OAKLAND, Calif. —Stephen Drew homered and made a pair of big defensive plays to back Jarrod Parker, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2. OAKLAND, Calif. —Stephen Drew homered and made a pair of big defensive plays to
OAKLAND, Calif. —Stephen Drew homered and made a pair of big defensive plays to back Jarrod Parker, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2.
Chris Carter had a two-run double as part of a five-run third inning while Josh Reddick added two hits and an RBI for Oakland, which has won two straight over Baltimore to clinch the season series between the top two teams in the American League wild card race.
The A’s also pulled within two games of first-place Texas in the AL West, the closest they’ve been since April 13. The Rangers lost to Seattle earlier in the day.
Nate McLouth homered for Baltimore, which dropped one game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East.
Royals 3, Angels 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ernesto Frieri needed just four pitches to ruin a spectacular start by Zack Greinke, giving up two home runs in the ninth inning as the Royals rallied to hand the playoff-contending Angels a stunning loss.
Frieri (3-1) replaced Greinke with one out in the ninth after Alex Gordon singled. Billy Butler homered to center on Frieri’s first pitch to tie the score. Three pitches later, Salvador Perez homered off the left-field pole for his first career walkoff homer.
Greinke gave up just five singles, walked two and struck out three in 8 1/3 innings.
WHITE SOX 5, TWINS 3
MINNEAPOLIS — Francisco Liriano took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, Paul Konerko homered and drove in three runs Saturday, and the White Sox stayed on top of the AL Centrals.
Liriano (6-11) was tremendous against his former team, allowing only a two-out homer in the seventh to Trevor Plouffe. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out nine in seven innings.
TIGERS 5, INDIANS 3
CLEVELAND — Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and Detroit beat the Indians despite losing a run on an appeal play.
Sanchez (3-5) struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings as Detroit stayed one game behind the first place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central with its fourth straight win.
Carlos Santana spoiled Sanchez’s no-hit bid with a two-out triple in the seventh.
YANKEES 5, RAYS 3
NEW YORK — Ivan Nova was sharp in his return from a shoulder injury, and the Yankees got back-to-back home runs from Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez in a victory over Tampa Bay.
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez each had an RBI single for the Yankees.Making his first start since Aug. 21, Nova was charged with two runs and four hits in six-plus innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
RED SOX 3, BLUE JAYS 2
TORONTO — Pedro Ciriaco drove in the tiebreaking run with a two-out double in the ninth inning, Cody Ross hit a solo homer, and the Red Sox won their second straight, beating the Blue Jays.
MARINERS 8, RANGERS 6
ARLINGTON, Texas — Justin Smoak homered in the eighth and drove in a run in the ninth to lead the Seattle Mariners to an 8-6 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.
Smoak had three hits, two runs and three RBIs.
Seattle built a 6-0 lead in the first three innings before Texas rallied to tie the game.
Lucas Luetge (2-1) got two outs for the victory while Tom Wilhelmsen got the final four outs for his 27th save in 30 chances.
