NEW YORK — Cliff Pennington hit a go-ahead single in the sixth inning after a key error by backup shortstop Eduardo Nunez, and the Oakland Athletics bounced back to avoid a sweep, edging New York 5-4 Sunday and stopping the Yankees’ seven-game winning streak.
A day after their stunning 14-inning loss, the A’s held on to maintain their two-game lead for the second AL wild-card spot over the Angels.
RED SOX 2, ORIOLES 1
BOSTON — Cody Ross doubled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, Andrew Bailey escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth, and the Red Sox ended Baltimore’s six-game winning streak.
Boston stopped its four-game losing streak after Dustin Pedroia led off the eighth with a double against Luis Ayala (5-5), and Ross followed with his tiebreaking hit.
A double by Jim Thome helped Baltimore load the bases with one out in the ninth. But Bailey got Manny Machado on a forceout at home and struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Flaherty to finish it.
ANGELS 4, WHITE SOX 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver kept the Angels within striking distance in the AL wild-card chase, posting his league-leading 19th victory with a decision over the struggling White Sox.
The White Sox lost their fifth in a row and lead Detroit by a game in the AL Central.
Albert Pujols reached the 100-RBI mark for the 11th time in 12 big league seasons with a two-run double.
Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer that helped the Angels complete a three-game sweep.
Weaver (19-4) established a career high for wins.
TWINS 10, TIGERS 4
TWINS 2, TIGERS 1 (10)
DETROIT — Jamey Carroll hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Twins beat Detroit, winning both games of a doubleheader to prevent the Tigers from at least tying the Chicago White Sox atop the AL Central.
Detroit closer Jose Valverde (3-4) allowed pinch-hitter Denard Span to lead off the extra inning with a single and gave up a one-out, fall-behind single to Carroll.
Jared Burton (2-1) got the win, and Glen Perkins pitched a perfect 10th for his 14th save in 17 chances.
Joe Mauer drove in four runs for the Twins in the opener.
INDIANS 15, ROYALS 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Carlos Santana hit two homers and drove in five runs as the Indians routed Kansas City in their highest-scoring game of the season.
Santana connected for a two-run shot in the sixth inning off Jake Odorizzi, who lost in his major league debut. Santana added his team-leading 18th homer, a three-run drive during a seven-run ninth.
The loss officially eliminated the Royals from playoff contention and assured them of another losing record. Kansas City has not made the postseason since winning the 1985 World Series, the longest active playoff drought in the majors.
RAYS 3, BLUE JAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — B.J. Upton hit his eighth home run in 14 games, and Jeremy Hellickson won for the first time in more than a month to help the Rays beat the Blue Jays.
It was the fifth straight win for the Rays, who remained three games behind the Oakland Athletics in the race for the AL’s second wild-card spot.
Hellickson (9-10) pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up five hits and two walks while striking out six. The right-hander has given up only 16 runs in his last eight starts, but he has won only two of them. Sunday marked his first win since Aug. 20.
RANGERS 3, MARINERS 2
SEATTLE — Ryan Dempster allowed two runs and six hits over six-plus innings, and Mike Napoli and Geovany Soto homered to lead the Rangers over the Mariners and preserve a four-game lead over the Oakland A’s in the AL West.
Solo homers by Eric Thames and Brendan Ryan off Dempster (12-7) in the seventh inning were the only blemishes to a strong outing. Dempster went 6 2/3 innings, allowing one walk while striking out eight. Joe Nathan earned his 35th save.
