AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Tampa Bay Rays’ bid for their first American League division crown was delayed by a 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
Having already secured no worse than a wild-card berth, the Rays would have clinched the American League East division with a victory. Their first title would be assured if second-place Boston lost to Cleveland later on Thursday.
PHOTO: AP
Scott Kazmir (12-8) allowed four homers, two to Ramon Santiago, and six hits in five innings, struck out eight and walked two. He allowed four homers for the second time in three starts — the only times he’s allowed four in a game in his career.
Ben Zobrist homered twice and had four RBIs for the Rays, headed to their first playoff appearance.
The game drew 36,259, raising the Tigers’ home season total to a team record 3,081,098, just ahead of the previous mark of 3,047,139, set last year.
PHOTO: AP
RED SOX 6, INDIANS 1
At Boston, Jon Lester flirted with a no-hitter in his final tuneup before the playoffs, allowing two hits over six innings for Boston.
Kevin Youkilis was 2-for-3 with his 28th homer for the Red Sox, who retained a mathematical chance of winning the AL East — if they win their last three games of the season and Tampa Bay loses its last three.
BLUE JAYS 8, YANKEES 2
At Toronto, Roy Halladay pitched his major league-leading ninth complete game to become the AL’s second 20-game winner as Toronto downed New York.
Vernon Wells homered and drove in four runs as the Blue Jays snapped New York’s seven-game winning streak.
Halladay (20-11) improved to 5-1 in six starts against the Yankees this season and posted his second career 20-win season. The right-hander went 22-7 with nine complete games in 2003, when he won the AL Cy Young pitching award.
Halladay, who joined Cleveland’s Cliff Lee as a 20-game winner, gave up two runs and six hits. He walked one and struck out five, giving him 206 for the season, a career-high.
Wells hit a two-run homer in the third and added a two-run single in the fourth.
In other AL action, it was:
• Twins 7, White Sox 6, 10 innings
• Angels 6, Mariners 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
The Dodgers clinched their first National League West championship in four years on Thursday without lifting a bat.
Entering the day with a magic number of one, the Dodgers got what they needed when second-place Arizona lost 12-3 at St. Louis. That was several hours before Brian Giles and Adrian Gonzalez homered and Luis Rodriguez had four hits to lead San Diego to a meaningless 7-5 victory over the Dodgers in their final home game of the regular season.
The Dodgers have won just one postseason game since winning the World Series 20 years ago, going 1-12 in four playoff appearances.
The Dodgers were in trouble after losing their eighth straight game on Aug. 29, a 9-3 setback at Arizona that gave the Diamondbacks a four-and-a-half game lead in the division. But with inseason acquisition Manny Ramirez leading the way, they turned things around and won 18 of 23 games — including five straight over the Diamondbacks.
Jake Peavy (10-11) allowed three runs in five innings for the win and Trevor Hoffman worked a hitless ninth for his 29th save.
BREWERS 5, PIRATES 1, 10 INNINGS
At Milwaukee, Ryan Braun hit a grand slam in the 10th inning as Milwaukee finished a sweep of Pittsburgh to remain tied with New York in the NL wild-card race.
Rickie Weeks led off the 10th with a single off reliever Jesse Chavez. After a sacrifice bunt, the Pirates walked Ray Durham intentionally. Chavez (0-1) struck out Mike Cameron, but walked pinch-hitter Craig Counsell to load the bases.
Braun homered deep to left field, his 36th of the season.
In other NL action, it was:
• Mets 7, Cubs 6
• Astros 8, Reds 6
• Rockies 3, Giants 1
• Cardinals 12, Diamondbacks 3
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