Blue Jays 7, Rays 3 - Jose Bautista hit his 38th home run, Ricky Romero won his sixth straight decision, and host Toronto beat Tampa Bay to avoid a four-game sweep.
Adam Lind added a two-run homer as Toronto snapped a season-high four-game losing streak and overcame a two-homer night from Rays designated hitter Johnny Damon.
Royals 9, Tigers 5 - Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar hit back-to-back homers and Kansas City beat the first-place Tigers in Detroit.
Alex Gordon also homered and Johnny Giavotella added a bases-loaded double for the Royals, who came in 18 ½ games behind the Central Division leaders.
White Sox 3, Twins 0 - Mark Buehrle pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Tyler Flowers drove in two runs as host Chicago beat Minnesota.
The White Sox moved within five games of the AL Central-leading Tigers.
Cubs 7, Giants 0 - Randy Wells pitched a two-hitter for his first career complete game, and visiting Chicago hit four home runs - three off San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum - to beat the Giants.
Lincecum (12-11) lasted six innings and took the loss, giving him a career-high 11. The loss dropped the defending World Series champions five games behind first-place Arizona in the NL West.
Phillies 3, Reds 2 - Shane Victorino hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning and Cole Hamels was solid in his return from the disabled list, leading visiting Philadelphia.
Hamels held the Reds to two hits - one a misplayed fly ball - in six innings.
Mets sweep Marlins: 2-1, 5-1 - New York, back in action at Citi Field following a two-day break because of Hurricane Irene, finished off a doubleheader sweep of Florida.
R.A. Dickey shut down the Marlins in the opener, pitching seven spotless innings for his first win since July 25. Mets starters had tossed 21 consecutive scoreless innings before Dillon Gee (12-5) gave up a home run to Greg Dobbs in the sixth in the second game.
Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1 - Daniel Hudson threw seven shutout innings and Ryan Roberts homered to help host Arizona beat Colorado for its seventh straight win.
Dodgers 4, Padres 1 - Clayton Kershaw went the distance to become the first Dodger to win 17 games since Chan Ho Park in 2000, Andre Ethier had three hits and an RBI, and James Loney hit a two-run homer to lead host Los Angeles past San Diego.
Mariners 5, Angels 3 - Mike Carp hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning to rally host Seattle past Los Angeles.
Indians 2, Athletics 1 - Carlos Santana homered and David Huff and four relievers combined to limit visiting Oakland to five hits in Cleveland’s win.
Astros 7, Pirates 4 - Carlos Lee hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the seventh inning, Wandy Rodriguez struck out a career-high 13, and host Houston rallied past Pittsburgh.
