The Rays fell a half-game behind the New York Yankees, who were rained out in Boston. Tampa Bay has two games left with the last-place Royals, while the Yankees have to play three at Fenway Park.

Chen (12-7) struck out a season-high seven in his first complete game since April 15, 2005, with Baltimore against the Yankees. This was the third complete game of his 12-year career.

James Shields (13-15) dropped to 0-4 with a 7.59 ERA in six starts since an Aug. 29 victory over Boston.

Chen became the first Royals left-hander to win 12 games in a season since Charlie Leibrandt won 13 and Floyd Bannister won 12 in 1988.

The Rays have lost five of six, managing just nine runs during that span.

In Minneapolis, Edwin Encarnacion’s three-run homer highlighted Toronto’s four-run eighth inning against Minnesota.

Encarnacion had three hits and four RBIs and has hit three homers in the first two games of the season’s final series.

Carl Pavano gave up two runs — one earned — and nine hits in seven innings for the Twins (93-67), who fell 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees for the best record in the AL.

Normally reliable reliever Jesse Crain (1-1) gave up four runs on three hits in the eighth and the AL Central champions have lost seven of eight with the playoffs less than a week away.

Ricky Romero (14-9) gave up two runs on six hits in eight innings and Lyle Overbay and John Buck each added three hits for the Blue Jays.

Kevin Gregg earned his 37th save.

In Arlington, Texas, Juan Rivera homered twice, including a tiebreaking drive in the 11th, and Los Angeles beat Texas despite the return of Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton .

Rivera hit a 2-0 pitch from Matt Harrison (3-2) into the left-field seats for his 15th homer.

Rich Thompson (2-0) pitched an inning for the win and Michael Kohn worked out of a jam to earn his first major league save.

Hamilton went 0 for 3 in his first game since breaking two ribs while crashing into the outfield fence to make a catch Sept. 4 in Minnesota.

In Chicago, Shin-Soo Choo hit a two-run homer, Fausto Carmona pitched six strong innings and Cleveland extended its season-best winning streak to seven games with a victory over Chicago.

The Indians are on their longest run since they won 10 straight in August 2008.

Carmona (13-14) won his seventh straight start against the White Sox. He is 7-3 in his career vs. Chicago. The right-hander allowed two runs and five hits while striking out seven.

Brent Morel homered for the White Sox, who lost for the second time in nine games.

In Baltimore, Jeremy Guthrie allowed two hits over eight shutout innings, Nick Markakis homered and Baltimore beat Detroit for a doubleheader sweep.

In the opener, Chris Tillman (2-5) pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and Adam Jones drove in four runs to lead the Orioles.

It was the second time in three days that Detroit was swept in a doubleheader; Cleveland did it Wednesday. The Tigers (80-80) have lost five straight and must win at least once this weekend to avoid a losing season.

Robert Andino had four hits in the nightcap for the Orioles, who have won three in a row to improve to 33-22 since manager Buck Showalter made his debut on Aug. 3. With its first doubleheader sweep since June 2006, Baltimore reached the 65-win mark — one more than it had last year.

Guthrie (11-14) struck out five, walked one and permitted only one runner past first base. The right-hander went 8-4 with a 2.75 ERA in 14 starts after the All-Star break.

Koji Uehara yielded a two-out solo homer by Don Kelly in the ninth, then finished for his 12th save.

Bidding to win his sixth straight decision, Rick Porcello (10-12) gave up two runs and 12 hits in 6 1-3 innings.

In the first game, Felix Pie and Craig Tatum each had three RBIs for the Orioles, who took control with a six-run fourth against Jeremy Bonderman (8-10).

In Seattle. Daric Barton homered in his first two at-bats, including a grand slam, and Trevor Cahill pitched seven sharp innings for his 18th victory to lead Oakland over Seattle.

Barton, who had six RBIs, cracked a solo homer in the first to begin a miserable outing for Luke French (5-7). An inning later, Barton added his first career slam. He also doubled in the sixth before leaving the game with a tight quadriceps.

Cahill (18-8) finished the season with a 2.97 ERA and became the first AL pitcher 22 or younger to win 18 or more games since Bret Saberhagen won 20 as a 21-year-old for the 1985 Kansas City Royals.

Seattle was handed its 99th loss and must win its final two games to avoid dropping 100 for the second time in three years. But with the defeat, the Mariners assured themselves of having the second overall pick in next June’s amateur draft.