Rays rally to complete 4-game sweep of Orioles

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida: James Loney hit a leadoff homer in the ninth as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to complete a four-game sweep of Baltimore with a 5-4 win on Monday, putting a serious damper in the Orioles' wild-card playoff hopes in the American League.
The win pushed the Rays a full game ahead of idle Cleveland for the top AL wild card spot. Baltimore fell five games behind the Indians with six games to go for both teams.
With the bases loaded, two outs and trailing 4-2 in the seventh, Baltimore's Wil Myers sent a flare behind second base. Second baseman Alexi Casilla, who entered the game in the eighth, made a fully extended diving catch but he collided with Nick Markakis, racing in toward the ball from right field. The ball came loose and two runs scored.
Then, in the ninth, Loney lined a pitch from Tommy Hunter (6-5) down the right field line.
Joel Peralta (3-8) pitched a perfect ninth for the Rays, who have won nine of 12.
Rangers 12 Astros 0: In Arlington, Texas, Alex Rios hit for the cycle and Derek Holland struck out nine in his second shutout of the season as Texas started its final push for a playoff spot.
The Rangers pulled within a game of idle Cleveland for the second AL wild-card berth with six games remaining.
Rios finished off the cycle with a triple to right-center field in the sixth inning, and later scored to put Texas up 11-0. He doubled in the first inning, had an infield single in the third and hit his 18th homer in the fourth.
Holland (10-9) got his 10th win in his ninth try since his last victory on Aug. 4. The left-hander won at home for the first time since May 31.
Houston starter Jordan Lyles (7-9) gave up seven hits and seven runs with three walks in three innings.
Twins 4 Tiges 3, 11 innings: In Minneapolis, Josmil Pinto hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and Minnesota overcame 12 strikeouts by Justin Verlander.
The Tigers led 3-0 in the eighth, but Jose Veras gave up RBI doubles to Eduardo Escobar and Ryan Doumit. Brian Dozier led off the ninth with a tying homer against previously perfect closer Joaquin Benoit.
Dozier opened the 11th with a single off Luke Putkonen (1-2) and advanced on a wild pitch. Pinto punched a single to right field to give manager Ron Gardenhire his 998th career victory.
White Sox 3 Blue Jays 2: In Chicago, Jose Quintana pitched into the eighth inning and rookie Marcus Semien hit his first major league homer to lead Chicago.
Quintana (9-6), who entered the game with the most no-decisions in the American League at 17, allowed two runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings. Addison Reed pitched the ninth inning to record his 39th save.
Toronto starter J.A. Happ (4-7) threw 110 pitches in his five innings, allowing three runs and eight hits.
In the second inning, Semien hit an 0-2 pitch from Happ down the line and well over the fence for a 2-0 lead.
Athletics 10 Angels 5: In Anaheim, California, Jed Lowrie hit a three-run homer and Brandon Moss added a two-run shot as Oakland won its fifth straight.
Tommy Milone pitched into the sixth inning and Seth Smith had an early RBI double for the AL West division champions, who have won 11 of 13.
Seven A's drove in a run as Oakland (94-63) moved to a season-high 31 games over .500 with the major leagues' second-best record, just behind Boston (95-62).
Howie Kendrick homered and hit a three-run double for the Angels, who have lost two straight after winning 21 of 28.
Royals 6 Mariners 5, 12 innings: In Seattle, Alex Gordon threw out a runner at the plate in extra innings and scored on Salvador Perez's two-out double in the 12th to lift the Royals over the Mariners.
Kansas City moved within three games of idle Cleveland for the second AL wild card with six remaining. Texas is a game behind the Indians.
Gordon saved the Royals in the 10th inning, when his one-hop throw to Perez from left field cut down Kyle Seager for an inning-ending double play.
Greg Holland walked the first two batters in the 12th, then retired three straight to end it.