MLB ROUNDUP

MLB ROUNDUP

Wednesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 12, Devil Rays 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — New York clinched its 13th straight postseason appearance. The victory, New York’s 15th in 20 games, eliminated defending AL champion Detroit from postseason contention. Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano homered, and the Yankees broke a close game open with a seven-run fifth inning.

Red Sox 11, Athletics 6

BOSTON — Mike Lowell drove in five runs and Boston cut its magic number to clinch the AL East to two. Lowell had three of Boston’s 17 hits and took over the team lead with a career-high 116 RBIs, two more than David Ortiz. He raised his batting average to a career-best .326.

Tigers 9, Twins 4, 5 innings, rain

DETROIT — Mike Hessman hit a home run and an RBI single to lead Detroit to the rain-shortened victory. The Twins led 4-3 in the top of the fourth when rain delayed the game for one hour and 18 minutes. Minnesota ace Johan Santana did not return to the mound, ending his streak of pitching at least five innings in 123 straight starts dating to 2004. In the last 50 years, just Curt Schilling (147) and David Cone (145) had longer streaks.

Rangers 16, Angels 2

ARLINGTON, Texas — Michael Young reached 200 hits for the fifth consecutive season and Sammy Sosa hit one of Texas’ five home runs as it completed a three-game sweep of AL West-champion Los Angeles.

Blue Jays 8, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE — Matt Stairs and Adam Lind both had two RBIs during the most prolific first inning in Toronto history. The Blue Jays sent 13 players to the plate and scored eight runs in the first. They got six hits — all singles, including two by Alex Rios. There were also three walks and a hit batter.

White Sox 3, Royals 0

CHICAGO — Jon Garland threw his first shutout of the season and Jim Thome hit his 505th home run for Chicago. Jermaine Dye added a two-run homer for the White Sox, who moved out of a tie with the Royals for last place in the AL Central. Garland (10-13) won for just the second time in 11 starts, allowing three hits while striking out two and walking two. It was Garland’s sixth career shutout and first since Aug. 24, 2006, against Detroit. Thome’s 33rd homer of the season moved him to 22nd on the all-time list, passing Eddie Murray.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Nationals 9, Mets 6

NEW YORK — With their pitching staff in tatters, the free-falling New York Mets blew a five-run lead and lost again to Washington. Now they’re in danger of blowing the whole NL East race, too. New York wasted two homers by Carlos Beltran and another from Moises Alou in a loss that sliced its lead to one game over Philadelphia.

Phillies 5, Braves 2

PHILADELPHIA — Kyle Lohse pitched seven strong innings and Philadelphia improved its playoff hopes. Lohse (9-12) allowed two runs and six hits, striking out five and becoming the first Phillies starter to go seven innings since Jamie Moyer on Sept. 14. Pinch-hitter Shane Victorino hit a solo homer, Greg Dobbs had a key two-run single and Philadelphia took advantage of third baseman Chipper Jones’ throwing error to score three unearned runs off Tim Hudson (16-10).

Marlins 7, Cubs 4

MIAMI — The Cubs’ grip on the Central lead became shaky when they were shut out over the final 52⁄3 innings and lost for the second night in a row to the last-place Marlins. A two-out RBI single in the fifth inning by backup catcher Matt Treanor put the Marlins ahead to stay. Miguel Cabrera added a two-run homer, his 34th.

Cardinals 7, Brewers 3

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers wasted a chance to cut their Central deficit, giving up a first-inning home run to Albert Pujols in a testy loss that saw two more hit batters and a pair of ejections. A night after Jeff Suppan threw a high, inside pitch at Pujols, causing St. Louis manager Tony La Russa and Brewers manager Ned Yost to exchange heated words, there was more inside pitching.

Astros 7, Reds 6

CINCINNATI — Lance Berkman hit two of Houston’s four home runs and Luke Scott singled in the eighth inning to drive in the winning run as the Astros beat Cincinnati. Hunter Pence homered for the second time in two nights and Carlos Lee added a solo shot as Houston matched its season high for homers in a game while sending the Reds to their fourth consecutive loss. The Astros have hit four home runs in a game six times this season.

Associated Press