• Rangers 9, Athletics 7: ARLINGTON, Texas — Ian Kinsler got Texas started with a leadoff homer, Matt Harrison earned his 18th victory and the AL West-leading Rangers held on to win for a four-game split with chasing Oakland. The two-time defending American League champion Rangers (92-64) have a four-game division lead over the A’s with six to play, including three games in Oakland next week. The Athletics own a two-game edge in the race for the second wild card.
• Mariners 9, Angels 4: ANAHEIM, Calif. — John Jaso hit a two-run homer and an RBI double for Seattle, and the Los Angeles Angels wasted a chance to get within one game of an AL wild-card spot. Vernon Wells and Alberto Callaspo drove in early runs for the Angels (86-70), who had won five straight and an AL-best 16 of 23 in September before stumbling in their regular-season home finale.
• Tigers 5, Royals 4: DETROIT — Doug Fister set an AL record by striking out nine straight batters, and Detroit kept its lead in the Central, beating Kansas City on Alex Avila’s grounder in the ninth inning. Fister came within one strikeout of matching Tom Seaver’s major league record of 10 in a row. But the Tigers blew a 4-0 lead after seven innings, and Joaquin Benoit (5-3) allowed a solo homer by Billy Butler to tie it in the ninth.
• Blue Jays 6, Yankees 0: TORONTO — Brandon Morrow and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, pitching Toronto to a victory that trimmed New York’s tight lead in the AL East. Edwin Encarnacion had three hits and three RBIs. Brett Lawrie hit a two-run homer and J.P. Arencibia added a solo shot as the Blue Jays handed an assist to idle Baltimore, shaving New York’s division lead over the Orioles to one game.
• Rays 3, White Sox 2: CHICAGO — Evan Longoria hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning and surging Tampa Bay won its eighth straight game, handing the White Sox a loss that hurts Chicago’s playoff hopes. The Rays remained two games back in the race for the second AL wild card, while the White Sox fell two games behind Detroit in the AL Central after their eighth loss in nine games.
