MAJOR LEAGUES
The Los Angeles Angels beat Oakland 4-3 in 10 innings in Thursday’s opening game of a vital four-game series between the top two teams in the American League (AL), with Howie Kendrick’s sacrifice fly deciding a game that ended in controversy.
The victory moved the Angels two games clear of their AL West division rivals and with a chance to build that over the remainder of the key home series.
In other important AL games, Detroit beat the New York Yankees to close the gap on Central Division leader Kansas City, while the Yankees slipped further behind East Division leader Baltimore, who defeated Tampa Bay.
Angels slugger Albert Pujols drew a leadoff walk in the 10th inning from A’s pitcher Ryan Cook (1-2) and Josh Hamilton moved him to third base with a bouncing hit up the middle.
Kendrick’s long fly to right field provided enough time for even the slow-footed Pujols to make it to home plate, setting off a playoff-worthy celebration by the Angels.
Oakland ended the game under protest at a ninth-inning obstruction call.
Baltimore extended their lead in the East to a near-impregnable seven games by edging Tampa Bay 5-4.
Detroit’s Alex Avila hit a game-winning single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Tigers a 3-2 win against the Yankees.
Victor Martinez led off the ninth with a double through a shifted infield, and then New York pitcher Shawn Kelley issued one walk followed by two strikeouts. Avila followed with a drive to the wall in right field.
Detroit gave pitcher Kyle Lobstein his first major league start and he did well, allowing only one earned run in six innings as the Tigers moved within 1-1/2 games of the Central lead and moved level with Seattle for the provisional second wild-card place.
Kansas City saw their lead sliced after being beaten 11-5 at home by Minnesota in 10 innings.
Atlanta’s Mike Minor shone on the mound and at the plate as the Braves beat the New York Mets 6-1.
Cleveland’s Carlos Carrasco pitched into the seventh inning to guide the Indians to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
San Francisco’s Yusmeiro Petit set a major league record by retiring his 46th batter in a row — over eight games — and steered the Giants to a 4-1 win over Colorado.
Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton stole his 51st base of the season among the Reds’ six steals in a 7-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Houston’s Jason Castro hit a grand slam to provide all the runs in the Astros’ 4-2 win over state rival Texas.
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