TORONTO – Russell Martin hit a three-run homer, Eric Chavez added a two-run shot and the New York Yankees maintained their one-game lead atop the AL East by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 11-4 on Friday night.
The victory let New York keep its slim lead over second-place Baltimore, which used six first-inning runs to beat Boston 9-1.
Nick Swisher had two hits and two RBIs for the Yankees, who have not lost consecutive games since a three-game skid from Sept. 2-4.
Hiroki Kuroda (15-11) won for the third time in five starts despite matching a season-high by allowing 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings. He gave up two runs, walked two and struck out four.
David Phelps worked 1 2-3 innings and David Robertson pitched the eighth. Cody Eppley got two outs in the ninth and Rafael Soriano finished for the Yankees.
ORIOLES 9, RED SOX 1
BALTIMORE (AP) – Chris Tillman pitched eight innings of one-hit ball, Ryan Flaherty hit his first career grand slam and the Orioles beat the Red Sox to secure their grip on the top AL wild-card spot.
Chris Davis also homered for the Orioles, who remained one game behind the first-place Yankees in the AL East.
Tillman (9-2) gave up a bunt single to leadoff hitter Scott Podsednik, then allowed only two walks the rest of the way in his longest outing since July 4. The right-hander retired the final 14 batters he faced, and the only run he allowed was unearned.
Troy Patton worked the ninth to complete the one-hitter.
Boston has lost 14 of 20. Starter Aaron Cook (4-11) was knocked out in the second inning after allowing six runs, five hits and three walks.
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INDIANS 8, ROYALS 5
CLEVELAND (AP) – Sandy Alomar Jr. won his first game as Indians manager as Jason Kipnis drove in three runs and Cleveland beat Kansas City, handing the Royals their sixth straight loss.
Alomar, one of the most popular players in franchise history, went from bench coach to interim manager when Manny Acta was fired Thursday.
David Huff (3-0) gave up three runs over six innings as Cleveland got its first three-game winning streak since July 3-5. Chris Perez closed Cleveland’s fourth win in five games for his 39th save in 43 chances.
Cleveland had 16 hits, including a string of five straight with one out to score three runs off Will Smith (6-9) in the second inning.
TWINS 4, TIGERS 2
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Ryan Doumit had four RBIs for Minnesota, including the go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning to help the Twins beat Detroit and keep the Tigers from moving any closer to the AL Central title.
The Tigers’ lead dropped to one game over Chicago, which beat Tampa Bay 3-1.
Rookie Drew Smyly struck out five over 5 1-3 scoreless innings, but Brayan Villarreal (3-5) walked three to load the bases in the eighth before Doumit’s one-out hit put the Twins in front.
Omar Infante’s two-run homer after an error spoiled Scott Diamond’s shutout in the eighth, tying the game at 2, and Glen Perkins picked up his 16th save with a perfect ninth inning.
WHITE SOX 3, RAYS 1
CHICAGO (AP) – Alex Rios hit his career-high 25th homer and the White Sox gave their fading playoff hopes a boost, beating Tampa Bay to end the Rays’ eight-game winning streak.
The White Sox got a bit of a reprieve after dropping eight of nine and moved within a game of first-place Detroit in the AL Central. The Tigers lost to Minnesota 4-2.
The Rays began the night two games behind Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot. But they came up short in this one, ending a streak that launched them back into playoff contention.
Both teams have five games remaining, including two against each other.
ANGELS 7, RANGERS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Jered Weaver became the American League’s first 20-game winner, Mike Trout hit a leadoff homer and the Angels beat Texas to prevent the Rangers from clinching a playoff berth.
Los Angeles trails Oakland by three games for the last wild-card spot.
Texas’ magic number remains at three to clinch its third straight division crown. The Rangers need one more victory to lock up a post-season spot.
Weaver (20-4) allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings to beat Texas for the fourth straight time this season.
Trout homered off Ryan Dempster (12-8), his fifth starting off a game since Aug. 18. The Angels rookie also set a club record by scoring his 125th run on that homer.
ATHLETICS 8, MARINERS 2
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Stephen Drew hit a two-run homer, Coco Crisp added a solo shot and the Oakland Athletics gained ground on the first-place Rangers in the AL West with a win against the Mariners.
The A’s trail the two-time defending AL champions by three games with five to play. The Rangers lost 7-4 at home to the Los Angeles Angels. Texas finishes the season with three games in Oakland starting Monday.
Josh Donaldson had a two-run single in a four-run seventh and A.J. Griffin (7-1) received ample support as the A’s stayed two games ahead of the Angels in the race for the second wild card. Tampa Bay fell three back after losing to the Chicago White Sox.
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