SEATTLE: A contentious game-ending strike call helped Seattle hang on for a 3-2 win over majors-leading Oakland on Friday, with both batter and manager having a heated argument with the plate umpire.

The Mariners’ win was a key result on a day that also St. Louis creep within one game of the lead in the National League Central division by beating faltering leader Milwaukee. In the same hard-fought division, Cincinnati edged Pittsburgh to move two games above the Pirates.

Elsewhere, Detroit widened its lead in the American League Central by beating nearest rival Kansas City, and Baltimore kept up its recent knack of winning in extra innings, downing the New York Yankees.

There was a controversial climax at Seattle, where umpire James Hoye called strike three against Nick Punto, who had let the full-count pitch pass in the belief it was outside the strike zone. That ended the game, stranding an Oakland runner at third base.

Punto argued with Howe and threw his helmet to the ground, while A’s manager Bob Melvin joined the confrontation.

That call made a winner of Mariners’ starter Felix Hernandez (11-2), who gave up two early runs but then held the Oakland bats in check for the remainder of his eight innings.

Hernandez had made 11 straight starts of at least seven innings and giving up two earned runs or less. It’s the longest such streak for an AL pitcher since Gaylord Perry for Cleveland in 1974.

Robinson Cano hit a go-ahead double for Seattle.

St. Louis’ Matt Holliday hit a solo homer with two outs in the ninth inning off Milwaukee closer Francisco Rodriguez, completing the Cardinals’ rally from a six-run deficit to beat Milwaukee.

Holliday sent the first-pitch changeup from Rodriguez (3-3) into the left-field seats to break the tie. The Cardinals hit four homers and cut the sliding Brewers’ lead in the NL Central to one game.

Milwaukee has lost six straight and 10 of 11 games.

Detroit’s Anibal Sanchez tossed seven stingy innings to guide the Tigers to a 2-1 win over Kansas City.

Sanchez (6-3) issued no walks to help the AL Central-leading Tigers moved 6-1/2 game above the Royals with two games left before the All-Star break.

Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera drove in runs for Detroit, which has won five straight at Kansas City this season.

Cincinnati’s Brayan Pena’s came up with the winning single in the eighth inning to complete another late rally by the Reds, beating Pittsburgh 6-5.

Down 5-1 after six innings, the Reds scored twice with the help of a throwing error in the seventh and added three more in the eighth.

Devin Mesoraco homered with two outs off Tony Watson (5-1) in the eighth, and the Reds put together four more singles, with RBI hits by Ramon Santiago and Pena completing Cincinnati’s second big comeback of the week.

Baltimore’s Manny Machado led off the 10th inning with a double and scored on a single by Nick Hundley to give the Orioles a 3-2 win over the Yankees.

The AL East-leading Orioles extended their margin over third-place New York to five games. Baltimore has gone to extra innings in three of its past five games, winning in the 10th, 11th and 12th innings.

Machado began the game-winning surge with a liner into the right-field corner off Adam Warren (1-5). After a strikeout, Hundley hit a liner into left-center that enabled Machado to score easily.

Los Angeles’ Garrett Richards extended his personal winning streak to seven decisions as the Angels beat Texas 3-0, handing the Rangers their sixth consecutive loss.

Richards (11-2) is unbeaten with a 1.27 ERA in his last eight starts.

Mike Trout hit his 22nd homer of the season in the fourth inning and that was enough to beat a Texas team that left eight men on base, including runners on second or third six times.

Meanwhile, the crosstown Los Angeles Dodgers fell back into a share of the NL West lead after losing 6-3 to San Diego.

Carlos Quentin drove in three runs and Alexi Amarista homered for the Padres.

Jesse Hahn (5-2) pitched six solid innings, allowing one run with six strikeouts in only his seventh major-league start.

Hahn (5-2) allowed a run and three hits, struck out six and walked four in only his seventh major league start. He has a 1.46 ERA over his six outing since losing his debut.

Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins homered in a 6-2 win over Washington, giving the Phillies a fifth-straight win.

A.J. Burnett (6-8) pitched 7 2-3 strong innings, allowing two runs with six strikeouts.

Domonic Brown doubled and drove in two runs for Philadelphia, which matched its longest winning streak of the season. It has been a surprising run for the Phillies, who had lost 13 of 16 before turning their form around.

Toronto blew a four-run lead before recovering to win 8-5 at Tampa Bay, with Steve Tolleson hitting a two-run single to snap a ninth-inning tie.

San Francisco joined the Dodgers back atop the NL West by beating Arizona 5-0, with Tim Lincecum pitching seven innings.

Chicago’s Justin Ruggiano hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Cubs a 5-4 win over Atlanta, which has lost five of six.

Cleveland’s Corey Kluber was below his dominant best but did enough to steer the Indians to a 7-4 win over the Chicago White Sox.

New York’s David Wright went 4 for 4 with a mammoth homer and Lucas Duda also hit a long two-run shot as the Mets beat Miami 7-1.

Colorado’s Jorge De La Rosa pitched six strong innings to guide the Rockies to a 6-2 win over Minnesota in the team’s first game in Denver for six years.

Boston rookie Christian Vazquez got his first three major league hits and drove in three runs to power the Red Sox to an 8-3 win over Houston.