Zack Greinke pitched seven sharp innings as Kansas City beat Tampa Bay 3-2 on Thursday night, leaving the Rays and New York Yankees with a share of the AL East lead.
The Rays and Yankees, who have both clinched playoff spots, are at 94-65 going into the final weekend. Tampa Bay plays three more times at Kansas City, while the Yankees have a three-game series at Boston.
If Tampa Bay and New York are level after tomorrow, the Rays win the division title because they won the season series against the Yankees.
Photo: REUTERS
Greinke (10-4) gave up two runs and four hits while striking out nine. He had won only one of his previous seven starts.
Joakim Soria worked the ninth for his 43rd save. He has earned saves in his past 36 opportunities since his last blown save on May 6 at Texas.
Matt Garza (15-10) gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings.
Rangers 3, Angels 2
In Arlington, Texas, Vladimir Guerrero drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth for Texas and Cliff Lee pitched seven innings in his final tuneup before the playoffs.
Nelson Cruz, who had three hits, doubled to right and stole third on a pitch in the dirt with one out in the eighth. Guerrero lined a single to left off reliever Jordan Walden (0-1) to give Texas the lead.
Darren O’Day (6-2) relieved Lee and allowed a game-tying home run to Peter Bourjos.
Lee, who struck out eight without a walk, gave up four singles and an unearned run.
Neftali Feliz pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 39th save.
Angels starter Scott Kazmir allowed two runs and six hits in five-and-one-third innings. The left-hander made his final start of the season and is 2-10 since June 24.
Blue Jays 13, Twins 2
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jose Bautista hit home runs No. 53 and No. 54, including a grand slam, and Toronto went deep six times.
Edwin Encarnacion hit two homers and Jose Molina and Travis Snider added long balls for the Blue Jays, who have hit 253 homers this season, the fourth-highest total in baseball history.
Bautista’s second homer went to right field, his first this season that did not go to either left or left-center.
Francisco Liriano (14-10) gave up five runs and six hits, including three of those homers, with six strikeouts in five-and-one-third innings in his final start before the playoffs. The left-hander is scheduled to start Game 1 of the AL division series on Wednesday at Target Field.
The AL Central champions have lost six of seven and missed a chance to tie the Rays and Yankees for the best record in the American League.
Bautista entered the night on an 0-for-20 skid, but had three hits and five RBIs.
Casey Janssen (5-2) pitched one-and-one-third innings of scoreless relief for the win.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ White Sox 8, Red Sox 2
‧ Athletics 8, Mariners 1
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