DETROIT — Reliever Yohan Pino's throwing error on Ian Kinsler's bunt single with nobody out in the ninth inning let Anthony Gose score from second base and deliver the Detroit Tigers a 6-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in their weekend battle for first place in the American League Central Friday. Alex Gordon's one-out RBI single to center in the seventh inning gave Kansas City a 5-4 lead but Detroit tied it in the bottom half of the inning. Ian Kinsler finished 4-for-4 with two RBIs for the Tigers (19-11) who moved a half-game in front of the Royals (18-11). Angels 2, Astros 0: Jered Weaver threw a six-hit shutout to lift the Los Angeles Angels to a win over the Houston Astros. Weaver out-dueled Astros starter Roberto Hernandez, who pitched well — giving up two runs in 7 2/3 innings — but not good enough of this night. Houston fell to 19-11. Yankees 5, Orioles 4: Catcher Brian McCann hit a two-run homer and Carlos Beltran added a two-run double as the New York Yankees took an early five-run lead and held on for a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Designated hitter Alex Rodriguez added a sacrifice fly and also tripled for the Yankees (19-11), who won for the 13th time in 17 games. Blue Jays 7, Red Sox 0: Right-hander Aaron Sanchez pitched into the eighth inning and third baseman Josh Donaldson and right fielder Chris Colabello homered as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Boston Red Sox. Sanchez, a 22-year-old rookie, held the Red Sox (13-16) to two hits while walking five and striking out three for his second win in a row to improve his record to 3-2. Twins 9, Indians 3: Mike Pelfrey pitched seven strong innings, and Torii Hunter had four hits, including two doubles and a home run, and four RBIs as the Minnesota Twins rolled to a victory over the Cleveland Indians. The right-hander Pelfrey (3-0) held Cleveland (10-18) to two runs on six hits, retiring 15 of the last 18 batters he faced. Minnesota moved to 17-13. Other results: Rays 8, Rangers 2; Mariners 4, Athletics 3 (11 innings). National League Cardinals 8, Pirates 5: Kolten Wong had a three-run home run among his three hits, and Michael Wacha stayed unbeaten as the St. Louis Cardinals kept rolling with a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Wong's homer broke the game open as it capped a four-run seventh inning and extended the Cardinals' lead to 8-3. Wacha (5-0) worked six innings and allowed three runs for the Cardinals, off to the best start in club history at 22-7. Nationals 9, Braves 2: Washington right fielder Bryce Harper had two home runs and five RBIs and second baseman Danny Espinosa also had two homers as the Washington Nationals hit five home runs to beat the Atlanta Braves. Harper, who had three hits, now has five homers and 10 RBIs in his last two games for the Nationals (15-15). Atlanta fell to 14-15. Phillies 3, Mets 1: Cole Hamels pitched seven strong innings to out-duel Matt Harvey, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the New York Mets. Ryan Howard hit a go-ahead solo homer and drove in two runs while Freddy Galvis went 3-for-3 for the Phillies (11-19), who handed Harvey his first loss of the season. New York fell to 18-11. Cubs 7, Brewers 6: Dexter Fowler went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run as the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago (15-13) also got home runs from first baseman Anthony Rizzo, right fielder Jorge Soler and shortstop Starlin Castro while right-hander Jason Hammel (3-1) went seven innings and struck out eight. Padres 6, Diamondbacks 5: San Diego center fielder Will Venable homered and drove in the go-ahead run and right-hander James Shields survived four home runs in the Padres victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Venable, who was a double short of the first cycle in franchise history, singled to break a tie at 5 in the seventh inning and lead San Diego (16-15). Other results: Giants 6, Marlins 0; Dodgers 2, Rockies 1 (6 innings). — Reuters
