MLB ROUNDUP \ Wednesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rays 11, Orioles 6

BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay rallied from a six-run deficit, reducing its magic number to one. Akinori Iwamura had two hits and three RBIs for the Rays, who completed a four-game sweep. It was the ninth time this season the Orioles blew a four-run lead, most in the majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Baltimore has lost nine straight and 28 of 34. The Orioles went 3-15 against Tampa Bay this season, losing the last 12. Edwin Jackson (13-11) got the win despite giving up six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. Trever Miller pitched 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief to earn his second save.

Twins 3, White Sox 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Nick Blackburn fought through five innings and the maligned Minnesota bullpen didn’t flinch, pitching the Twins past Mark Buehrle and the White Sox to pull within a half-game of Chicago in the AL Central. Making up for Javier Vazquez’s flop in a 9-3 loss the night before, Buehrle (14-12) gave the White Sox the big game performance they needed after he fell behind 3-1 in the second inning. He didn’t have help, though, beyond a homer and two RBIs by Ken Griffey.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays 2, 10 innings

TORONTO — Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam in the 10th inning and New York won its seventh straight game. Jose Veras (5-2) worked one inning for the win.

Royals 10, Tigers 4

DETROIT — Mitch Maier hit a bases-loaded triple in Kansas City’s seven-run fifth inning and the Royals completed a sweep of the three-game series. Brian Bannister (9-16) pitched six shutout innings for the fourth-place Royals. Nate Robertson (7-11) was charged with eight runs, seven earned, and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings for Detroit.

Rangers 14, Athletics 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Hank Blalock homered in his fourth straight game and Matt Harrison became the first Texas rookie left-hander to win nine games. Harrison (9-3) struck out seven over six innings. Blalock’s three-run homer, his 11th, erased a 1-0 deficit in the fourth and put Texas ahead to stay.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs 9, Mets 6, 10 innings

NEW YORK — Derrek Lee blooped a go-ahead double in the 10th inning off Luis Ayala, Aramis Ramirez followed with a two-run homer and Chicago rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat the Mets.

Braves 10, Phillies 4

PHILADELPHIA — Chipper Jones hit his second career pinch-homer as Atlanta stalled Philadelphia’s playoff push. Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 47th homer and Chase Utley also went deep for the Phillies.

Astros 5, Reds 0

HOUSTON — Randy Wolf pitched 6 2/3 innings and Lance Berkman hit a two-run homer for Houston. Wolf (12-12) allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked two, improving to 6-2 in 12 starts since being acquired from the Padres on July 22.

Marlins 9, Nationals 4

WASHINGTON — Hanley Ramirez homered on the game’s first pitch, top prospects Cameron Maybin and Gaby Sanchez combined for six hits to lead Florida.

Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2

ST. LOUIS — Adam Wainwright pitched out of two bases-loaded jams for St. Louis. Wainwright (11-3) pitched into the seventh inning, allowing seven hits and five walks.

Associated Press