KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Miguel Cabrera had four hits, including a homer during a five-run sixth inning, and the Detroit Tigers held off the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, Monday night to clinch the AL Central title.
Gerald Laird added a bases-loaded double, Rick Porcello (10-12) pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning and Jhonny Peralta went deep off Bruce Chen (11-14) to help Detroit reach the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 1934-35.
After hanging over the dugout railing the entire ninth inning, the Tigers streamed onto the field and behind the pitchers’ mound to celebrate their accomplishment the moment Jose Valverde got Alcides Escobar to ground out to shortstop with a runner on second for his 35th save in 40 chances.
Yankees 10, Red Sox 2: At New York, Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, Russell Martin and Mark Teixeira homered in a nine-run second inning, and New York routed Boston to open a one-game lead over Baltimore in the AL East with two games to play.
Rays 5, Orioles 3: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Alex Cobb allowed two hits over seven innings, helping Tampa Bay keep its slim playoff hopes alive with a victory over Baltimore.
Blue Jays 6, Twins 5, 10 innings: At Toronto, Anthony Gose singled home the winning run in the 10th inning as Toronto rallied to beat Minnesota.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Phillies 2, Nationals 0: At Washington, despite being beaten by Philadelphia, Washington earned its first division title since moving from Montreal in 2005, because second-place Atlanta lost at Pittsburgh.
Pirates 2, Braves 1: At Pittsburgh, Atlanta’s hopes of winning the NL East ended with a loss to Pittsburgh that clinched the division title for the Nationals. The Braves will be the top wild card team and host the wild card game Friday.
Cardinals 4, Reds 2: At St. Louis, Jaime Garcia homered off Bronson Arroyo and pitched into the seventh inning, helping St. Louis clinch a tie for the second NL wild card and spoil Dusty Baker’s return from a ministroke.
Brewers 5, Padres 3: At Milwaukee, Carlos Gomez, Rickie Weeks and Jonathan Lucroy hit home runs to lead Milwaukee over San Diego.
Marlins 3, Mets 2: At Miami, Giancarlo Stanton hit his 37th homer, and Rob Brantly hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the eighth inning to help Miami beat New York.
