C.J. Wilson scattered five hits over eight shutout innings, Adrian Beltre homered twice to reach 301 for his career and the AL West-leading Texas Rangers beat Oakland 8-1 Sunday to eliminate the Athletics from playoff contention. Wilson (16-6) struck out 11 and walked one, following up on his first career shutout — an 8-0 win at Tampa Bay last Tuesday. Wilson set a career high for victories, but manager Ron Washington pulled him after the left-hander threw 111 pitches. Beltre had four hits while Craig Gentry and Ian Kinsler added three apiece for the Rangers, who have taken nine of their last 10 from the A's this season. Eric Sogard homered against Koji Uehara leading off the ninth to end the shutout bid. Tigers 2, Twins 1: Doug Fister pitched seven scoreless innings in another terrific start for the Detroit Tigers, and Jose Valverde set a team record with his 43rd save in a win over the Minnesota Twins. The AL Central-leading Tigers have won nine straight for the first time since 1984, when Detroit won the World Series. Fister (8-13) allowed three hits, struck out five and walked two. Joaquin Benoit pitched the eighth, and Valverde allowed a run in the ninth but held on for his 43rd save in 43 chances. Blue Jays 6, Orioles 5: Converted pitcher Adam Loewen hit his first major league home run against his original team to help the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles. Jose Bautista drove in the tiebreaking run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly, sending Baltimore to its 29th loss in the last 34 games in Toronto dating to June 2008. Rays 9, Red Sox 1: James Shields came within two outs of his 12th complete game this season, B.J. Upton hit his first grand slam and the Tampa Bay Rays routed the fading Boston Red Sox. Indians 7, White Sox 3: Ubaldo Jimenez threw six effective innings, Luis Valbuena homered and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox. Yankees 6, Angels 5: Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson homered, New York scored two key runs when Peter Bourjos dropped a fly ball in the seventh inning, and the Yankees beat the Los Angeles Angels to snap a four-game skid. Royals 2, Mariners 1: Alex Gordon hit a pair of RBI doubles and four Kansas City pitchers combined to hold the Seattle Mariners to six hits in the Royals' victory.
