AMERICAN LEAGUE
The reeling Boston Red Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games, wasting an eighth-inning lead and going down 5-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday to further tighten the American League wild-card race.
The Red Sox remained four games ahead of nearest rival Tampa Bay, which also lost, but Los Angeles moved within 4.5 games.
Photo: Reuters
After getting swept in a three-game series at Tampa Bay last weekend, Boston hosts the Rays in a four-game series that started yesterday.
Boston led 4-2 in the eighth before Adam Loewen hit a two-run single against Daniel Bard (2-8).
Toronto starter Ricky Romero (15-10) allowed six hits in eight innings and improved to 8-1 in his past 10 starts.
TIGERS 6, WHITE SOX 5
In Chicago, Carlos Guillen singled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to give Detroit victory over Chicago and their 12th straight win — their longest winning streak in 77 years.
Guillen also hit a solo homer for Detroit, which had not won 12 in a row since 1934, when the Tigers won the American League.
Closing in on an AL Central title, the surging Tigers rallied for three runs in the ninth.
Jose Valverde pitched the 10th to remain perfect in 44 save opportunities this year.
White Sox reliever Sergio Santos (4-5) blew his sixth save of the season.
RANGERS 9, INDIANS 1
In Arlington, Texas, Josh Hamilton’s third career Grand Slam highlighted an eight-run fourth inning that powered Texas past Cleveland.
Hamilton and Mike Napoli bother homered off Indians rookie David Huff (2-5) in the decisive fourth, Texas’ biggest inning since 2009.
Ian Kinsler also homered for the AL West-leading Rangers, who have won three straight and maintained a three-game lead over second-place Los Angeles.
Rangers starter Derek Holland (14-5) allowed one run with six strikeouts over seven innings.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Orioles 6, Rays 2
‧ Royals 7, Twins 3
‧ Angels 4, Athletics 1
‧ Mariners 2, Yankees 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Atlanta’s Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer during a four-run rally in the seventh inning that lifted the Braves to a 4-1 win over the Florida Marlins on Wednesday, maintaining their buffer in the National League wild-card race.
Martin Prado bunted in the other run during the inning for Atlanta, which is 4.5 games ahead of St Louis, with 12 and 13 games left respectively.
Cristhian Martinez, Eric O’Flaherty (2-4), Jonny Venters and rookie Craig Kimbrel each pitched a perfect inning to set up the Braves’ recovery after Florida had gone ahead with a Greg Dobbs homer in the second.
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (10-11) held the lead until the seventh.
CARDINALS 3, PIRATES 2
In Pittsburgh, St Louis kept pace with Atlanta as Yadier Molina hit a tiebreaking, two-run double to lift the visitors over Pittsburgh.
The loss was the 82nd of the season for the Pirates, confirming their 19th consecutive season with more defeats than victories. That is a record across all major league sports in North America.
Pittsburgh led the NL Central on July 19 this year, but have won only 16 of 54 matches since then.
Cardinals starter Edwin Jackson (5-2) allowed two runs in 7 1-3 innings and improved to 4-0 in his career against Pittsburgh.
Jason Motte pitched a perfect ninth for the save.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Phillies 1, Astros 0
‧ Giants 3, Padres 1
‧ Nationals 2, Mets 0
‧ Reds 7, Cubs 2
‧ Rockies 6, Brewers 2
‧ Dodgers 3, Diamondbacks 2
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