AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
On a night when Mariano Rivera and Jonathan Papelbon both failed to hold ninth-inning leads, Juan Miranda drew a bases-loaded walk from Hideki Okajima in the 10th that gave the New York Yankees a dramatic 4-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
New York stopped a four-game losing streak that matched its season high. The Yankees cut the magic number to one for their 15th playoff berth in 16 years and closed within a half-game of American League East-leading Tampa Bay.
Boston lost for just the fifth time in 13 games, a key defeat in an improbable run this month. Boston dropped six-and-a-half games behind the Yankees in the AL wild-card race, and just seven games remain for the Red Sox.
Alex Rodriguez put the Yankees ahead 2-1 with his 29th homer, a two-run drive in the seventh off Daisuke Matsuzaka.
MARINERS 6, RAYS 2
In St Petersburg, Florida, Josh Wilson hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning off James Shields as Seattle stalled AL East-leading Tampa Bay.
The Rays’ four-game winning streak ended. Tampa Bay’s lead in the AL East was cut to a half-game. Wilson hit his second home run of the season and first since May 10. He was in an 0-for-14 slump when he connected with two outs off Shields (13-14) for a 5-2 lead.
The homer was the 34th allowed by Shields this season, breaking Tanyon Sturtze’s team record of 33 set in 2002.
TIGERS 5, TWINS 1
In Detroit, Michigan, Miguel Cabrera set off an “MVP!” chant with his career-high 38th homer, helping Detroit beat Minnesota in their final home game of the season.
Rick Porcello (10-11) gave up a solo homer to Delmon Young and just three other hits over eight innings.
Brian Duensing (10-3) allowed five runs, seven hits and four walks over six-and-two-third innings for the AL Central champions. The banged-up Twins played without Justin Morneau, Joe Mauer, Denard Span, J.J. Hardy and Jason Repko.
RANGERS 16, ATHLETICS 9
In Oakland, California, rookie Mitch Moreland homered twice and drove in a season-high five runs to lead AL West champion Texas past Trevor Cahill Oakland.
David Murphy hit a two-run homer and Jeff Francoeur added a solo shot as the Rangers won their third straight game. A day after clinching the division, Texas rested many of its regulars and still got a season-high 22 hits.
Colby Lewis (12-13) gave up one run and six hits in six innings.
He is set to start Game 3 in the first round of the playoffs. Cliff Lee will pitch the opener, followed by C.J. Wilson.
WHITE SOX 4, ANGELS 3
In Anaheim, California, Juan Pierre tripled home the tying run and scored on Omar Vizquel’s single in the seventh inning, leading Chicago over Los Angeles.
The White Sox have beaten the Angels seven straight times, their longest winning streak against them since a 10-game stretch in 1983 to 1984.
Angels starter Jered Weaver (13-12) struck out nine and took over the major league strikeout lead with 229, two more than Seattle’s Felix Hernandez.
BLUE JAYS 5, ORIOLES 2
In Toronto, major league home run leader Jose Bautista was twice hit by pitches, leading to the ejection of Baltimore manager Buck Showalter as Toronto the Orioles.
Bautista has hit 52 homers this year, including nine against the Orioles. Rick VandenHurk (0-1) hit Bautista in the third inning, then Shaun Marcum (13-8) plunked Orioles designated hitter Luke Scott to begin the fourth.
Alfredo Simon replaced VandenHurk in the fifth. Bautista came up with one out and after throwing two balls, the second of which was high and inside, Simon hit the Toronto star on the left forearm and was ejected by plate umpire Bill Welke.
Showalter came out to argue and was also thrown out, his second ejection of the season.
INDIANS 5, ROYALS 3
In Cleveland, Ohio, pinch-hitter Michael Brantley’s two-run double capped a five-run rally in the eighth inning that carried Cleveland over Kansas City.
Shelley Duncan tied the game with a three-run homer off Robinson Tejeda (3-5). Singles by Asdrubal Cabrera and Choo Shin-soo started the inning before Duncan homered.
Andy Marte singled with two outs and went to third on Luis Valbuena’s ground-rule double.
Brantley, batting for Lou Marson, put the Indians ahead. Brantley hadn’t played since Wednesday last week because of tightness in his left hamstring.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, DENVER, COLORADO
Matt Cain didn’t allow a hit into the eighth inning, pitching the San Francisco Giants past the fading Colorado Rockies 4-2 on Sunday and back into first place in the National League West.
San Francisco moved a half-game ahead of San Diego, which lost to Cincinnati. The Rockies, who have dropped six of seven, fell four-and-a-half games behind the Giants and four back of the Padres in the wild-card race.
Cain (13-10) held the Rockies hitless until speedy Jay Payton legged out an infield single with one out in the eighth.
Pinch-hitter Melvin Mora connected for a two-run homer, ending Cain’s scoreless streak at 20 innings.
Still, the right-hander went the distance on a three-hitter for his 12th career complete game and fourth this season. He won his fourth straight start and hasn’t lost in seven outings since Aug. 18.
Freddy Sanchez homered off Jorge De La Rosa (8-6), and Cody Ross also went deep for the Giants.
REDS 12, PADRES 2
In San Diego, California, Chris Heisey homered and hit a three-run double to lead Cincinnati to a romp over San Diego that reduced its magic number to one for winning the NL Central.
Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips also homered for the Reds, denied a chance to clinch the division title on Sunday when St Louis beat the Chicago Cubs. Cincinnati was off yesterday and then is to open a three-game series at home tonight against Houston.
San Diego’s loss ensured a playoff spot for the Philadelphia Phillies, who need one win or an Atlanta defeat to wrap up the NL East crown.
Adrian Gonzalez hit his 30th homer for the Padres and finished with three hits. Clayton Richard (13-9) allowed six runs and five hits in five-plus innings.
NATIONALS 4, BRAVES 2
In Washington, Atlanta’s drive for the NL wild card spun its wheels again, with wild pitchers and missed opportunities at the plate contributing to a loss to last-place Washington.
Every Nationals player who scored got on base with a walk, the last two runs coming on Ian Desmond’s tiebreaking single in the seventh that followed three straight free passes from the Braves bullpen.
The Nationals took two of three from the Braves in the series.
Atlanta has lost five of six.
DIAMONDBACKS 5, DODGERS 4
In Phoenix, Arizona, Chris Young and Tony Abreu hit two-run homers in a four-run eighth inning to rally Arizona past Los Angeles.
The comeback spoiled a 13-strikeout effort from Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley, who tied a career high.
George Sherrill allowed Abreu’s homer, his first of the season, to cut the lead to one. Two batters later, Young hammered the first pitch from Jonathan Broxton (5-6) to put the Diamondbacks ahead in their final home game of the season.
James Loney hit a two-run double and Rod Barajas had a two-run homer for Los Angeles.
METS 7, PHILLIES 3
In Philadelphia, Carlos Beltran hit a pair of homers and David Wright also connected as New York prevented Philadelphia from clinching their fourth straight NL East title at home.
The two-time defending NL champions came in needing a win and a loss by Atlanta to secure the division crown.
The Braves lost to Washington, dropping Philadelphia’s magic number to one.
Chase Utley hit a three-run homer for the Phillies, who will finish the season on the road with three games at Washington and three at Atlanta.
In other NL play, it was:
• Cardinals 8, Cubs 7
• Pirates 9, Astros 3
• Brewers 7, Marlins 1
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