Baseball roundup \ Wednesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers 7, Twins 2

DETROIT — Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run double and Eddie Bonine pitched five effective innings after getting off to a rough start for Detroit. The Tigers can clinch its first division title since 1987 by beating Minnesota again in today’s series finale. Ordonez’s second key hit in consecutive days broke it open in the fifth. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out against Carl Pavano (13-12), who responded by getting Miguel Cabrera to pop out. Ordonez followed with a drive to center to clear the bases and give the Tigers a 7-2 lead.

Royals 4, Yankees 3

NEW YORK — Joba Chamberlain lasted just 32‚Ñ3 innings in his final tuneup for the postseason and was booed by fans at Yankee Stadium when he walked off. Derek Jeter homered leading off the first, and Nick Swisher’s 29th homer tied the score in the fifth, a two-run drive off Robinson Tejeda.

Blue Jays 12, Red Sox 0

BOSTON — Roy Halladay pitched a three-hitter for his second consecutive shutout as Toronto sent Boston to its sixth straight loss. The Red Sox started only two regulars after clinching the AL wild card late Tuesday.

Rays 5, Orioles 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields carried a shutout into the eighth inning, Ben Zobrist hit a three-run homer and Tampa Bay extended Baltimore’s losing streak to 13 games. Shields (11-12) allowed three runs and six hits over eight innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 10, Astros 3

PHILADELPHIA — Now, the Philadelphia Phillies can rest and prepare to defend their World Series title. Kyle Kendrick pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Pedro Martinez and the Phillies beat Houston to clinch their third straight NL East crown. Raul Ibanez hit his career-high 34th homer and Jimmy Rollins had a double and triple for Philadelphia, which is heading to the postseason for the third straight year for the first time since Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton and crew won three consecutive division titles from 1976-78.

Marlins 5, Braves 4

ATLANTA — Ricky Nolasco struck out nine straight Atlanta Braves and finished with 16 strikeouts — the most by a major league pitcher in more than two years. Trying to make a late push for the NL wild card, the Braves rallied for two runs in the ninth inning and loaded the bases with two outs. But the game ended when Matt Diaz was thrown out trying to scamper back to third following a pitch in the dirt.

Reds 6, Cardinals 1

CINCINNATI — Laynce Nix hit a grand slam off John Smoltz and Bronson Arroyo pitched into the ninth inning.

Nationals 7, Mets 4

WASHINGTON — Justin Maxwell’s grand slam off All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez with two outs in the ninth inning gave the Nationals the victory.

Associated Press