AMERICAN LEAGUE
Mariano Rivera set a major league record with career save No. 602 on Monday, pitching a perfect ninth inning to preserve the New York Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.
With fans standing and cheering from his first pitch to his last, Rivera retired Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer and Chris Parmelee to end it. Parmelee looked at strike three and Yankee Stadium roared in approval.
The 41-year-old Rivera tied Trevor Hoffman with save No. 601 on Saturday in Toronto. The AL East leaders lost on Sunday, putting Rivera in line to get the milestone in the Yankees’ last home stand of the season.
Curtis Granderson hit his 41st homer of the year for the Yankees. Cory Wade (6-1) got the victory.
Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer for Minnesota. Scott Diamond (1-5) was charged with the loss.
In other games on Monday, it was:
‧ Orioles 6, Red Sox 5, game 1
‧ Red Sox 18, Orioles 9, game 2
‧ Blue Jays 3, Angels 2,
‧ Mariners, 12, Indians 6
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHILADELPHIA
Kyle Lohse outpitched Roy Halladay as the St Louis Cardinals held off the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Monday to gain ground on Atlanta in the National League wild-card chase.
Lance Berkman homered and had an RBI single for the surging Cardinals, who moved within 2.5 games of the wild card-leading Braves. Atlanta lost at Florida.
St Louis, who took three of four in the series, have won 10 of 12 overall.
Despite the loss, the National League East champion Phillies clinched home-field advantage throughout the postseason when Milwaukee lost to the Chicago Cubs.
Lohse (14-8) tossed 7 1-3 strong innings, allowing an unearned run and seven hits.
Philadelphia scored two runs in the ninth off Jason Motte, but Octavio Dotel retired Hunter Pence with a runner on to earn his second save with the Cardinals.
MARLINS 6, BRAVES 5
At Miami, Omar Infante hit a two-run homer off Craig Kimbrel with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning as Atlanta lost to Florida.
Atlanta have dropped three of four games.
Infante drove a 1-0 pitch to left for his first game-ending homer. His sixth homer of the season came against his former team and handed Kimbrel (4-3) his seventh blown save in 52 chances.
Dan Uggla and Jason Heyward homered for Atlanta, who scored four runs in the seventh to take the lead. Infante had a costly error at second base in the inning, allowing the Braves to score the tiebreaking run.
Mike Stanton homered twice for the Marlins and Logan Morrison added a two-run shot. Clay Hensley (6-6) pitched two scoreless innings.
In other games on Monday, it was:
‧ Cubs 5, Brewers 2
‧ Astros 3, Reds 2
‧ Padres 8, Rockies 2
‧ Diamondbacks 1, Pirates 0
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