ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wil Myers tied it with a two-run single on a jarring play in the seventh inning then pinch-hitter James Loney stunned the Orioles with a leadoff homer in the ninth, and the Tampa Bay Rays completed
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Wil Myers tied it with a two-run single on a jarring play in the seventh inning then pinch-hitter James Loney stunned the Orioles with a leadoff homer in the ninth, and the Tampa Bay Rays completed a four-game sweep that put a serious damper in Baltimore’s wild-card hopes with a 5-4 victory Monday.
The Orioles lost All-Star third baseman Manny Machado to a leg injury in the top of the seventh.
The win pushed the Rays a full game ahead of idle Cleveland for the top AL wild card. Baltimore fell five games behind the Indians with six games to go for both teams.
With the bases loaded, two outs and trailing 4-2 in the seventh, Myers sent a flare behind second base. Second baseman Alexi Casilla, who entered the game in the eighth, made a fully extended diving catch but he collided with Nick Markakis, racing in toward the ball from right field. The ball came loose and two runs scored.
Hitting for Sean Rodriguez, Loney lined an 0-1 pitch from Tommy Hunter (6-5) down the right field line.
Joel Peralta (3-8) pitched a perfect ninth for the Rays, who have won nine of 12.
Chris Davis hit his major league-best 52nd homer for Baltimore.
RANGERS 12, ASTROS 0
ARLINGTON, Texas — Alex Rios hit for the cycle and Derek Holland struck out nine in his second shutout of the season as Texas started its final push for a playoff spot.
The Rangers pulled within a game of idle Cleveland for the second AL wild-card berth with six games remaining.
Rios finished off the cycle with a triple to right-center field in the sixth inning, and later scored to put Texas up 11-0. He doubled in the first inning, had an infield single in the third and hit his 18th homer in the fourth.
Holland (10-9) got his 10th win in his ninth try since his last victory on Aug. 4. The left-hander won at home for the first time since May 31.
The first cycle of Rios’ career was the seventh in Rangers’ history. Adrian Beltre was the last to do it, last Aug. 24 against Seattle.
TWINS 4, TIGERS 3 (11)
MINNEAPOLIS — Josmil Pinto hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and Minnesota overcame 12 strikeouts by Justin Verlander.
The Tigers led 3-0 in the eighth, but Jose Veras gave up RBI doubles to Eduardo Escobar and Ryan Doumit. Brian Dozier led off the ninth with a tying homer against previously perfect closer Joaquin Benoit.
Dozier opened the 11th with a single off Luke Putkonen (1-2) and advanced on a wild pitch. Pinto punched a single to right field to give manager Ron Gardenhire his 998th career victory.
Verlander gave up six hits and walked three in six shutout innings for the Tigers, whose magic number remained two for clinching the AL Central.
WHITE SOX 3, BLUE JAYS 2
CHICAGO — Jose Quintana pitched into the eighth inning and rookie Marcus Semien hit his first major league homer to lead Chicago.
Quintana (9-6), who entered the game with the most no-decisions in the American League at 17, allowed two runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings. Addison Reed pitched the ninth inning to record his 39th save.
Toronto starter J.A. Happ (4-7) threw 110 pitches in his five innings, allowing three runs and eight hits.
In the second inning Semien hit an 0-2 pitch from Happ down the line and well over the fence for a 2-0 lead. Semien was called up on Sept. 4.
ATHLETICS 10, ANGELS 5
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jed Lowrie hit a three-run homer and Brandon Moss added a two-run shot as Oakland won its fifth straight.
Tommy Milone pitched into the sixth inning and Seth Smith had an early RBI double for the AL West champions, who have won 11 of 13.
Seven A’s drove in a run as Oakland (94-63) moved to a season-high 31 games over .500 with the majors’ second-best record, just behind Boston (95-62).
Howie Kendrick homered and hit a three-run double for the Angels, who have lost two straight after winning 21 of 28. They hadn’t lost by more than three runs since Sept. 3.
Milone (12-9) struck out eight while giving up five hits and two earned runs in his second start since Aug. 27.
Garrett Richards (7-7) gave up eight hits and seven runs while failing to get out of the fifth inning in his worst start since joining the Angels’ rotation full-time in late July.
ROYALS 6, M’S 5, (12)
SEATTLE — Alex Gordon threw out a runner at the plate in extra innings and scored on Salvador Perez’s two-out double in the 12th to lift the Royals over the Mariners.
Kansas City moved within three games of idle Cleveland for the second AL wild card with six remaining. Texas is a game behind the Indians.
Gordon saved the Royals in the 10th inning, when his one-hop throw to Perez from left field cut down Kyle Seager for an inning-ending double play.
Greg Holland walked the first two batters in the 12th, then retired three straight to end it.
Gordon drew a leadoff walk from Lucas Luetge (1-3) in the top of the 12th and Emilio Bonifacio sacrificed. Eric Hosmer popped out before Johnny Giavotella walked.
