Minneapolis, MN (Best E Casino) - Scott Baker combined with two relievers on a five-hit shutout, as Minnesota moved closer to their fifth AL Central title in the last seven years with a 6-0 win over Kansas City. The Twins continue to lead Chicago, which beat Cleveland 5-1 on Sunday, by one-half game in the division. If the White Sox fall to Detroit in a make-up game at U.S. Cellular Field on Monday, Minnesota will capture the crown. If Chicago wins Monday, a one-game tiebreaker will be held between the White Sox and the Twins on Tuesday in Chicago. Baker (11-4) allowed just four hits and one walk, with nine strikeouts, over seven innings for the Twins (88-74), who snapped a two-game skid. Joe Mauer had a two-run triple and Denard Span added an RBI double for Minnesota. Mike Aviles was 2-for-4 with a double for the Royals (75-87), who ended their season by winning five of their final six games. Brandon Duckworth (3-3) was the hard-luck loser, allowing just two runs on two hits in six innings.
Final Score: Chicago 5, Cleveland 1
Chicago, IL (Best E Casino) - Mark Buehrle was solid on the hill and Paul Konerko had a home run to keep Chicago's playoff hopes alive with a 5-1 victory over Cleveland. Minnesota beat Kansas City on Sunday, 6-0, meaning the White Sox are one-half game behind the Twins for the division lead. Chicago will play a makeup game with Detroit on Monday to help crown the AL Central champions. Should a tiebreaker between Chicago and Minnesota be necessary, it will be played in Chicago on Tuesday. Buehrle (15-12) lasted seven innings and gave up a run on nine hits with six strikeouts and one walk to get the win. Jermaine Dye had a pair of RBI for the White Sox, who saw their five-game skid become history. Bryan Bullington (0-2), who was named as a last-minute replacement for likely AL Cy Young Award winner Cliff Lee, who was scratched with a stiff neck, took the loss after getting tagged for three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in five frames. Jhonny Peralta's solo homer accounted for all the offense for Cleveland, which finished the season at 81-81 for third place in the AL Central. Franklin Gutierrez went 2-for-3 in defeat.
Final Score: Tampa Bay 8, Detroit 7 (11 Innings)
Detroit, MI (Best E Casino) - Ben Zobrist hit a solo home run in the top of the 11th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to edge the Detroit Tigers, 8-7, in the finale of a four-game series at Comerica Park. Zobrist finished with two hits, while Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer and knocked in three and, Jonny Gomes chipped in with two run-double for Tampa Bay, which salvaged one game in the series. The Rays (97-65), set a franchise- record for wins this season, in addition to claiming their first American League East title. James Shields got the start for the Rays and retired the side before leaving his postseason tune-up after one scheduled inning of work. He is slated to start Game 1 of the AL Division Series on Thursday. Edwin Jackson (14-11) picked up the win after allowing two runs on four hits over two innings. Jason Hammel recorded his second save of the season. Curtis Granderson hit a three-run home run and drove in four, while Magglio Ordonez added a two-run shot for the Tigers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Detroit will play its regular-season finale on Monday at Chicago, necessitated by the White Sox and Minnesota finishing Sunday within one-half game of each other in battling for the AL Central division title. Zach Miner got the starting nod for the Tigers and allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out six and walking a batter over six frames. Chris Lambert (1-2) was tagged with the loss. He surrendered one run on three hits in two innings of work.
Final Score: Toronto 10, Baltimore 1
Baltimore, MD (Best E Casino) - Vernon Wells went 4-for-4, homered twice and drove in five runs, and the Toronto Blue Jays pounded the Baltimore Orioles, 10-1, in the regular-season finale for both clubs. Lyle Overbay also homered for the Blue Jays (86-76), who finished with a 51-37 mark under Cito Gaston, the former Toronto manager who replaced John Gibbons. Gibbons was fired on June 20 after a 35-39 start by Toronto. Jesse Litsch (13-9) held the Orioles to one run on three hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and a walk to finish the season with a win for the Blue Jays, who took two of three games in this rain-sogged series. Both the Friday and Saturday games were stopped after seven innings because of rain. Nick Markakis went 3-for-4 for the Orioles (68-93), who lost 11 of 12 to finish with 93 losses for the second straight year. Baltimore has lost 90-plus games in three straight years and six of eight, and hasn't had a winning campaign since 1997, when it went 98-64 and won the AL East. Jeremy Guthrie (10-12) gave up three runs on six hits in four frames to take the loss for Baltimore.
Final Score: New York 6, Boston 2 Final Score: Boston 4, New York 3 (10 innings)
Boston, MA (Best E Casino) - Jonathan Van Every singled home the game-winning run in the 10th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 4-3 victory over the New York Yankees to split a regular season-ending doubleheader. In the first game, Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina recorded his first 20-win season in a 6-2 victory. In a game played by mostly reserves, Alex Cora went 2-for-4 and scored twice for the Red Sox (95-67), who will face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Wednesday at 10 p.m. (et) to start their title defense. Tim Wakefield was excellent in five innings of work, allowing only two hits without allowing a run while striking out three. Devern Hansack (1-0) got the win after pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Sidney Ponson surrendered only one run on four hits in six innings, with three strikeouts. Jose Veras (5-3) took the loss after allowing the game-winning single in the 10th. Melky Cabrera had three hits while Robinson Cano went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the Yankees (89-73), who will miss the playoffs for the first time since the new division alignment was instituted in 1994.
Final Score: LA Angels 7, Texas 0
Anaheim, CA (Best E Casino) - Mike Napoli had three hits, including a solo home run, two doubles and four RBI as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim defeated the Texas Rangers, 7-0, to avoid a season-ending three-game sweep. Gary Matthews Jr. finished with three hits, an RBI and three runs scored, while Reggie Willits and Kendry Morales chipped in with an RBI apiece for the Angels, who split their final six games. Los Angeles, which is heading to postseason play after winning the American League West division title and finished the regular season with a franchise-best and MLB-best 100 wins. The team dropped 62 games. The Angels will square off against the defending champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Division Series slated for later this week. Joe Saunders (17-7) earned the victory after working six innings. The lefty allowed only two hits and struck out nine without issuing a walk. He picked up his third consecutive win and improved to 3-3 against Texas this season. German Duran, Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz accounted for the Rangers' only hits. Despite the loss Texas (79-83) won four of its last five to close out the season. Kevin Millwood (9-10) suffered the loss after giving up five runs -- four earned -- on nine hits over six innings. The veteran right-hander struck out six and walked one.
Final Score: Seattle 4, Oakland 3
Seattle, WA (Best E Casino) - Yuniesky Betancourt's two-run triple in the fifth inning gave the Seattle Mariners a 4-3 win over the Oakland Athletics to sweep the final series of the year at Safeco Field. R.A. Dickey surrendered three runs on six hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings, with two strikeouts, to earn the victory for Seattle (61-101). J.J. Putz struck out the side in the ninth for his 15th save of the season. Ichiro Suzuki scored twice and had two hits, and Kenji Johjima went 2-for-3 with a run scored for Seattle. Josh Outman (1-2) took the loss for Oakland after allowing four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and a walk in six innings. He also had five strikeouts. Travis Buck homered and had three hits while Chris Denorfia drove in the other two runs for Oakland (75-86), which ended its season on a five-game losing streak.
