The Tampa Bay Rays slipped down to second place in the American League East after a 7-0 defeat to the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
The Rays fell a half-game behind the New York Yankees, whose scheduled game in Boston was rained out. Tampa Bay have two games left against the last-placed Royals, while the Yankees have to play three at Fenway Park. Both teams are guaranteed of a playoff spot, with the second-placed side to get the wild-card.
Kansas City pitcher Bruce Chen (12-7) struck out a season-high seven to record his first ever shutout and only the third complete game of his 12-year career. He became the first Kansas City pitcher to get 12 wins in a season since 1988.
Tampa Bay starter James Shields (13-15) dropped to 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA in six starts since Aug. 29.
The Rays have lost five of six, managing just nine runs during that span.
Orioles 10, Tigers 6, 1st game
Orioles 2, Tigers 1, 2nd game
In Baltimore, Maryland, the hosts recorded a doubleheader sweep of Detroit.
In the opener, Chris Tillman (2-5) pitched seven strong innings and Adam Jones drove in four runs to lead the Orioles.
It was the second time in three days that Detroit were swept in a doubleheader — Cleveland did it on Wednesday. The Tigers (80-80) have lost five straight and must win at least once this weekend to avoid a losing season.
In the second game, Jeremy Guthrie (11-14) allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, struck out five and permitted only one runner past first.
Nick Markakis homered for the Orioles, who have won three in a row to edge past their wins total of last season.
Jeremy Bonderman (8-10) took the loss in the first game and Rick Porcello (10-12) in the second.
Blue Jays 6, Twins 3
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Edwin Encarnacion’s three-run homer highlighted Toronto’s four-run eighth inning that sparked victory over Minnesota.
Encarnacion had three hits and four RBIs and has hit three homers in the first two games of the season’s final series.
Normally reliable reliever Jesse Crain (1-1) gave up four runs in the eighth and the American League Central champions have lost seven of eight with the playoffs less than a week away. They fell one-and-a-half games behind New York for the best record in the American League.
Toronto starter Ricky Romero (14-9) gave up two runs in eight innings to claim the win.
Angels 5, Rangers 4, 11 innings
In Arlington, Texas, Juan Rivera homered twice, including a tie-breaking drive in the 11th as Los Angeles beat Texas.
Rivera hit the winning pitch off Matt Harrison (3-2) into the left-field seats.
Los Angeles’ Rich Thompson (2-0) pitched an inning for the win and Michael Kohn worked out of a jam to earn his first major league save.
Texas slugger Josh Hamilton went none-for-three in his first game since breaking two ribs while crashing into the outfield fence a month ago.
Athletics 9, Mariners 0
In Seattle, Daric Barton homered in his first two at-bats, including a Grand Slam, to set up Oakland’s big win over Seattle.
Barton, who had six RBIs, cracked a solo homer in the first to begin a miserable outing for Luke French (5-7). An inning later, Barton added his first career Slam. He also doubled in the sixth, before leaving the game with a tight quadriceps.
Oakland starter Trevor Cahill (18-8) pitched seven sharp innings in his last outing of the season. He finished the campaign with a 2.97 ERA and became the first American League pitcher 22 or younger to win 18 or more games since Bret Saberhagen in 1985.
Seattle were handed their 99th loss and must win their final two games to avoid dropping 100 for the second time in three years, but with the defeat, the Mariners assured themselves of having the second overall pick in next June’s amateur draft.
Indians 7, White Sox 3
In Chicago, Cleveland extended their season-best winning streak to seven games by downing Chicago.
Choo Shin-soo hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who are on their longest run since they won 10 straight in August 2008.
Cleveland starter Fausto Carmona (13-14) won his seventh straight start against the White Sox. He allowed two runs in six innings, striking out seven.
Chicago starter Tony Pena (5-3) allowed six runs in six innings.
AP, ATLANTA, Georgia
The Philadelphia Phillies beat Atlanta 11-5 on Friday to imperil the Braves’ hopes of taking the National League wild-card berth.
The Braves’ lead in the wild-card race was sliced to a single game when San Diego won at San Francisco, with both teams having two games left to play in the regular season.
Jimmy Rollins, making his third start back from a hamstring injury, hit a Grand Slam to cap a five-run sixth inning for the Phillies.
Philadelphia’s Kyle Kendrick (11-10) gave up two runs in five innings to claim the win.
Braves rookie Brandon Beachy (0-2) allowed four runs over five-and-two-third innings in his first home start.
Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 5
In Los Angeles, Adam LaRoche homered and drove in three runs to reach 100 RBIs for the first time, leading Arizona over Los Angeles.
The Diamondbacks ended a three-game skid as LaRoche set a franchise season record for RBIs by a first baseman.
Diamondbacks starter Zach Kroenke (1-0) allowed one run over five innings to earn his first major league win.
The Dodgers are assured of a losing season for the first time since 2005.
It marks the first losing season for outgoing Los Angeles manager Joe Torre since 1984 with Atlanta.
Dodgers starter John Ely (4-10) gave up seven runs in four-and-two-third innings.
Mets 2, Nationals 1, 10 innings
In New York, the hosts set aside reports of a post-season management clearout by edging Washington.
The game was played against the background of reports that Mets manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya will both lose their jobs at the end of the season.
Josh Thole homered in the 10th inning against Tyler Clippard (11-7), hitting a one-out drive into the right-field seats for New York’s first hit since the fourth inning.
New York’s Hisanori Takahashi (10-6) pitched two hitless innings to claim the win. Washington hitters struck out 14 times.
Cardinals 3, Rockies 0
In St Louis, Missouri, Jake Westbrook matched his career high with nine strikeouts and got his first RBI of the season, steering the Cardinals past the Rockies.
Westbrook (4-4) left in the eighth inning, leading 3-0. He had been two-for-22 at the plate with 12 strikeouts, before driving in a run with a single off Jorge de la Rosa (8-7) in the second, the second RBI of his career.
The Rockies have lost 11 of 12 in a late-season free fall that began with them one game out of first place in the National League West and left them eight games out.
Brewers 4, Reds 3, 11 innings
In Cincinnati, Ohio, the hosts were beaten by Milwaukee, ensuring the Reds will begin the post-season on the road.
In the 11th, with one out and runners on the corners, Casey McGehee hit a bouncer up the middle that rebounded off the chest of Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips and into short center-field. Corey Hart scampered home to give Milwaukee a 4-3 lead.
Phillips said his view was blocked by the second base umpire. It was initially ruled an error, then changed to a hit by the official scorer after the game.
Milwaukee’s Mike McClendon (2-0) pitched a perfect 10th to get the win and John Axford finished for his 24th save.
Cubs 2, Astros 0
In Houston, Texas, Casey Coleman pitched seven strong innings and drove in a run, helping Chicago defeat Houston.
Coleman (4-2) improved to 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his past three starts for the Cubs.
Bud Norris (9-10) pitched six innings for Houston, yielding two runs. He issued a career-high seven walks as the Astros lost for the fifth time in six games.
Pirates 5, Marlins 1
In Miami, Chris Snyder and surging rookie Pedro Alvarez homered to lead Pittsburgh past Florida.
It was a rare road victory for the Pirates, who are 17-62 on the road and must win one of their final two games to avoid matching the 1963 New York Mets for the worst road record in a 162-game season.
Pittsburgh’s Park Chan-ho (4-3) pitched three hitless innings in relief for his 124th career win.
Alvarez hit his 16th homer off Adalberto Mendez (1-3), his fifth home run in his last 10 games. Snyder had a two-run drive.
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