TIGERS 9-4, TWINS 2-2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Verlander tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts and the Detroit Tigers moved into the second AL wild-card spot by beating the Minnesota Twins 4-2 Thursday to sweep a day-night doubleheader.
Erick Aybar drove in two runs for Detroit, which moved a half-game ahead of Baltimore for the second wild card and trails Toronto by one game. The Tigers went 9-0 at Minnesota this year.
Victor Martinez had a pinch-hit, three-run home run during a six-run ninth inning as Detroit won the opener 9-2. Justin Upton added his 26th home run.
Verlander (15-8) allowed four hits in six innings, including home runs by Juan Centeno and Byron Buxton. He has won 12 of his last 13 starts against the Twins.
Francisco Rodriguez got three outs for his 44th save in 48 chances.
Minnesota has lost six consecutive games and 97 overall, reaching 96 for the fourth time in six seasons and three short of their 2011 total.
Ervin Santana (7-11) gave up 4 runs -- 2 earned -- 5 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings.
In the opener, Anibal Sanchez allowed 1 run and 2 hits in 5 innings in a spot start, and Alex Wilson (4-0), Shane Green and Mark Lowe finished the five-hitter.
The nightcap was another sloppy game for the Twins, who committed 2 errors, had 2 wild pitches and 1 passed ball. They had three errors and five wild pitches in the doubleheader, scheduled to make up Wednesday's rainout.
Brian Dozier's first-inning home run in the first game was his 42nd of the season and 40th while playing second base, establishing a new AL record for home runs in a season by a second baseman. Dozier passed Alfonso Soriano's total in 2002. Only Rogers Hornsby (42 in 1922), Davey Johnson (42 in 1973) and Ryne Sandberg (40 in 1990) have hit more.
Dozier had his 24-game hitting streak snapped in the second game.
"It's unfortunate for him that he hasn't been able to celebrate a lot of those home runs with the losses," Molitor said.
RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 3 David Price won his eighth consecutive decision, Hanley Ramirez homered and visiting Boston completed a four-game sweep of sinking Baltimore. Price (17-8) gave up 3 runs and 6 hits in 7 innings, walking 2 and striking out 5. The Red Sox have won each of the left-hander's last nine starts since Aug. 7.
INDIANS 5, ROYALS 2 Carlos Santana's three-run home run pushed host Cleveland to a victory over Kansas City and nearer to its first AL Central championship since 2007. Santana's shot in the sixth inning off Dillon Gee (7-9) snapped a 2-2 tie as the Indians improved to 9-1 against the Royals this season.
RAYS 2, YANKEES 0 Blake Snell and the Tampa Bay bullpen combined to strand 11 visiting New York runners in a victory that prevented a much-needed three-game sweep by the Yankees. New York went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, including 0 for 7 against Snell. The Yankees started play 2½ games in back of Baltimore for the second AL wild-card spot.
ANGELS 2, ASTROS 0 Albert Pujols hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Ricky Nolasco pitched seven solid innings, helping Los Angeles hinder host Houston's wild-card hopes. The Angels ended an 11-game skid and kept Houston one game behind the Orioles and Tigers for the second AL wild card. Nolasco (7-14) gave up five hits -- all singles -- and struck out five.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
METS 9, PHILLIES 8 (11) Jose Reyes hit a tying two-run home run in the ninth inning and Asbrubal Cabrera hit a three-run drive in an 11th-inning comeback to lift host New York to a dramatic victory over Philadelphia that assured them of remaining in the NL wild-card lead.
BRAVES 6, MARLINS 3 Matt Kemp hit two home runs to power visiting Atlanta to a victory over Miami. Freddie Freeman singled in the third inning to extend his hitting streak to 26 games and drove in two runs for the Braves, who have won six consecutive for the third time this season. Atlanta's Josh Collmenter (3-0) pitched seven innings and allowed two runs.
BREWERS 3, PIRATES 1 Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high and Scooter Gennett sliced an opposite-field, two-run home run to help Milwaukee avoid another sweep at Miller Park by Pittsburgh. Chase Anderson (9-11) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a fifth-inning home run by Francisco Cervelli, his first since last Sept. 30.
Sports on 09/23/2016