MLB ROUNDUP Saturday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 7, Tigers 4

DETROIT — Mark Grudzielanek again got the best of Kenny Rogers, collecting four hits and scoring three times as Kansas City moved Detroit to the verge of elimination. Grudzielanek is hitting .647 in his career against Rogers and .355 against Detroit this year, and this time provided plenty of support for starter Kyle Davies. Davies (3-7) won for just the second time in eight starts, giving up three runs and nine hits with a walk in 51⁄3 innings. Rogers (3-3) extended his winless streak to seven starts, allowing five runs — three earned — and eight hits. He walked two in six innings.

Yankees 12, Blue Jays 11

NEW YORK — After two long days of seemingly endless baseball, Melky Cabrera and the New York Yankees finally nudged a little closer to a playoff berth. Moments after starting a strong relay that cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Cabrera singled home the winning run in the 10th inning for his fifth RBI to give New York a victory. Cabrera’s third big hit of the day off Josh Towers (5-10) ended a wild, messy, back-and-forth game that lasted exactly 5 hours — after the start was delayed 92 minutes by rain. Plus, it came one day after the teams played 14 innings, a game Toronto won 5-4 after the Yankees rallied for four runs in the ninth. The Yankees used a team-record 10 pitchers and again took advantage of a defensive misplay by Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill.

Seattle 3, Los Angeles 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Miguel Batista pitched into the sixth inning and Ichiro Suzuki scored a run and drove in another for Seattle, postponing a division-clinching win for Los Angeles. Batista (15-11) allowed only one run despite giving up six hits and five walks in 51⁄3 innings.

Red Sox 8, Devil Rays 6.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Boston Red Sox became the first team in the majors to clinch a playoff spot this season, rallying on ninth-inning home runs by Jason Varitek and Julio Lugo to beat the Devil Rays. The victory assured the Red Sox of at least the AL wild-card spot.

White Sox 8, Twins 3

MINNEAPOLIS — Rookie Jerry Owens went 5-for-6 with three RBIs, and the rest of the Chicago lineup followed his lead. Javier Vazquez (14-8) used the support for an easy victory, giving up only one hit over the first five innings. Jim Thome hit career home run No. 504, Darin Erstad hit one into the upper deck, and every White Sox starter reached base at least once.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 7, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Oliver Perez pitched eight innings, Moises Alou extended his hitting streak to a team record-tying 26 games and New York strengthened its hold on the NL East by beating Florida. Following a brief September swoon, the Mets won their second straight. Perez (15-9) gave up six hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out eight. Aaron Heilman completed the seven-hitter. Six of the Mets’ runs came with two out, and they made the most of their three hits off Byung-Hyun Kim (9-8). He allowed five runs in five innings.

Phillies 4, Nationals 1, 10 innings

WASHINGTON — Ryan Howard drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, helping the Phillies beat the Nationals and keep pace in the NL East. Chase Utley homered for the Phillies, who won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Braves 4, Brewers 3, 11 innings

ATLANTA — Second baseman Rickie Weeks made an error on a routine grounder in the 11th inning and Mark Teixeira followed with an RBI single, giving Atlanta a win. Needing to win, the Brewers were one out away in the 10th when closer Francisco Cordero gave up a tying home run to pinch-hitter Scott Thorman. Edgar Renteria drew a leadoff walk from Seth McClung (0-1) in the Braves 11th and Willie Harris pinch-ran. Brian Shouse relieved, and Chipper Jones hit an easy grounder that Weeks misplayed. Teixeira singled past first baseman Price Fielder to win it.

Cardinals 7, Astros 4

ST. LOUIS — Rick Ankiel homered for the first time in 17 games and Albert Pujols delivered a key pinch hit, leading St. Louis over Houston. Ankiel got three hits, including his 10th home run.

Associated Press