MLB ROUNDUP Friday’s games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 8, Twins 1

MINNEAPOLIS — A night after erasing a five-run deficit against the White Sox to reclaim first place in the AL Central, the Twins fell flat in an loss to the surging Royals. Kansas City hammered Francisco Liriano (6-4) for six runs and 11 hits in 41‚Ñ3 innings. Kyle Davies (9-7) allowed one run and four hits in six innings and tied a career high with eight strikeouts, helping the Royals win for the 12th time in 14 games. They’ve won seven straight on the road.

Tigers 6, Rays 4

DETROIT — Gary Sheffield hit two home runs and Ramon Santiago also went deep to lift Detroit, keeping Tampa Bay from clinching their first division title for the second straight day. The Rays’ magic number for winning the AL East is one, pending the outcome of the New York Yankees’ game against the Boston Red Sox. Tampa Bay would win the division with a Boston loss. Sheffield has 499 career home runs and Santiago homered for the third time in two days. Magglio Ordonez drove in two runs for Detroit, which beat Tampa Bay 7-5 on Thursday.

Blue Jays 3, Orioles 0, 7 innings

BALTIMORE — Scott Richmond pitched six innings of four-hit ball to earn his first major league victory and Toronto handed Baltimore its 10th straight loss, winning in a game halted by rain in the seventh.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 8, Nationals 4

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 48th homer, Joe Blanton pitched six effective innings and the Philadelphia Phillies moved closer to clinching the NL East title. The Phillies’ magic number for winning their second straight division championship was reduced to one after the New York Mets lost. Chase Utley had a three-run double and Howard drove in four runs as Philadelphia built a 7-1 lead off Collin Balester (3-7).

Marlins 6, Mets 1

NEW YORK — The Mets’ offense fizzled and Mike Pelfrey lost to Florida for the fourth time this season, putting New York’s postseason chances in peril. Josh Willingham homered and Hanley Ramirez had four hits for the Marlins, who knocked New York out of the playoff race on the final weekend last season.

Brewers 5, Cubs 1

MILWAUKEE — Rickie Weeks hit a three-run homer, Seth McClung pitched four scoreless innings in relief and the Brewers rallied to beat the Cubs for their fifth straight win and the lead in the NL wild-card race. Weeks, who has been relegated to a bench role but replaced Ray Durham after the sixth, drove reliever Chad Gaudin’s pitch deep to left field, flipping his bat as his shot cleared the wall to score McClung and Mike Cameron.

Astros 5, Braves 4

HOUSTON — Pinch-hitter Darin Erstad hit a game-ending home run in the ninth inning to lift Houston to a win over Atlanta, but the Astros were still eliminated from playoff contention.

Cardinals 7, Reds 6

ST. LOUIS — Troy Glaus drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and Albert Pujols homered and had three hits to run his streak to seven straight hits over three games.

Associated Press