Pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer singled in a run with two outs in the ninth inning, helping the host Cleveland Indians move closer to an AL Central title with a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals Tuesday night.
Guyer’s hit off Joakim Soria landed just fair in the right-field corner and scored Coco Crisp.
Guyer was the third pinch-hitter of the inning used by manager Terry Francona.
Cleveland led Detroit by seven games in the division entering Tuesday. The Indians haven’t won the AL Central since 2007.
Brian Flynn (1-2) walked Jose Ramirez to start the ninth, then fumbled a bunt by Crisp, batting for Lonnie Chisenhall, down the first-base line for an error.
Catcher Salvador Perez threw out Ramirez at third on Abraham Almonte’s sacrifice attempt. Rajai Davis, batting for Tyler Naquin, hit a hard ground ball that deflected off Soria’s foot and rolled to first baseman Eric Hosmer for the out.
Guyer then delivered the winner.
The Royals, the reigning World Series champions, will be eliminated from contention in the division if they lose to Cleveland on Wednesday night.
Kansas City advanced a runner to third with one out in the eighth, but Andrew Miller (9-1) struck out pinch-hitter Christian Colon and Whit Merrifield before retiring the side in order in the ninth.
Carlos Santana led off the third with his 33rd home run, a drive deep into the lower deck in right field. Alex Gordon’s RBI single tied the game in the fifth.
Indians starter Josh Tomlin allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander held Kansas City to five hits, struck out three and didn’t walk a batter.
Edinson Volquez allowed Santana’s homer but held the Indians in check over 6 2/3 innings. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked three.
Rangers 5, Angels 4 — Rookie Nomar Mazara hit his 20th homer in another testy game with multiple ejections and host Texas moved closer to its second consecutive AL West title, cutting its magic number to two to clinch the seventh division title in franchise history.
Yankees 5, Rays 3 — Rookie slugger Gary Sanchez hit his 17th homer in 42 games this season, a three-run shot off Brad Boxberger (4-3) in a four-run seventh inning that sent visiting New York past Tampa Bay.
It was the young catcher’s sixth home run in 11 games following a 10-game drought.
Mark Teixeira hit a solo shot in the fourth for New York, which was swept in a four-game series at Boston last weekend and had lost seven of eight overall.
The banged-up Yankees began play 4½ games behind Baltimore and Toronto for the two AL wild cards. New York would also have to jump over Seattle, Houston and Detroit to earn a postseason berth.
Tigers 8, Twins 1 — Matt Boyd breezed through eight innings, backed by home runs from James McCann and Miguel Cabrera, as Detroit beat host Minnesota.
With Baltimore’s loss to Boston, the Tigers pulled within 1½ games of the second AL wild card.
Phillies 7, White Sox 6 — Odubel Herrera kept up his hitting surge with three hits and three RBIs, and host Philadelphia held off a late rally by Chicago.
Tommy Joseph and Roman Quinn added two hits apiece and combined to drive in three runs for the Phillies. Herrera is 15 for 28 in his last seven games.
Melky Cabrera hit a three-run home run for the White Sox, who have lost four straight. Struggling veteran James Shields (5-18), winless since July 26, allowed six earned runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Trailing 7-3 in the ninth, the White Sox pulled within one on a two-out wild pitch and a two-run double from Adam Eaton. However, Michael Mariot came on and got Tim Anderson to ground out to short to end the game and pick up his first career save.
Jake Thompson (3-5) gave up three runs and four hits over five innings.
Cubs 6, Reds 1 — Jon Lester overcame Joey Votto’s comebacker off his right wrist to throw seven strong innings, Anthony Rizzo drove in three runs and host Chicago moved closer to securing the NL’s best record.
Lester (18-4) extended his scoreless streak to 21 innings before Jose Peraza’s RBI triple in the fifth. He allowed six hits, struck out five, walked none and added an RBI double.
Marlins 1, Nationals 0 — Giancarlo Stanton homered to back a strong outing by Jose Fernandez (16-8), who pitched eight innings and struck out 12 for host Miami in a victory over Washington.
Pirates 6, Brewers 3 — Andrew McCutchen, Jody Mercer and Josh Bell each drove in two runs as visiting Pittsburgh kept alive its faint playoff hopes.
Braves 5, Mets 4 — Julio Teheran pitched seven sparkling innings and last-place Atlanta blunted host New York’s bid to extend its NL wild-card lead.
The Mets nicked the Braves’ bullpen for three runs in the eighth but couldn’t complete the comeback.
