The Tampa Bay Rays moved closer to clinching the first playoff berth in franchise history by routing the Minnesota Twins 11-1 in the American League on Friday. The AL East division leaders moved within one win of wrapping up at least a wildcard spot and stayed 1-1/2 games ahead of divisional rival Boston, while the Twins dropped 2-1/2 games behind Chicago in the AL Central. Carlos Pena homered and drove in four runs. His fourth-inning homer came on the first reversal produced by baseball's new instant replay system. It was originally ruled a double before umpires went to the video. The Rays can earn a postseason berth for the first time in their 11 seasons by winning one of two remaining games in this series. White Sox 9, Royals 4: In Kansas City, Missouri, Chicago snapped Kansas City's seven-game winning streak and extended its lead in the AL Central. The Royals seven-match trot was their longest since the very start of the 2003 season. The White Sox sent 10 batters to the plate in a six-run fourth inning, scoring all the runs with two outs. A double, a single and a walk laid the table for Alexei Ramirez to hit a grand slam. It was his third of the season, tying an AL rookie record. Dewayne Wise homered twice for Chicago, while starting pitcher Mark Buehrle, working on three days' rest, gave up six hits in as many innings. In other games it was: Angels 15, Rangers 13; Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 3; Indians 6, Tigers 5; Yankees 3, Orioles 2; Athletics 2, Mariners 0. Giants thrash Dodgers In Los Angeles, the San Francisco Giants inflicted a 7-1 defeat on Los Angeles on Friday, preventing the Dodgers from increasing their lead in the National League West division. With eight games to play, Los Angeles' advantage over Arizona in the NL West race remained at 3-1/2 games. San Francisco starter Barry Zito took a shutout into the eighth inning, guiding the Giants to a win that snapped a four-game losing skid and also ended the Dodgers run of seven straight home wins. Zito allowed just one run while striking out six. The 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner retired 13 of 14 batters during one stretch. Cardinals 12, Cubs 6: In Chicago, St. Louis piled on the runs to delay Chicago clinching a second straight NL Central title. Milwaukee's loss meant the Cubs can do no worse than finish equal top of the division, but Chicago still requires one more result to go its way to win it outright. Elsewhere it was: Mets 9, Braves 5; Marlins 14, Phillies 8; Rockies 3, Diamondbacks 2; Reds 11, Brewers 2; Astros 5, Pirates 1; Padres 11, Nationals 6, 14 __
