OAKLAND, Calif. – Juan Rivera hit a go-ahead, three-run double in the sixth, John Lackey pitched seven strong innings and the Los Angeles Angels prevented Oakland from winning the AL West on Saturday with a 6-2 victory over the Athletics.
Oakland’s magic number to clinch its first division title since 2003 remained at two, so the A’s could still do it at home with a win in Sunday’s series finale. They lead Los Angeles by seven games with eight to go, including the final four against the Angels in Anaheim.
Twins 8, Orioles 5
BALTIMORE – Torii Hunter hit his 29th homer, Rondell White had four hits and Minnesota took advantage of some sloppy defense in a victory over Baltimore.
Erik Bedard (15-10) allowed a career-high 12 hits and three earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.
White Sox 11, Mariners 7
CHICAGO – Paul Konerko hit a go-ahead homer in a five-run eighth inning and Chicago rallied after a long rain delay to beat Seattle.
Konerko hit the third pitch from reliever Joel Pineiro (8-13) for a two-run homer, his 33rd.
Phillies 8, Marlins 6
PHILADELPHIA – Carlos Ruiz and Jeff Conine each drove in three runs, Jon Lieber pitched seven solid innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Florida Marlins.
The Phillies (81-73) have won nine of 11. They began the day a half-game behind Los Angeles in the NL wild-card standings.
Mets 12, Nationals 6
NEW YORK – David Wright’s three-run homer capped a six-run fifth inning, and New York rallied past Washington.
Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson broke his right leg in a collision with right fielder Austin Kearns during the eighth.
Astros 7, Cardinals 4
HOUSTON – Luke Scott hit two home runs, including a three-run shot in the ninth inning to give Houston a victory over St. Louis.
The Cardinals’ magic number for clinching the NL Central title remained at five.
Brewers 10, Giants 8
MILWAUKEE – Barry Bonds hit his 734th career home run to break Hank Aaron’s NL record, but Milwaukee rallied past San Francisco.
Bonds hit a solo shot off Chris Capuano over the right-center fence in the third inning, just out of the reach of outfielders Brady Clark and Corey Hart.
The Brewers scored twice in the eighth to break an 8-all tie.
and win their fourth straight game overall.
The loss was the seventh in eight games for the fading Giants. Jack Taschner (0-1) took the loss.
Jose Capellan (4-2) pitched a perfect eighth and Francisco Cordero worked a scoreless ninth to convert his 15th save 15 chances with Milwaukee.
Cubs 11, Reds 4
CINCINNATI – Carlos Zambrano hit his sixth homer, tying the Cubs’ record for a pitcher, and Aramis Ramirez had a two-run shot that sparked Chicago to a victory over bumbling Cincinnati.
The Cubs took advantage of six errors by the Reds, their worst defensive game in 35 years. Cincinnati led the NL wild-card race for 46 consecutive days before unraveling in the last month.
Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Kyle Lohse (2-5) that was his 36th of the season, matching his career high. Ramirez has 20 homers since the All-Star break.
Zambrano (16-6) gave up four runs in seven innings while matching his career high for victories. The hard-swinging pitcher also started a five-run rally in the fourth with a notable homer.
His shot off Lohse matched Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins’ team record of six homers in 1971. Zambrano’s last two hits have been homers off the Reds – he hit one against Sun-Woo Kim on Sept. 17 at Wrigley Field.
Rockies 10, Braves 9
DENVER – Kaz Matsui hit a two-run triple in a six-run third inning and Jeff Francis became the winningest lefty in Rockies history during Colorado’s frigid victory over Atlanta.
With temperatures dipping into the mid-40s, Francis (13-11) struggled with his control but still earned his 30th win for Colorado, surpassing Brian Bohanon’s team mark for left-handers.
It also was Francis’ 18th career win at Coors Field, the third-most in club history. Jason Jennings leads the way with 31.
Francis even helped his own cause with a two-run single in the second. Matt Holliday hit his 31st homer for the Rockies, off starter Kyle Davies (3-6).
Atlanta slugger Andruw Jones drove in three runs with homers No. 38 and 39 and a ground-rule double. It’s his 35th multihomer game and fifth this season. He finished 4-for-4 with a walk.
Brian Fuentes earned his 28th save in 33 chances.
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