AMERICAN LEAGUE
Russell Martin hit a three-run homer, Eric Chavez added a two-run shot and the New York Yankees maintained their one-game lead atop the AL East by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 11-4 on Friday night.
The victory let New York keep its slim lead over second-place Baltimore, which used six first-inning runs to beat Boston 9-1.
Nick Swisher had two hits and two RBIs for the Yankees, who have not lost consecutive games since a three-game skid from Sept. 2-4.
Hiroki Kuroda (15-11) won for the third time in five starts despite matching a season-high by allowing 10 hits in 5-1/3 innings. He gave up two runs, walked two and struck out four.
David Phelps worked 1-2/3 innings and David Robertson pitched the eighth. Cody Eppley got two outs in the ninth and Rafael Soriano finished for the Yankees.
ORIOLES 9, RED SOX 1
In Baltimore, Maryland, Chris Tillman pitched eight innings of one-hit ball, Ryan Flaherty hit his first career grand slam and the Orioles beat the Red Sox to secure their grip on the top AL wild-card spot.
Chris Davis also homered for the Orioles, who remained one game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East. Tillman (9-2) gave up a bunt single to leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik, then allowed only two walks the rest of the way in his longest outing since July 4. The right-hander retired the final 14 batters he faced, and the only run he allowed was unearned.
Boston has lost 14 of 20. Starter Aaron Cook (4-11) was knocked out in the second inning after allowing six runs, five hits and three walks.
INDIANS 8, ROYALS 5
In Cleveland, Ohio, Sandy Alomar Jr won his first game as Indians manager as Jason Kipnis drove in three runs and Cleveland beat Kansas City, handing the Royals their sixth straight loss.
Alomar, one of the most popular players in franchise history, went from bench coach to interim manager when Manny Acta was fired Thursday.
David Huff (3-0) gave up three runs over six innings as Cleveland got its first three-game winning streak since July 3 to 5. Chris Perez closed Cleveland’s fourth win in five games for his 39th save in 43 chances.
Cleveland had 16 hits, including a string of five straight with one out to score three runs off Will Smith (6-9) in the second inning.
TWINS 4, TIGERS 2
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Ryan Doumit had four RBIs for Minnesota, including the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning to help the Twins beat Detroit and keep the Tigers from moving any closer to the AL Central title.
The Tigers’ lead dropped to one game over Chicago, which beat Tampa Bay 3-1. Rookie Drew Smyly struck out five over 5 1-3 scoreless innings, but Brayan Villarreal (3-5) walked three to load the bases in the eighth before Doumit’s one-out hit put the Twins in front.
Omar Infante’s two-run homer after an error spoiled Scott Diamond’s shutout in the eighth, tying the game at 2, and Glen Perkins picked up his 16th save with a perfect ninth inning.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ White Sox 3, Rays 1
‧ Angels 7, Rangers 4
‧ Athletics 8, Mariners 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania
Homer Bailey of the Cincinnati Reds threw the season’s seventh no-hitter, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Friday night.
The seven no-hitters matches the modern record for most in a season, tying 1990 and 1991. There were eight no-hitters in 1884.
The last no-hitter for the Reds was a perfect game by Tom Browning on Sept. 16, 1988. This was the 15th no-hitter in Reds history.
Bailey (13-10) walked one and struck out 10. He threw 115 pitches and retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out pinch-hitter Brock Holt then getting pinch-hitter Michael McKenry and Alex Presley to both pop out.
When Presley’s popup was caught by second baseman Brandon Phillips, Bailey was mobbed near the mound by teammates who doused him with water.
The 26-year-old Bailey improved to 5-0 in his six career starts with a 1.19 ERA at PNC Park. All four of his complete games and both his shutouts have come against Pittsburgh.
METS 3, BRAVES 1
In Atlanta, Georgia, Lucas Duda’s three-run homer in the seventh gave New York the lead, Jonathon Niese pitched seven strong innings for his third straight win and the Mets beat Tim Hudson and the Braves.
The Braves, who have wrapped up at least a wild-card berth, began the night four games behind the Nationals in the NL East. Atlanta has only five games remaining in the regular season.
Chipper Jones, starting his final regular-season home series before retirement, was 0-for-4 with four groundouts. Jones was honored by the Braves in a pregame ceremony that included former Atlanta manager Bobby Cox and Hall of Famer Hank Aaron. The tribute helped draw a sellout crowd of 51,910.
Niese (13-9) allowed one run on four hits in seven innings for his third straight win.
Freddie Freeman gave Atlanta a 1-0 lead with his 23rd homer off Niese in the fourth.
Bobby Parnell pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save.
MARLINS 2, PHILLIES 1
In Miami, Carlos Lee’s game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Marlins to a win over Philadelphia and eliminated the Phillies from playoff contention.
The Phillies overcame a horrible first half and came from way behind to get within three games of St. Louis for the second wild card spot. But they lost five of the next six to fall out of the chase.
Bryan Petersen began the ninth with a double to right field off Josh Lindblom (3-4). Jose Reyes grounded out and Giancarlo Stanton was intentionally walked setting up the at-bat with Lee. Lee lined a single to left-center field scoring Petersen from second as Laynce Nix’s throw to home was off-line.
CARDINALS 12, NATIONALS 2
In St Louis, Missouri, Allen Craig matched his career best with four hits to go with two RBIs, Yadier Molina hit a two-run home run and the Cardinals punished Edwin Jackson and the Nationals early to win a matchup of teams on the cusp of clinchers.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Astros 7, Brewers 6
‧ Dodgers 8, Rockies 0
‧ Diamondbacks 8, Cubs 3
‧ Giants 3, Padres 1
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