MLB ROUNDUP \ Tuesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rays 5, Orioles 2

Rays 7, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay reduced its magic number to win the AL East to two with another franchise first: a doubleheader sweep. After James Shields pitched seven effective innings in the opener, Tampa Bay rallied to win the nightcap. In the second game, Tampa Bay trailed 5-1 before Evan Longoria homered and pinch hitter Dioner Navarro singled in two runs off Jamie Walker (1-3) in a six-run eighth inning.

Twins 9, White Sox 3

MINNEAPOLIS — Chicago’s Javier Vazquez lasted just four innings in Chicago’s biggest game of the year, and Minnesota pulled within 11‚Ñ2 games in the AL Central race. Vazquez (12-15) gave up five runs and seven hits, including a two-run homer and a triple to Jason Kubel, whose Twins practically need a sweep to position themselves for a fifth division title in seven years.

Royals 5, Tigers 0

DETROIT — Zack Grienke and Leo Nunez combined for a four-hitter to lift Kansas City over Detroit. Mike Aviles, Ryan Shealy and Alex Gordon homered for Kansas City, which has won 10 of its last 12.

Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1

TORONTO — Mike Mussina pitched five shutout innings to earn his 19th win and Jason Giambi homered for New York, but the Yankees were eliminated when Boston beat Cleveland.

Rangers 6, Athletics 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Hank Blalock hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh and Texas beat Oakland to move back into second place in the American League West. Texas snapped its five-game losing streak.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 6, Cubs 2

NEW YORK — Johan Santana sparked the Mets’ offense with an unusual broken-bat infield single and struck out 10 in eight innings. Jose Reyes had a three-run triple for his 200th hit of the season and David Wright drove in two runs with a clutch single for the Mets, who ended a three-game skid reminiscent of last season’s epic collapse.

Braves 3, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA — Casey Kotchman homered and Mike Hampton won for the first time in a month as Atlanta curbed Philadelphia’s playoff push. The Phillies twice had serious shots at big innings against the oft-injured Hampton (3-3).

Nationals 9, Marlins 4

WASHINGTON — Florida’s playoff hopes officially ended with this loss, as Washington’s Alberto Gonzalez went 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs and Shairon Martis got his first major league win. The Nationals broke a five-game losing streak.

Cardinals 7, Diamondbacks 4

ST. LOUIS — Kyle Lohse won his 15th game and St. Louis clobbered Randy Johnson for the second time this month. Ryan Ludwick hit a three-run homer in the first and Albert Pujols had two hits, two RBIs and reached 100 walks for the first time in his career for the Cardinals, who won for the third time in 13 games.

Reds 2, Astros 1

HOUSTON — Edinson Volquez pitched 71‚Ñ3 strong innings and Cincinnati scored a pair of unearned runs. Volquez (17-6) won in his fifth attempt to get his 17th victory. He had three no-decisions and a loss since winning Aug. 29 against San Francisco.

Associated Press