SPORTS> North America
Rays AL East title celebration on hold
(Agencise)
Updated: 2008-09-26 10:16

BALTIMORE: Tampa Bay rallied from a six-run deficit to beat Baltimore 11-6 and reduce its magic number to clinch their first division title to one.

The Rays, who trailed 5-0 in the first inning, didn't clinch the American League East because Boston beat Cleveland 5-4 to remain three games behind. The Rays open a four-game series in Detroit on Thursday.

Akinori Iwamura had two hits and three RBIs for the Rays, who completed a four-game sweep. It was the ninth time this season the Orioles blew a four-run lead, most in the majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Baltimore has lost nine straight and 28 of 34. The Orioles went 3-15 against Tampa Bay this season, losing the last 12.

Edwin Jackson (13-11) got the win despite giving up six runs and 10 hits in 5 1-3 innings. Trever Miller pitched 2 1-3 innings of one-hit relief to earn his second save.

Red Sox 5, Indians 4

At Boston, pinch-hitter Jeff Bailey tripled and scored on Mark Kotsay's double to break an eighth-inning tie for Boston against Cleveland.

One game after the Red Sox clinched a playoff berth and celebrated into the night, they jumped on Fausto Carmona for four runs in the first, chasing him from the game in his shortest outing in more than a year. The Indians came back to tie it 4-all in the fifth against Boston starter Paul Byrd.

David Aardsma (4-2) earned the victory with 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit and striking out one. Rafael Perez (4-4) gave up a run on two hits and an intentional walk in one inning.

Twins 3, White Sox 2

At Minneapolis, Nick Blackburn fought through five innings and the maligned Minnesota bullpen didn't flinch as the Twins pulled within a half-game of Chicago in the AL Central.

Blackburn (11-10) gave up eight hits and two walks. Craig Breslow, Boof Bonser and Jose Mijares followed with three scoreless innings, and Joe Nathan handled the ninth for his 39th save.

Minnesota improved to 7-1 against Chicago at the Metrodome this year. The margin between these teams has been no bigger than 2 1/2 games since July 27.

Mark Buehrle (14-12) retired 13 of the last 15 batters he faced but he allowed three runs and eight hits in seven inning.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his third homer for the White Sox, the 611th of his career.

Dodgers 12, Padres 4

In Los Angeles, Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres to clinch a tie for their first National League West championship in four years.

The Dodgers' victory combined with Arizona's 4-2 loss at St. Louis gave Los Angeles a four-game lead over the Diamondbacks with four games remaining.

The Dodgers can clinch their fifth postseason berth since 1988 on Thursday if the Diamondbacks lose at St Louis, or if they beat the Padres in their final home game of the regular season.

Ramirez, Garciaparra, James Loney and Angel Berroa drove in two runs each for the Dodgers, who have won 18 of their last 23 games.

Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 2

At St. Louis, Adam Wainwright pitched out of two bases-loaded jams and St. Louis dampened Arizona's playoff hopes.

The Diamondbacks, who stranded 11 runners, dropped four games behind first-place Los Angeles in the NL West. The Dodgers clinched at least a tie for the division title.

Arizona's Mark Reynolds struck out once to tie the major league record for strikeouts in a season with 199. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard set the mark last season.

Braves 10, Phillies 4

At Philadelphia, Chipper Jones hit his second career pinch-homer and Atlanta beat NL East-leading Philadelphia.

The Phillies remained 1 1/2 games ahead of New York in the division, and despite the loss their magic number for winning the East dropped to three with the Mets' 9-6, 10-inning loss to Chicago. Philadelphia will finish the regular season with a three-game series against the last-place Washington Nationals, starting Friday.

Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 47th homer and Chase Utley also went deep for the Phillies. Brett Myers (10-13) got roughed up for the second straight start, allowing allowed six runs - four earned - and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings.