Jason Tyner had three hits while Torii Hunter and Phil Nevin each drove in two runs to help Minnesota improve to 20-7 on the road since opening the season 9-24 away from the Metrodome. The Twins are 3-1 on their final trip of the season, which concludes with three games each at Boston and Baltimore.
Padres 2, Dodgers 1 -- Pinch hitter Terrmel Sledge singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and visiting San Diego beat Los Angeles to take over first place in the NL West for the first time since Aug. 9.
The victory gave the Padres a half-game lead over Los Angeles, while the Dodgers took a one-game lead over Philadelphia for the wild card.
Athletics 5, White Sox 4 -- Frank Thomas dealt another big blow to his former team's dwindling playoff hopes, hitting a three-run homer to help visiting Oakland beat Chicago.
Thomas homered twice and drove in seven runs in the final two games of Oakland's three-game sweep against the defending World Series champions. Chicago remained five games behind AL Central-leading Detroit.
Pirates 3, Mets 0 -- New York failed for the third straight day to clinch the NL East title at PNC Park as Pittsburgh finished off an unlikely sweep behind eight strong innings from Zach Duke.
Orioles 12, Tigers 8 -- Miguel Tejada hit a tiebreaking single to spark a four-run 10th inning and help Baltimore beat host Detroit, which has lost 24 of 37 since leading the AL Central by 10 games Aug. 7.
Rangers 8, Angels 1 -- Vicente Padilla pitched shutout ball into the eighth and Gary Matthews had a two-run homer, helping host Texas beat Los Angeles.
Braves 8, Marlins 7 -- Marcus Giles hit an RBI single and another runner scored when left fielder Josh Willingham let the ball go through his legs, capping a five-run rally in the 10th inning that lifted host Atlanta over Florida, which had scored four times in the top of the inning.
Phillies 6, Astros 4 -- Ryan Howard hit his major league-leading 57th home run and Mike Lieberthal connected twice as Randy Wolf and visiting Philadelphia beat Houston.
Blue Jays 5, Devil Rays 3 -- Bengie Molina homered and had three hits and Aaron Hill hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning to lead host Toronto past Tampa Bay for its fourth straight win.
Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 1 -- Jeff Francis gave up three hits in eight strong innings and Jeff Baker hit his first homer of the season to help visiting Colorado beat Arizona.
Mariners 10, Royals 5 -- Chris Snelling and Kenji Johjima homered and Gil Meche (11-8) won his second straight start after going nine games without a win in visiting Seattle's victory over Kansas City. Cubs 11, Reds 3 -- Carlos Zambrano hit his fifth homer of the season in a seven-run first inning and pitched seven shutout innings in his return after missing four starts with back stiffness, helping Chicago beat Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.
Nationals 6, Brewers 1 -- Austin Kearns homered and hit the go-ahead single in the seventh to help host Washington beat Milwaukee.
The game between the Cardinals and Giants in St. Louis was canceled because of rain, and will not be made up unless it becomes necessary to determine a playoff spot.
