Knows when to hold 'em
Kenny Rogers could sense this was a big game, even though it was still August.
The 41-year-old lefty came through, pitching the Detroit Tigers past Cleveland 7-1 on Sunday and ending their four-game losing streak.
"I wanted to be the guy to stop it," he said. "That's for sure."
The Tigers have the best record in the majors and hold a five-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central. But they won for only the sixth time in 19 games and didn't want their slump to extend to their next series, beginning Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.
"Every pitcher knows how much the games mean when you go out there," Rogers said. "This took on added importance with the way we've been playing."
Rogers (14-6) won his third straight start, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings.
At Seattle, rookie Cha Seung Baek took a shaky no-hit bid into the sixth inning and Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam as the Mariners swept Boston in a three-game series for the first time since 1989.David Ortiz got Boston's first hit, his major league-leading 47th homer one out into the sixth. But All-Star outfielder Manny Ramirez was out with a sore right knee and the Red Sox lost for the 11th time in 14 games.
At Anaheim, Bernie Williams homered twice and drove in six runs while Derek Jeter also hit two home runs for New York.The Yankees ended their longest road trip of the season at 7-4 and averted a sweep by Los Angeles. Jeff Karstens (1-0) earned his first major league win for the AL East leaders.
At Chicago, Mark Buehrle won for the second time in two months and A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede hit consecutive home runs.The White Sox cut the Twins' lead in the AL wild-card race to a half-game. The teams close out the regular season with three games at Minnesota.
At Texas, Vicente Padilla allowed four hits over eight innings and Matt Stairs homered as the Rangers stopped Oakland's three-game winning streak.Dan Haren had won six straight decisions for the AL West-leading Athletics, but Padilla outpitched him.
At Toronto, Ted Lilly gave up the ball without a fight and Bengie Molina hit a grand slam to beat Kansas City.In his last outing, Lilly refused to hand over the ball to manager John Gibbons during a pitching change. They later scuffled in the tunnel leading from the dugout to the clubhouse, and Gibbons wound up with a bloody nose.
At Baltimore, Miguel Tejada hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth inning and Tampa Bay lost its 10th straight road game.
Rookie Chad Billingsley and the Los Angeles Dodgers were glad to coast home.Wilson Betemit hit a two-run homer, Rafael Furcal had a two-run triple and Billingsley was in control on the mound as the NL West-leading Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-3 on Sunday.
At Florida, pinch-hitter Mike Jacobs doubled home Jeremy Hermida from first base with two outs in the ninth to give the Marlins their seventh straight victory.The surprising Marlins moved within three games of Cincinnati in the NL wild-card race.
At San Francisco, rookie Matt Cain pitched seven sharp innings and San Francisco won for the 11th time in 14 games.The Giants moved within two games of Cincinnati in the wild-card race. The Reds have lost four of five since climbing within percentage points of NL Central-leading St. Louis.
At Denver, Cory Sullivan drove in a career-high three runs with three hits and Aaron Cook again beat San Diego.Matt Holliday hit his 24th homer and drove in two runs for Colorado. Adrian Gonzalez and Brian Giles homered for the Padres.
At Atlanta, Jeff Francoeur, Chipper Jones and Andruw Jones hit home runs that sent the Braves over Washington.
Gary Bennett won a game for St. Louis with two outs in the bottom of the ninth for the second straight day, hitting a grand slam to give the Cardinals the win.
