NEW YORK (AP) - Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-run homer and Robinson Cano singled in two runs during a five-run fifth inning that helped the New York Yankees pick up an ineffective CC Sabathia and beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-5 Friday night.
Alfonso Soriano connected for a two-run shot in the fourth off Miguel Gonzalez (8-7), and Alex Rodriguez had an RBI single in the seventh inning of a late August game that felt more like October.
In a playoff-race twist, Mark Reynolds had three hits, including an RBI double when the Yankees batted around in the fifth. Last year he helped Baltimore reach its first postseason since 1997 with seven homers and 11 RBIs in seven games against New York beginning on Aug. 31.
An August pickup by New York from Cleveland this season, Reynolds was right in the mix as the Yankees gained ground in the wild-card race. They began the day 1½ games behind the Orioles, who trailed Oakland by 3½ for the second AL wild card.
Sabathia (12-11) lasted just 5 2-3 innings and yielded five runs and seven hits.
TWINS 3, RANGERS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Chris Herrmann hit a tying, two-run homer to break up Yu Darvish's no-hit bid in the seventh inning, Justin Morneau followed with a home run and Minnesota beat Texas.
Minnesota snapped a five-game losing streak on a night when it looked as if the strikeout-prone Twins had no chance against the AL's strikeout leader.
Instead, Darvish (12-6) had a third straight start without a win and the right-hander's home run total jumped to 22 after the Japanese ace allowed 14 his entire rookie season.
Twins starter Liam Hendriks (1-2) got his second career win by holding Texas to one earned run in six innings. Glen Perkins struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 31st save in 34 chances.
RED SOX 4, WHITE SOX 3
BOSTON (AP) - Ryan Dempster returned from his suspension for hitting Alex Rodriguez and pitched into the seventh inning, leading Boston over Chicago for its fifth win in six games.
David Ortiz snapped an 0-for-23 slump with a two-run single for the AL East leaders.
Dempster (7-9), penalized five games for plunking A-Rod on Aug. 18, held Chicago hitless through the first four innings. He allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Koji Uehara struck out two in the ninth for his 15th save in 18 opportunities. He worked 1 1-3 innings in his 20th straight scoreless appearance.
Hector Santiago (4-8) took the loss as Chicago opened a 10-game road trip.
TIGERS 7, INDIANS 2, 7 INNINGS
DETROIT (AP) - Victor Martinez doubled twice and drove in two runs to lead Detroit to a 7-2 win over Cleveland in a game stopped after seven innings because of rain.
AL Central-leading Detroit opened a 7½-game lead over second-place Cleveland despite slugger Miguel Cabrera being pulled from a second straight game. Cabrera left after two innings because of irritation in his abdominal area. He struck out in his only at-bat.
Rick Porcello (11-7) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2-3 innings, walking two and striking out three. He was replaced by Al Alburquerque with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth.
Zach McAllister (7-8) gave up five runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings for the Indians.
ATHLETICS 4, RAYS 3
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer and Jed Lowrie hit a go-ahead double in the eighth to lead Oakland over Tampa Bay.
Jarrod Parker dueled with David Price to run his unbeaten streak to 17 straight starts, matching Catfish Hunter's Oakland record set from June 2-Sept. 3, 1973. The A's pulled within two games of the first-place Texas Rangers in the AL West, and moved ahead of Tampa Bay in the wild card.
Price (8-6) lost for the first time in nine starts since July 12 against Houston.
Parker came out for the eighth at 100 pitches, but gave way to winner Ryan Cook (6-3) after allowing the first two hitters to reach. Grant Balfour pitched the ninth for his 34th save.
BLUE JAYS 3, ROYALS 2
TORONTO (AP) - Mark Buehrle pitched seven shutout innings to win his sixth straight decision and Toronto ended Kansas City's winning streak at five games.
Adam Lind drove in two runs for the Blue Jays, who have won 10 of 14 against K.C. since 2011.
The Royals, who came in six games behind Oakland for the second AL wild-card berth, lost for the first time since Aug. 24 against Washington, the final defeat in a seven-game skid.
Buehrle (11-7) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out five to match his longest winning streak since 2005, when he won a career-best nine consecutive decisions.
Ervin Santana (8-8) allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits in seven innings.
MARINERS 7, ASTROS 1
HOUSTON (AP) - Taijuan Walker did not allow an earned run over five innings in his major league debut and Dustin Ackley had a career-high four hits with four RBIs as Seattle beat Houston.
The 21-year-old right-hander, rated the fifth-best prospect in baseball, yielded two hits and one run with two strikeouts and a walk. Walker (1-0) retired the first eight batters he faced.
The Astros were up by one in the fourth before Ackley tied it with an RBI single. Seattle led by two in the fifth before a single by Ackley made it 5-1. A run-scoring single in the ninth gave Ackley four RBIs to tie a career best.
Houston starter Brad Peacock (3-5) was tagged for seven hits and five runs in 4 2-3 innings.
INTERLEAGUE
ANGELS 5, BREWERS 0
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Jered Weaver tossed six sharp innings and Grant Green hit a three-run double that led the Los Angeles Angels over Milwaukee.
The Angels made their first trip to Miller Park since April 2007, when they played the Indians in a game moved due to heavy snow in Cleveland. This was the Angels' first appearance against the Brewers at Miller Park since sweeping a three-game series in June 2002.
Weaver (9-7) allowed just three singles, striking out three and walking three. He escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the fourth, and the Brewers stranded 13 runners overall.
Wily Peralta (8-14) allowed three runs on four hits in six innings. He has lost five of his last six decisions.
Kole Calhoun hit a solo home run, his fifth.