MAJOR LEAGUES
Alex Avila hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Detroit Tigers kept their slim American League Central lead, beating the Cleveland Indians 5-4 on Saturday.
Avila sent a full-count pitch from reliever Bryan Shaw (5-4) into the right-field stands for his 11th home run, which kept the Tigers 0.5 games ahead of Kansas City, who topped Boston 7-1.
Photo: AFP
Detroit right fielder Torii Hunter saved two runs in the eighth with a two-out, diving catch of Yan Gomes’ short fly ball with runners on second and third.
Michael Brantley hit his 19th homer for Cleveland in the first against Kyle Lobstein.
Chris Young stole home as the New York Yankees beat AL East-leading Baltimore 3-2, ending the Orioles’ longest winning streak of the season at six.
New York stayed on the fringe of the wild-card race, while Baltimore’s magic number for clinching the division remained at five.
Young added to his recent bunch of extra-base hits when he doubled during a three-run second off Miguel Gonzalez (9-8). Speedy Antoan Richardson followed with an RBI single and then took off for second, beating the throw while Young scampered home without a return toss.
In Kansas City, Missouri, Jeremy Guthrie retired the final 17 batters he faced, and Omar Infante had three hits and drove in two runs, as the Kansas City Royals beat the Boston Red Sox 7-1 to maintain the chase for the AL Central.
Nori Aoki, batting second for the first time this season, and Alex Gordon, who ended an 0-for-22 streak, each had two hits, scored a run and drove in a run.
Guthrie allowed three hits and one unearned run in eight innings.
In New York, Bryce Harper homered and Ian Desmond drove in three runs as the Washington Nationals moved a step closer to their second NL East title in three years with a 10-3 victory over the New York Mets.
R.A. Dickey allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings to win his fourth straight decision.
Anthony Rendon added to his huge series with four hits as Washington reduced their magic number to six for clinching the division. Denard Span had a two-run homer in the ninth inning and scored three times.
In other games on Saturday it was:
‧ Angels 5, Astros 2
‧ Rangers 3, Braves 2
‧ Blue Jays 6, Rays 3
‧ White Sox 5, Twins 1, Game 1
‧ White Sox 7, Twins 6, Game 2
‧ Cubs 6, Pirates 4
‧ Athletics 3, Mariners 2 (10)
‧ Dodgers 17, Giants 0
‧ Diamondbacks 10, Padres 4
‧ Cardinals 5, Rockies 4
‧ Reds 5, Brewers 1
‧ Phillies 2, Marlins 1
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