ROYALS 3, TIGERS 0
DETROIT -- James Shields was acquired two offseasons ago to pitch in games like this for Kansas City.
With the Royals trying to avoid a sweep in their biggest series in years, the 32-year-old right-hander delivered.
"You don't earn a nickname like 'Big Game James' for nothing," manager Ned Yost said. "Games don't come much bigger than this."
Shields allowed two hits over seven innings in another terrific performance, and Kansas City edged Detroit 3-0 on Wednesday night to take a one-game lead over the Tigers atop the AL Central. Detroit had won the first two games of the series to pull into a virtual tie for first in the division.
The teams have a three-game series in Kansas City that starts Sept. 19.
"It's definitely a game that we needed, for sure, but I think every game from here on out is pretty crucial," Shields said. "We took a couple tough losses there, the last couple days, but we're having fun right now and enjoying the moment."
Shields (14-7) gave up a single to Ian Kinsler leading off the first. Then he picked off Kinsler -- and retired every other batter he faced until another Detroit single in the seventh. The Tigers put two on that inning, but Shields worked out of the jam.
Kelvin Herrera pitched the eighth and Wade Davis finished for his third save.
Rick Porcello (15-11) pitched well for the Tigers, but Kansas City pushed across two runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Salvador Perez and Lorenzo Cain.
Alcides Escobar added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
ANGELS 7, RANGERS 1 Albert Pujols opened the scoring with his first triple in more than four years, rookie Matt Shoemaker had another strong start, and visiting Los Angeles beat Texas. Pujols almost made it two consecutive triples, only to change his mind as he rounded second. He was then tagged out trying to get back to the base and finished a home run shy of the cycle.
YANKEES 8, RAYS 5 Mark Teixeira made up for a botched foul pop in the Rays' four-run first inning with a go-ahead triple in the fifth, Brian McCann homered and drove in three runs, and host New York used its biggest comeback of the season to beat Tampa Bay.
ORIOLES 10, RED SOX 6 Wei-Yin Chen didn't permit a runner until the sixth, Adam Jones helped provide an early cushion and visiting Baltimore beat Boston for a three-game sweep. The Orioles took an 8-0 lead in the fifth.
WHITE SOX 2, ATHLETICS 1 Avisail Garcia drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning, and host Chicago beat struggling Oakland.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
METS 2, ROCKIES 0 Rafael Montero (1-3) earned his first major league win, Eric Young Jr. went 3 for 3 with an RBI triple and suddenly surging New York beat Colorado for its fourth consecutive victory.
PIRATES 6, PHILLIES 3 Andrew McCutchen hit the first inside-the-park home run of his career and visiting Pittsburgh protected its lead in the NL wild-card race, beating Philadelphia.
REDS 4, CARDINALS 2 Alfredo Simon (14-10) shook off a rough start but lasted seven innings and drove in the go-ahead run with the second of his two doubles as host Cincinnati rallied for a victory over St. Louis.
BREWERS 4, MARLINS 1 Rookie Matt Clark hit his first career home run, Wily Peralta pitched into the seventh inning, and Milwaukee beat visiting Miami. Peralta (16-10) gave up one earned run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings to help Milwaukee snap a four-game losing streak.
BRAVES 6, NATIONALS 2 Aaron Harang outdueled Stephen Strasburg, Justin Upton drove in three runs and Atlanta avoided a series sweep by host Washington with a victory.
INTERLEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 11, CUBS 1 Drew Hutchison matched his career-high with 10 strikeouts in 6 1-3 innings, Dioner Navarro had two hits and two RBI, and host Toronto completed a three-game sweep with a victory over Chicago.
Sports on 09/11/2014