Pirates 3, Mets 0

At Pittsburgh, New York failed for the third straight day to clinch the NL East title at PNC Park when Pittsburgh finished off a sweep.

Phillies 6, Astros 4

At Houston, Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 57th home run and Mike Lieberthal connected twice as Randy Wolf and the Phillies kept up their push for a wild-card spot by beating Houston.

Braves 8, Marlins 7, 10 innings

At Atlanta, Marcus Giles hit an RBI single and another runner scored when Florida outfielder Josh Willingham muffed a catch.

Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 1

At Phoenix, Jeff Francis gave up three hits in eight strong innings and Jeff Baker hit his first homer of the season to help Colorado beat error-prone Arizona.

Cubs 11, Reds 3

At Chicago, Carlos Zambrano hit his fifth homer of the season and threw seven shutout innings in his return to help Chicago beat Cincinnati.

Nationals 6, Brewers 1

At Washington, Austin Kearns homered and hit the go-ahead single in the seventh to lead Washington over Milwaukee. Doug Davis (10-11) was perfect for the first 4 1-3 innings before Kearns hit his 23rd home run of the season.
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