AMERICAN LEAGUE
INDIANS 7, TIGERS 4
DETROIT -- The Cleveland Indians clinched the American League Central title Monday night, overcoming an injury to ace right-hander Corey Kluber in a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Kluber left after four innings with right groin tightness, joining Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar in a group of talented Cleveland pitchers dealing with injuries. But even those concerns were secondary when the Indians poured onto the field to celebrate their first division title since 2007.
Cleveland last made the postseason in 2013 as a wild card.
Coco Crisp and Roberto Perez homered for the Indians, and Jason Kipnis doubled in a run.
Buck Farmer (0-1) allowed four runs in five innings for the Tigers, who fell two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card.
Andrew Miller (10-1) won in relief, and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his 30th save in 33 chances.
It was fitting that Cleveland clinched the division with a head-to-head victory over the Tigers, because that's how the Central was won. The Indians are 14-2 against Detroit with three games left in the season series.
Cleveland also has been solid against other teams, of course. The Indians won 14 games in a row from June 17 to July 1, a run that coincided with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning the NBA title to end the city's 52-year championship drought. The Indians are aiming to win the World Series for the first time since 1948.
YANKEES 7, BLUE JAYS 5 Mark Teixeira hit a tying home run in the ninth inning and Aaron Hicks added a winning shot as visiting New York avoided a four-game sweep. Leading 3-2 heading to the ninth, Blue Jays Manager John Gibbons called on Jason Grilli (7-6) to close it out because Roberto Osuna was unavailable after pitching the previous two days. Teixeira tied it at 3-3 with a one-out drive into the second deck drive in right. Didi Gregorius singled and Hicks followed with a two-run home run. Tommy Layne wrapped up his first save by getting Troy Tulowitzki to foul out. Adam Warren (4-2) got the victory behind two perfect innings.
WHITE SOX 7, RAYS 1 James Shields pitched six effective innings for his first victory in two months, Justin Morneau and Carlos Sanchez each hit a two-run home run and host Chicago beat Tampa Bay. Shields (6-18) allowed 1 run and 7 hits, using 6 strikeouts to help wriggle out of several jams and help Chicago win its third consecutive. Tampa Bay's Drew Smyly (Little Rock Central, Arkansas Razorbacks) allowed 3 runs and 7 hits over 5 innings, losing for the first time since July 18 at Colorado to drop to 7-12.
MARINERS 4, ASTROS 3 (11) Robinson Cano hit his second home run of the game with two outs in the 11th inning, lifting visiting Seattle over Houston. The Astros scored two runs in the ninth, but Cano sent a slider from Luke Gregerson (4-3) into the second deck in right field for the winning run. The victory moves Seattle two games behind Baltimore for the second AL wild card and drops Houston, which has lost four of five, to 3 1/2 games back in the race. Drew Storen (4-3) pitched a perfect 10th for the victory. Nick Vincent allowed consecutive singles to Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa before retired the next two batters for his third save.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
CUBS 12, PIRATES 2 Javier Baez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs while major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks pitched six scoreless innings, and visiting Chicago won its 100th game of the season. Baez helped the NL Central-champion Cubs reach 100 victories for the first time since 1935. Hendricks (16-8) dropped his ERA to 1.99 by scattering seven hits, striking out five and walking none. He has not allowed more than three runs in 22 consecutive starts. The Pirates entered 4½ games out of the second NL wild card with seven games to play. Rookie Chad Kuhl (5-4) was rocked for 5 runs and 8 hits in 3 innings.
REDS 15, CARDINALS 2 Joey Votto and Adam Duvall hit two of visiting Cincinnati's four home runs in a rout of St. Louis. Reds starter Tim Adleman (3-4) retired the first 10 Cardinals he faced and went a career-long seven innings. It was his first victory since Aug. 19. Jaime Garcia (10-13) lasted just one inning in the shortest outing of his career.
DIAMONDBACKS 14, NATIONALS 4 All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos left host Washington's loss to Arizona with an apparent right knee injury that could be a major blow to the NL East champions. Ramos landed awkwardly on his right leg after jumping to catch a relay throw in the sixth inning. He immediately called for medical attention and clutched at the same knee he injured badly during the 2012 season, when he tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. Washington was already without reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper due to a thumb injury, slugging second baseman Daniel Murphy (strained glute) and 15-game winner Stephen Strasburg (elbow). This loss left the Nationals one game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers for home-field advantage in the series. Tanner Roark (15-10) allowed five runs in four innings. Zack Godley (5-4) got the victory behind three scoreless innings in relief.
INTERLEAGUE
BREWERS 8, RANGERS 3 Jonathan Villar had two home runs and a career-high five RBI, and Matt Garza beat his former team as visiting Milwaukee topped Texas. The loss dropped AL West-champion Texas a half-game behind Boston in the race for the league's best record. The Cleveland Indians pulled within a half-game of the Rangers. Garza (6-8) allowed 3 runs and 6 hits in 6 innings. Rangers starter Martin Perez (10-11) was looking to set a career high for victories in a season.
Sports on 09/27/2016