By The Associated Press

NEW YORK – Robinson Cano did his best to make sure Bernie Williams will have a few more games in pinstripes.

The rookie hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, Gary Sheffield added a three-run shot in the eighth and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-4 Sunday in their final scheduled home game of the regular season.

New York, which won for the 12th time in 14 games, began the day tied with the Boston Red Sox for the AL East lead and headed to Baltimore for a four-game series starting Monday night. After that, the Yankees close the season with three games at Fenway Park.

A fan favorite since he came up to the Yankees in 1991, Williams repeatedly was given standing ovations on the overcast afternoon, perhaps his final game with New York in Yankee Stadium. The 37-year-old center fielder, whose production has declined the past three years, can become a free agent after the season, and there has been no indication whether the team wants him back.

Royals 5, Indians 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore appeared to lose Paul Phillips’ ninth-inning double in the sun, allowing Angel Berroa to score the winning run for the Kansas City Royals in a 5-4 victory over the Indians.

The heavy-hitting Indians lost for only the third time in 20 games, trimming their AL wild-card lead to a half-game over the Red Sox and Yankees, who are tied atop the AL East.

Tigers 8, Mariners 1

DETROIT – Mike Maroth pitched seven strong innings, Curtis Granderson scored twice and drove in two runs, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 8-1.

White Sox 4, Twins 1

CHICAGO – Mark Buehrle pitched a four-hitter to follow up strong outings by Jose Contreras and Freddy Garcia, and Paul Konerko homered to help the White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-1 for a three-game winning streak.

Devils Rays 8, Angels 4

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jorge Cantu and Aubrey Huff homered on consecutive pitches from Bartolo Colon, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated Los Angeles 8-4 to end the Angels’ eight-game winning streak.

Cubs 3, Astros 2

CHICAGO – Jeromy Burnitz hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning, Derrek Lee also connected and the Chicago Cubs beat Houston 3-2 to cut the Astros’ NL wild-card lead to one game.

Mets 6, Nationals 5

WASHINGTON – All in one fell swoop, the Washington Nationals were eliminated from playoff contention, dropped to last in the NL East and fell to .500 with a 6-5 loss to the Mets, as Mike Piazza hit two of New York’s four homers.

Braves 5, Marlins 3

ATLANTA – Marcus Giles hit a tying two-run homer, then drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly as the Atlanta Braves moved closer to another division title Sunday with a 5-3 victory over the fading Florida Marlins.

Phillies 6, Reds 3

CINCINNATI – Jimmy Rollins hit a leadoff home run, extending his hitting streak to 30 games, and fell a double short of the cycle as the Philadelphia Phillies kept pace in the NL wild-card race with a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Giants 6, Rockies 2

DENVER – Barry Bonds went hitless in a surprise start, but the San Francisco Giants still kept their slim playoff hopes alive by scoring four runs in the ninth for a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Cardinals 2, Brewers 0

MILWAUKEE – Jeff Suppan allowed six hits in eight innings and Jim Edmonds homered as the St. Louis Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

D-backs 4, Padres 3

PHOENIX – Chad Tracy singled home Andy Green in the 10th inning to give the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 victory over San Diego, reducing the Padres’ lead to four games over San Francisco.

Dodgers 9, Pirates 2

LOS ANGELES – Derek Lowe pitched six solid innings, pinch-hitter Jason Phillips drove in the go-ahead runs in a six-run sixth, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-2.

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