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Yankees win to close in on the Red Sox

Mike Mussina allowed three singles over seven innings and Doug Mientkiewicz hit a three-run homer as the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 12-0 on Tuesday to pull within two-and-a-half games of Boston in the American League East.

New York, which has won 11 of 13, is as close to the first-place Red Sox, who lost 4-3 to Toronto, as it has been since before play on April 21. They also opened a four-and-a-half game lead over Detroit in the wild-card race.

Mientkiewicz also had an RBI single, and Melky Cabrera and Hideki Matsui both drove in three runs for the Yankees, who are closing in on their 13th straight playoff appearance. Derek Jeter added three hits.

Ramon Hernandez singled twice and Miguel Tejada reached on an infield dribbler in the seventh for Baltimore's only hits off Mussina (10-10). Mussina struck out six, walked one and has thrown 12 two-three scoreless innings over two outings since returning to the rotation. He has won at least 10 games in an American League-record 16 straight seasons.

Jon Leicester (2-2) allowed six runs and six hits in four innings in his first career appearance against New York.

Blue Jays 4, Red Sox 3

At Toronto, A.J. Burnett came within one out of a complete game and Russ Adams drove in the go-ahead run with a two-run double in the eighth inning to lead Toronto past Boston.

Boston led 2-1 in the eighth when Frank Thomas drew a two-out walk off reliever Eric Gagne (3-2). Aaron Hill singled and Matt Stairs walked before Gregg Zaun drew a five-pitch walk to tie the game. Adams' double then barely cleared the outstretched arm of J.D. Drew in right field. Hill and Stairs scored but Zaun was thrown out at the plate.

Burnett (9-7) started the ninth and got the first two outs before Julio Lugo homered to left. Scott Downs came on to face Jacoby Ellsbury and got him looking for his first save.

Other American League results on Tuesday:

* Indians 7, Tigers 4

* Twins 4, Rangers 2

* Royals 3, White Sox 2

* Angels 2, Devil Rays 1

* Mariners 8, Athletics 7

AP, HOUSTON

Johnny Estrada hit his second grand slam of the season against Houston and Milwaukee overcame an injury to Ben Sheets to beat the Astros 9-1 on Tuesday and move into first place in the National League Central.

Claudio Vargas (11-4) pitched four scoreless innings in relief of Sheets, who left with tightness in his left hamstring after giving up a run in the first.

The Astros have lost 10 of their last 13 games.

Ryan Braun added a two-run homer and Prince Fielder stretched his hitting streak to 16 games with an RBI single for the Brewers, who moved ahead of Chicago by less than a percentage point after the Cubs' 5-2 loss to Cincinnati.

Estrada's second career grand slam capped a five-run fourth inning off Felipe Paulino (0-1), who was making his first major-league start. Estrada is six-for-10 with 19 RBIs with the bases loaded this season.

Geoff Jenkins and Rickie Weeks hit back-to-back homers off Brian Moehler in the ninth.

Reds 5, Cubs 2

At Chicago, Aaron Harang allowed six hits and two runs over seven innings and Cincinnati knocked Chicago out of first place in the National League Central.

David Weathers worked the ninth for his 31st save in 37 chances.

Edwin Encarnacion homered and had three hits for the Reds.

Carlos Zambrano (16-13) dropped to two-four in six starts since agreeing to a five-year, US$91.5 million contract on Aug. 17. Working on three days' rest for the first time, he lasted just five-and-a-third innings, giving up seven hits and four runs with three walks and a hit batsman.

Jacque Jones had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth for the Cubs.

Encarnacion's homer, his 14th, made it 4-1.

Other American League results on Tuesday:

* Phillies 7, Cardinals 4, after 14 innings

* Nationals 9, Mets 8

* Diamondbacks 5, Giants 0

* Padres 5, Pirates 3

* Rockies 3, Dodgers 1, 1st game

* Rockies 9, Dodgers 8, 2nd game

* Braves 4, Marlins 3
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