Orioles win 6-1, slice Yankees lead to 2 games
NEW YORK, SEPT 1 (AP/UNB) - The Baltimore Orioles closed within two games of New York atop the American League East division standings by beating the sliding Yankees 6-1 on Friday, with rookie pitcher Miguel Gonzalez striking out a career-best nine batters.
Gonzalez (6-3) went six innings, giving up only four harmless singles, while Mark Reynolds homered twice for the surprising Orioles, who can move level with New York if they win the remaining two games of this vital three-game series.
It was an identical scenario in the series between the Central division leaders, with the Detroit Tigers taking first blood by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-4. Delmon Young hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the seventh for the Tigers, who moved within two games of the White Sox.
In the West, the status quo remained, with the Texas Rangers remaining four games clear of Oakland despite the Athletics notching a seventh straight win with an extraordinary 20-2 rout of the Boston Red Sox.
Brandon Moss had career highs with four hits, four RBIs and four runs for the A's, who inflicted Boston's heaviest loss for 12 years.
Texas recorded a more moderate 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians, with Adrian Beltre getting four hits and two runs.
Oakland and Baltimore currently hold the wild-card positions, but the Los Angeles Angels remain well in contention after a 9-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. Kendrys Morales drove in four runs and Torii Hunter had four hits for the Angels, who are within 3 1-2 games of the Orioles.
Tampa Bay is a game ahead of Los Angeles but in a form rut that continued with a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Pinch-runner Elliot Johnson had a chance to score the tying run in the top of the ninth but was thrown out at the plate, sending the Rays to their sixth loss in seven games.
In the National League, the Washington Nationals appear a lock for the playoffs after trouncing the St. Louis Cardinals 10-0 while nearest East division rival Atlanta lost 8-5 in 10 innings to Philadelphia, leaving the Braves 6 1-2 games adrift.
Gio Gonzalez (17-7) pitched his first career shutout while becoming the third pitcher this season to reach 17 wins, joining Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto and R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets.
The Braves led in the top of the ninth but Erik Kratz hit a tying homer for the Phillies, and that was followed by John Mayberry Jr. hitting a three-run shot in the 10th which decided the game.
In the West, the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 over 11 innings. Jason Kubel hit a leadoff homer in the top of the 11th for Arizona, which has beaten its divisional rival eight times in a row. The result dropped the Dodgers 4 1-2 games behind the West-leading San Francisco Giants and 1 1-2 games off the last wild-card slot, while the Diamondbacks have faint playoff hopes, four games further back.
St. Louis holds that last wild-card position, staying half a game ahead of its nearest rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who lost 9-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens (5-4) gave up four runs in the first inning before leaving for the second consecutive game through injury, this time straining a hip flexor.
San Francisco could not build on its lead in the West, beaten 6-4 by the Chicago Cubs. The Giants had won six straight road games but only arrived in Chicago at 3 a.m. after the previous night's game and they looked listless.
The Central-leading Cincinnati Reds pushed their advantage to 9 1-2 games by beating the hapless Houston Astros 9-3. Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer and Zack Cozart had a two-run shot for the Reds.
In other NL games, the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 3-0 and the San Diego Padres edged the Colorado Rockies 5-4.
Gonzalez (6-3) went six innings, giving up only four harmless singles, while Mark Reynolds homered twice for the surprising Orioles, who can move level with New York if they win the remaining two games of this vital three-game series.
It was an identical scenario in the series between the Central division leaders, with the Detroit Tigers taking first blood by beating the Chicago White Sox 7-4. Delmon Young hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the seventh for the Tigers, who moved within two games of the White Sox.
In the West, the status quo remained, with the Texas Rangers remaining four games clear of Oakland despite the Athletics notching a seventh straight win with an extraordinary 20-2 rout of the Boston Red Sox.
Brandon Moss had career highs with four hits, four RBIs and four runs for the A's, who inflicted Boston's heaviest loss for 12 years.
Texas recorded a more moderate 5-3 win over the Cleveland Indians, with Adrian Beltre getting four hits and two runs.
Oakland and Baltimore currently hold the wild-card positions, but the Los Angeles Angels remain well in contention after a 9-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. Kendrys Morales drove in four runs and Torii Hunter had four hits for the Angels, who are within 3 1-2 games of the Orioles.
Tampa Bay is a game ahead of Los Angeles but in a form rut that continued with a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Pinch-runner Elliot Johnson had a chance to score the tying run in the top of the ninth but was thrown out at the plate, sending the Rays to their sixth loss in seven games.
In the National League, the Washington Nationals appear a lock for the playoffs after trouncing the St. Louis Cardinals 10-0 while nearest East division rival Atlanta lost 8-5 in 10 innings to Philadelphia, leaving the Braves 6 1-2 games adrift.
Gio Gonzalez (17-7) pitched his first career shutout while becoming the third pitcher this season to reach 17 wins, joining Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto and R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets.
The Braves led in the top of the ninth but Erik Kratz hit a tying homer for the Phillies, and that was followed by John Mayberry Jr. hitting a three-run shot in the 10th which decided the game.
In the West, the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 over 11 innings. Jason Kubel hit a leadoff homer in the top of the 11th for Arizona, which has beaten its divisional rival eight times in a row. The result dropped the Dodgers 4 1-2 games behind the West-leading San Francisco Giants and 1 1-2 games off the last wild-card slot, while the Diamondbacks have faint playoff hopes, four games further back.
St. Louis holds that last wild-card position, staying half a game ahead of its nearest rival, the Pittsburgh Pirates, who lost 9-3 to the Milwaukee Brewers. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens (5-4) gave up four runs in the first inning before leaving for the second consecutive game through injury, this time straining a hip flexor.
San Francisco could not build on its lead in the West, beaten 6-4 by the Chicago Cubs. The Giants had won six straight road games but only arrived in Chicago at 3 a.m. after the previous night's game and they looked listless.
The Central-leading Cincinnati Reds pushed their advantage to 9 1-2 games by beating the hapless Houston Astros 9-3. Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer and Zack Cozart had a two-run shot for the Reds.
In other NL games, the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 3-0 and the San Diego Padres edged the Colorado Rockies 5-4.
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