DETROIT — DETROIT - Doug Fister was breezing along after striking out nine consecutive batters and setting an American League record.
Detroit led by four runs in the eighth inning - but for the 2012 Tigers, nothing has come easy.
The Tigers nearly wasted Fister’s dazzling streak, blowing a big lead late before beating Kansas City 5-4 on Thursday. They kept their advantage in the AL Central when Alex Avila drove home the winning run in the ninth with a bases-loaded grounder.
Detroit began the day with a onegame edge over the Chicago White Sox, who later hosted Tampa Bay.
“Getting a win is big,” Avila said. “We have to be able to wintight games like this. It’s the only way we’re going to be able to get in the playoffs and go far in the playoffs.”
Detroit finished 50-31 at home this season - and will now try to wrap up the division on the road. The Tigers play three games at Minnesota, followed by a season-ending three-game series at Kansas City.
Fister came within one strikeout of matching Tom Seaver’s major league record of 10 in a row. He struck out Salvador Perez to end the top of the fourth, starting a streak that didn’t end until Perez grounded out to the shortstop on a two-strike pitch in the seventh.
“It’s crazy, to go through a whole lineup and strike everybody out,” Royals outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. “And I don’t think he threw more than four pitches to any of the batters.”
The AL record of eight consecutive strikeouts had been accomplished several times, most recently by Kansas City’s Blake Stein on June 17, 2001.
MARINERS 9, ANGELS 4
John Jaso hit a two-run home run and an RBI double for visiting Seattle, and Los Angeles wasted a goldenchance to get within one game of an AL wildcard spot with a loss to the Mariners.
RANGERS 9, ATHLETICS 7
Ian Kinsler got Texas started with a leadoff home run, Matt Harrison (18-10) earned his 18th victory and the AL West-leading Rangers held on to win for a four-game split with visiting Oakland.
BLUE JAYS 6, YANKEES 0
Brandon Morrow and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, pitching host Toronto to a victory over New York. Edwin Encarnacion had three hits and three RBI for Toronto.
RAYS 3, WHITE SOX 2
Evan Longoria hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning and visiting Tampa Bay won its eighth consecutive game, handing the White Sox a loss that hurts Chicago’s playoff hopes.
National League
GIANTS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 3
Midseason acquisitions Hunter Pence and Marco Scutaro each hit two-run home runs and host San Francisco beat Arizona.
METS 6, PIRATES 5
R.A. Dickey became the first knuckleballer to win 20 games in morethan three decades, tying his career-high with 13 strikeouts and leading host New York over Pittsburgh behind David Wright’s tiebreaking, three-run home run in the fifth inning. Dickey (20-6) overcame an outstanding, climbing catch by Travis Snider more than 2 feet above the right-field wall that robbed Mike Baxter of a home run.
REDS 2, BREWERS 1
Slumping Todd Frazier tied the game with a two-out home run in the ninth inning, and Dioner Navarro followed with an RBI triple that sent host Cincinnati to a victory and dealt a major setback to Milwaukee’s playoff chances.
ROCKIES 7, CUBS 5
Jordan Pacheco and DJ LeMahieu each homered, leading host Colorado to a victory over Chicago.
BRAVES 6, MARLINS 2
Tommy Hanson (13-9) earned his first victory since July, and host Atlanta scored two runs on Miami left fielder Bryan Petersen’s error during a victory over the Marlins.
NATIONALS 7, PHILLIES 3
Gio Gonzalez (21-8) became the first 21-game winner in the majors, Michael Morse hit two home runs and visiting Washington beat Philadelphia.
Thursday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cincinnati 2, Milwaukee 1 NY Mets 6, Pittsburgh 5 Colorado 7, Chicago Cubs 5 San Francisco 7, Arizona 3 Washington 7, Philadelphia 3 Atlanta 6, Miami 2 LA Dodgers at San Diego, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit 5, Kansas City 4 Texas 9, Oakland 7 Seattle 9, LA Angels 4 Toronto 6, NY Yankees 0 Tampa Bay 3, Chicago White Sox 2
Sports, Pages 24 on 09/28/2012