AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, TORONTO
The New York Yankees clinched their 15th post-season berth in the past 16 years with a 6-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday.
PHOTO: REUTERS
New York starter C.C. Sabathia (21-7) allowed one run in eight-and-one-third innings to match Andy Pettitte’s 21 wins in 1996 and 2003 for the most victories by a Yankee since Ron Guidry got 22 in 1985.
Sabathia, who struck out eight, has a career record of 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA in six starts at Rogers Centre.
The Yankees have reached the post-season every year but one since 1996, with the absence coming in 2008 when they finished third in the AL East, behind Tampa Bay and Boston.
New York remains half a game behind the Rays in the fight over the honor of AL East winner.
Making his third career start, Toronto’s Kyle Drabek (0-3) allowed three runs in six innings.
WHITE SOX 5, RED SOX 4
In Chicago, the home team fought back to beat Boston as the Red Sox bowed out of playoff contention.
Paul Konerko tied the game in the eighth inning with a run-scoring double and Dayan Viciedo won it with a pinch-hit RBI single in the ninth.
Chris Sale (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win for the White Sox, who snapped a seven-game home losing streak.
Juan Pierre singled with one out in the ninth off Michael Bowden (0-1). He stole second and third before Mark Teahen walked. Viciedo ended the game with a single.
ROYALS 10, TWINS 1
In Kansas City, Missouri, Kila Ka’aihue hit two home runs and drove in a career-high four runs as Kansas City thrashed Minnesota.
The Twins have dropped a season-worst five straight since clinching the AL Central title.
Ka’aihue hit a three-run homer in the first off Nick Blackburn (10-11), then led off the second with another long shot for his first career multi-homer game.
He almost had a third in the seventh, sending a drive off the right-field bullpen fence for his first big league triple.
Royals starter Sean O’Sullivan (4-6) held the Twins to one run in six-plus innings.
RAYS 5, ORIOLES 0
In St Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay clinched its a playoff berth by beating Baltimore.
Rays starter David Price pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing only one runner past second. He struck out eight and walked none in what likely will be his final start of the regular season.
Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena hit solo homers off Orioles starter Brad Bergensen (8-11).
ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 2
In Anaheim, California, Torii Hunter opened the scoring with a home run and his center field replacement, rookie Peter Bourjos, robbed Landon Powell of a homer to lead Los Angeles over Oakland.
Bourjos also lost a home run when a video replay showed his drive toward the left field pole was foul, not fair as the umpire had ruled. Instead of a three-run homer, Bourjos returned to the plate and flied out.
Angels starter Dan Haren (4-4) allowed two runs over six innings, striking out five and walking one.
A’s starter Dallas Braden (10-14) gave up 10 hits over seven innings.
MARINERS 3, RANGERS 1
In Arlington, Virginia, Felix Hernandez allowed only one run over eight innings to guide Seattle past AL West champion Texas.
Hernandez (13-12) became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson in 2002 and only the seventh since 1980 to have a season with 30 starts in which he went at least six innings while conceding three earned runs or fewer. He lowered his AL-best ERA to 2.27 in what might have been his last start of the season.
Justin Smoak, traded from Texas to Seattle as part of the Cliff Lee deal, hit a two-run homer in the fourth off Scott Feldman (7-11) to snap a 1-1 tie. The rookie homered twice in as many nights against his former team.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
The Atlanta Braves boosted their National League wild-card hopes with a 3-2 win over the Florida Marlins on Tuesday.
Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and Atlanta improved its wild card chances.
The Braves’ win, coupled with San Diego’s loss, gave Atlanta a one-and-a-half game lead in the wild-card race.
Trailing 1-0, the Braves rallied for three runs in the seventh off Anibal Sanchez (12-12). Brooks Conrad knocked in the first run with a triple. Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead.
Atlanta reliever Craig Kimbrel (4-0) got the win with a hitless seventh and Billy Wagner earned his 36th save with a scoreless ninth.
NATIONALS 2, PHILLIES 1
In Washington, Adam Dunn led off the bottom of the ninth with his 38th homer of the season to give Washington victory over Philadelphia.
Dunn’s homer off Jose Contreras (6-4) did little to dampen enthusiasm among a Philadelphia team preparing for the playoffs.
Nationals closer Drew Storen (4-4) earned the win by pitching the ninth.
DODGERS 9, ROCKIES 7
In Denver, Colorado, Los Angeles eliminated Colorado from the playoff race.
The Rockies’ loss, combined with Atlanta’s win over Florida and San Francisco’s defeat of Arizona, ended Colorado’s chances of getting the wild card.
Casey Blake homered twice and Rafael Furcal had two triples for the Dodgers, who blew a four-run lead, but came back in the eighth off Rockies reliever Octavio Dotel (3-4). Colorado has lost eight of nine.
Los Angeles reliever Ronald Bellisario (3-1) got the win, pitching two-thirds of an inning.
CUBS 5, PADRES 2
In San Diego, California, the hosts dropped back sharply in the wild-card race by losing to Chicago.
Cubs slugger Alfonso Soriano homered twice, including a two-run shot off struggling San Diego ace Mat Latos (14-9), who fumed after Chicago scored two unearned runs in the fifth, and lost his fourth straight start, his worst stretch this season.
The Padres led the NL West by six-and-a-half games a month ago, but now trail leader San Francisco by two games.
Chicago starter Ryan Dempster (15-11) struck out nine in seven innings.
PIRATES 7, CARDINALS 2
In St Louis, Missouri, Garrett Jones homered on a three-hit night and drove in three runs as Pittsburgh downed St Louis.
St Louis was officially eliminated from playoff contention when Cincinnati won. The Cardinals had a 12-6 record against the Reds this season, but is 46-50 against teams with a losing record.
Brian Burres pitched effectively into the sixth inning for the Pirates.
GIANTS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 2
In San Francisco, Juan Uribe matched a career best with his 23rd home run as San Francisco increased its NL West lead by beating Arizona.
Uribe hit a tying solo drive leading off the fourth for the Giants, who have a magic number of four to clinch their first playoff berth since 2003.
San Francisco starter Jonathan Sanchez (12-9) struck out six in six innings to reach 200 Ks in a season for the first time in his career.
Arizona’s Rodrigo Lopez (7-15) went five-and-two-third innings and took the loss.
REDS 3, ASTROS 2
In Cincinnati, Ohio, the hosts clinched the NL Central title, earning a first trip to the playoffs in 15 years, with a win over Houston.
Jay Bruce hit a game-ending line-drive homer off Tim Byrdak (2-2) with the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth, sparking fireworks overhead.
Cincinnati has won with its last at-bat 22 times this season.
Reds closer Aroldis Chapman (2-2) pitched a perfect ninth.
Dusty Baker joined Bill -McKechnie as the only managers to lead three different NL teams to the playoffs. Baker has made it with San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs.
Cincinnati finished fourth last season, its second under Baker, but the franchise thought it had the makings of something and kept the roster intact.
The Reds have struggled against other top teams. They have gone 58-28 against losing teams, only 30-41 against those with .500 or better records.
METS 4, BREWERS 3
In New York, light-hitting New York rookie Ruben Tejada laced a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to lift the Mets over Milwaukee.
Brewers closer John Axford (8-2) escaped an eighth-inning jam, but Ike Davis opened the ninth with a double. Josh Thole got a one-out single that put runners at the corners and Tejada drove the next pitch up the left-center alley for his third hit, and second double, of the game.
The Mets opened their final homestand of the season with their third consecutive win.
New York’s Elmer Dessens (4-2) worked a perfect ninth inning for the win.
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