OAKLAND, Calif. — Travis Blackley allowed one run over six innings in a strong bounce-back performance that helped Oakland defeat Texas 3-1 and move into a first-place tie in the AL West with the Rangers and set up a one-game
OAKLAND, Calif. — Travis Blackley allowed one run over six innings in a strong bounce-back performance that helped Oakland defeat Texas 3-1 and move into a first-place tie in the AL West with the Rangers and set up a one-game showdown for the division title.
A night after holding a raucous celebration after clinching their first playoff berth since 2006, the A’s erased the last piece of what had been a 13-game deficit in the division race on June 30 to take a share of first place for the first time since March 29.
Blackley (6-4) gave up three hits and struck out five a week after the Rangers knocked him out with a five-run first inning in the shortest start of his career.
Yankees 4, Red Sox 3 (12)
NEW YORK — Raul Ibanez tied it with a pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning then had an RBI single in the 12th, helping the Yankees remain a game up on Baltimore in the AL East with one game to go.
With a second comeback spurred by Ibanez in the last 10 days, the Yankees need a win or Orioles loss on the final day of the season to secure their 13th division title since 1996. The Orioles beat Tampa Bay 1-0 earlier.
If the teams end up even after today’s games, they’ll play a tiebreaker Thursday in Baltimore.
The Yankees kept missing chances on a misty night. They were 0-58 when trailing after eight innings this season, then rallied in the ninth.
ORIOLES 1, RAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Chris Davis homered for the sixth straight game, and the Orioles overcame a club-record 15 strikeouts by James Shields to beat the Rays, pushing the AL East race to the final day of the season.
Baltimore trails the New York Yankees by one game.
ROYALS 4, TIGERS 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Miguel Cabrera had two hits and drove in two runs before leaving in the fifth inning, and the Royals rallied to beat his AL Central champion Tigers.
Alcides Esocbar and Jeff Francoeur went deep for Kansas City, and Salvador Perez provided the go-ahead RBI in the fifth inning. Jeremy Guthrie (5-3) lasted six innings to improve to 5-0 with six no-decisions in his final 11 starts, the Royals winning 10 of them.
Doug Fister (10-10) allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings for Detroit.
INDIANS 4, WHITE SOX 3 (12)
CLEVELAND — Jason Donald singled home the winning run with two outs in the 12th inning, lifting the Indians over the White Sox.
Lonnie Chisenhall doubled with one out against Matt Thornton (4-10), who then intentionally walked Russ Canzler.
Right-hander Nate Jones came on to face announced pinch hitter Matt LaPorta, who was then replaced by lefty swinging Jack Hannahan. Jones struck him out before Donald hit a liner into the left-field corner.
BLUE JAYS 4, TWINS 3
TORONTO — Chad Jenkins earned his first major league win, Kelly Johnson hit a two-run home run, and the Blue Jays beat the Twins.
Making his third career start, Jenkins (1-3) allowed two runs and five hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander walked one and struck out two.
Three-time batting champion Joe Mauer went hitless in three at-bats.
MARINERS 6, ANGELS 1
SEATTLE — Kyle Seager became the first Seattle batter to hit 20 home runs in a season since 2009 with a solo shot in the first inning, and the Mariners beat Mike Trout and the Angels.
Trout had one hit in five at-bats to see his average drop to .324.
