Baseball Roundup: O’s Win Pitchers’ Duel

Detroit — Chris Tillman pitched six impressive innings in his return from the disabled list, and Michael Bourn and Jonathan Schoop homered off Justin Verlander to lead the Baltimore Orioles to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Baltimore moved two games ahead of Detroit in the postseason race — the Orioles entered the day in position to be the American League’s second wild card.

Tillman (16-5) allowed a run and four hits after being activated before the game. He hadn’t pitched since Aug. 20 because of right shoulder bursitis.

Three relievers finished for the Orioles, with Zach Britton pitching the ninth for his 41st save in 41 chances. Britton retired pinch-hitter Casey McGehee with two on for the final out, taking sole possession of the AL saves lead.

Verlander (14-8) lasted only five innings, ending his streak of 11 straight quality starts.

Rays 4, Yankees 2

New York — Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer, Matt Andriese won for the first time since June and the Rays stopped the Yankees’ seven-game winning streak.

Logan Forsythe and Brad Miller also went deep for the last-place Rays, who had lost three straight and six of seven. Andriese (7-7) pitched five innings of one-run ball and Alex Colome got three quick outs for his 32nd save.

Chase Headley homered and Brett Gardner had an RBI single among his three hits for the Yankees, who are two games back of Toronto and Baltimore for the top spot in the wild-card standings.

Giants 5, Diamondbacks 3

Phoenix — Matt Moore struck out 11 in seven innings and Hunter Pence hit a key two-run double, helping San Francisco to the series sweep.

The Giants pulled within three games of NL West-leading Los Angeles, which lost 3-0 at Miami. San Francisco leads the wild-card standings.

Moore (10-11) gave up two runs and eight hits. Hunter Strickland got four outs for his third save of the season.

The Giants swept a road series from Arizona for the second time this season and sent the Diamondbacks to their sixth straight loss.

Royals 2, White Sox 0

Chicago — Ian Kennedy and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, helping the Royals beat Chris Sale and the White Sox.

Kendrys Morales homered on Sale’s first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth. The Royals are four games behind Baltimore and Detroit for the top spot in the AL wild-card standings.

Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eaton’s leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. Wade Davis worked the ninth for his 24th save.

Mets 10, Braves 3

Atlanta — Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam for New York, and Seth Lugo won his fourth straight start.

The Mets have won seven of eight and are 16-5 since Aug. 20. They moved back into position for the second NL wild card, a half-game ahead of the Cardinals.

Lugo (4-2) allowed two runs in seven innings. The rookie is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA in five career starts. He joined the rotation on Aug. 19.

Brewers 2, Cardinals 1

St. Louis — Ryan Braun hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning, and the Brewers dropped the Cardinals back in the NL wild-card race.

The Cardinals are a half-game behind the Mets for the second wild card.

Braun connected against Kevin Siegrist (5-3) for his 27th homer.

Marlins 3, Dodgers 0

Miami — Jose Urena pitched 8 innings of four-hit ball, leading Miami to the win.

Christian Yelich had two hits and drove in a run for the Marlins, who have won three of four. Justin Bour also drove in a run.

Urena (4-6) retired the first 14 batters he faced. He struck out four and walked none while throwing 71 of 108 pitches for strikes.

Nationals 3, Phillies 2

Washington — Gio Gonzalez pitched seven sharp innings for NL East-leading Washington, and Anthony Rendon doubled home the tiebreaking run.

Gonzalez (11-9) gave up one run and four hits, bouncing back nicely from a rough outing against Atlanta in his last start.

It was 1-all when Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from Adam Morgan (2-10) to open the seventh. Rendon then doubled to the wall in left-center off reliever Edubray Ramos and later scored on a passed ball by catcher A.J. Ellis.

Indians 7, Twins 1

Minneapolis — Cleveland ace Corey Kluber struck out 10 in seven innings, and Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer.

Kluber (16-9) gave up an unearned run and four hits while passing the 200-strikeout mark for the third straight season. Roberto Perez added two hits, including a triple, and drove in a run for the Indians, who increased their lead in the AL Central to seven games over Detroit.

Reds 8, Pirates 0

Pittsburgh — Tyler Holt and Brandon Phillips had three hits apiece, leading Brandon Finnegan and the Reds to the victory.

Holt drove in three runs and Phillips scored three times as last-place Cincinnati (60-82) closed the four-game set with three straight wins. Pittsburgh (69-72) has dropped 11 of 13 to fall off the pace in the NL wild-card race.

Angels 3, Rangers 2

Anaheim, Calif. — Andrelton Simmons hit two solo home runs, sending Jered Weaver and the Angels to the win.

Simmons began the day with only one homer this season. Yunel Escobar hit a leadoff drive in the first inning for the Angels.

Mariners 3, Athletics 2

Oakland, Calif. — Ketel Marte hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, helping Seattle to its fifth straight win.

The Mariners are 3½ games back in the AL wild-card race.

Rockies 3, Padres 2 (10)

San Diego — Mark Reynolds homered leading off the 10th inning and the Rockies salvaged a split of a four-game series.

Charlie Blackmon also homered for the Rockies, his 25th, and hit an RBI single.

Reynolds’ homer was the 250th of his career and 13th of the season. It came on a 2-2 pitch from Kevin Quackenbush (7-6).

Jake McGee (2-3) pitched the ninth for the win. Adam Ottavino pitched the 10th for his fourth save.