Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó B.J. Upton ruined CC Sabathia’s bid to become a 20-game winner, going 5 for 5 while hitting for the cycle and driving in a career-high six runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 13-4 on Friday night.
Sabathia (19-8) failed to get through the third inning, matching a personal worst by allowing nine runs ó five earned ó in 2 2-3 innings and losing for the first time in more than two months.
Juan Miranda’s first career homer, a two-run, eighth-inning shot off Dale Thayer, enabled the Yankees to tie a franchise record for homers in a season. The AL East champions also hit 242 in 2004.
Sabathia, who’s tied with St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright for the most wins in the majors, was trying to win 20 for the first time in his career. He also won 19 with Cleveland on the way to winning the 2007 AL Cy Young Award.
White Sox 8, Tigers 0
DETROIT ó Jake Peavy delayed Detroit’s chance to move closer to the AL Central title, pitching the Chicago White Sox past the slumping Tigers 8-0 Friday night.
The Tigers went into the final weekend with a two-game lead over Minnesota, but got off to a bad start when Scott Podsednik hit a leadoff home run.
Detroit lost for the fourth time in six games, all while the Twins were taking a big lead against Kansas City.
Peavy (3-0) pitched eight scoreless innings and Carlos Quentin also homered. Out for three months because of an injured right ankle, Peavy gave up just two hits and showed the form he had as the 2007 NL Cy Young winner.
Twins 10, Royals 7
Jeff Manship’s first major league win was well-timed for the Minnesota Twins, who got a grand slam from Delmon Young and hung on for a 10-7 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night that cut Detroit’s AL Central lead to one game.
The Twins and Tigers each have two games remaining.
Orioles 13, Blue Jays 7
BALTIMORE ó The Baltimore Orioles endorsed the guaranteed return of manager Dave Trembley in grand style.
Michael Aubrey hit a two-run homer and his first career grand slam, Matt Wieters added a three-run shot, and Baltimore ended the Toronto Blue Jays’ six-game winning streak.
Red Sox 6, Indians 2
BOSTON ó Daisuke Matsuzaka tuned up for the postseason with his fourth straight strong performance and Boston sent Cleveland to a club-record 13th straight road loss with a 6-2 win Friday night.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PHILADELPHIA ó Rick VandenHurk overcame Ryan Howard’s early home run and the Florida Marlins once again beat the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies, 7-2 Friday night.
Cameron Maybin had four hits, scored three times and drove in a run, and Jorge Cantu drove in three runs. The Marlins have won six of the last seven against the Phillies.
Howard’s 44th homer accounted for the Phillies’ only runs.
Nationals 6, Braves 3
ATLANTA ó Rookie Ian Desmond homered, tripled and drove in three runs and the Washington Nationals kept up their strong finish to a dismal season.
The Nationals, who lead the majors with 103 losses, have a five-game winning streak, their second-longest string of the year.
The Braves have lost four straight. They were eliminated from the NL wild-card race on Thursday.
Livan Hernandez (9-12) earned only his second win in his last nine decisions, giving up nine hits and three runs in 61/3 innings.
Mets 7, Astros 1
NEW YORK ó Jeff Francoeur and Daniel Murphy each hit two-run homers and David Wright had an RBI double in the first and finished with three hits for New York, which had lost four of five ó including an embarrassing three-game sweep at Washington.
John Maine (7-6) pitched seven innings and improved to 4-1 against Houston.
Diamondbacks 12, Cubs 3
CHICAGO ó Eric Byrnes had his first multihomer game in more than two years and drove in five runs.
Chris Young homered and had four hits, and Rusty Ryal drove in four runs for Arizona (69-91).
Pirates 3, Reds 1
CINCINNATI ó Rookie Daniel McCutchen pitched into the seventh inning for his first major league win and Lastings Milledge homered.