ST. PETERSBURG, Fla, (AP) — René Pinto and Harold Ramírez hit two-run homers in the seventh inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Seattle Mariners 7-4 on Friday night.
Isaac Paredes added a solo homer in the eighth inning, his 29th of the season, for the Rays, who hold a 6 1/2-game lead over Seattle in the race for the top AL wild card.
Tampa Bay started the day four games behind AL East-leading Baltimore. The Mariners entered play trailing first-place Houston by a half-game in the AL West.
Chris Devenski (4-4) got two outs in the seventh and earned the win, while Pete Fairbanks worked the ninth and earned his 21st save in 23 chances.
Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh and Eugenio Suárez homered for the Mariners.
Pinto went deep on George Kirby’s 102nd and final pitch before Ramírez gave the Rays a 6-4 advantage on his drive off Isaiah Campbell (4-1).
Pinto has homered in three of his last four games after entering the stretch with three career long balls,
It was Ramírez’s first homer since June 8 and ended a career-worst 55-game homerless drought.
Kirby gave up four runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings.
ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Shea Langeleirs hit a tiebreaking two-out, two-run homer in the sixth inning and Oakland held on to beat Texas.
Texas slipped a game behind Toronto in the race for the for the third AL wild-card spot. Texas remained 2 1/2 games behind first-place Houston in the AL West and a half-game back of second-place Seattle. Houston and Seattle lost Friday.
The Rangers have lost four consecutive games, seven of eight and 16 of 20. Evan Carter made his major league debut starting in right field for the injured Adolis Garcia. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Esteury Ruiz hit a solo homer for the last-place A’s, who will be officially eliminated from the postseason with their next loss.
Rangers starter Jordan Montgomery (8-11) allowed five runs on eight hits, including two homers in 5 2/3 innings.
BLUE JAYS 5, ROYALS 4
TORONTO (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh, Bo Bichette had two hits and two RBIs in his return from injury and Toronto held on to beat Kansas City, which fell below Oakland for the worst record in the major leagues at 44-98.
Guerrero’s two-run double off right-hander Carlos Hernández (1-10) helped the Blue Jays (78-63) hold onto the final AL wild-card berth with their fourth win in five games.
Chad Green (2-0) got two outs for the win and closer Jordan Romano recorded the final four outs for his 33rd save in 36 chances.
Kansas City left-hander Austin Cox had to be helped off the field in the the seventh after appearing to injure his left knee while covering first base.
ORIOLES 11, RED SOX 2
BOSTON (AP) — Kyle Bradish struck out nine batters in six innings, Adley Rutschman homered and drove in three runs, and AL-leading Baltimore beat fading Boston.
After going 5-1 on the western portion of its nine-game trip, Baltimore posted its sixth straight victory and 12th in 15 games. The Orioles extended their streak of series without being swept to 85.
Ryan O’Hearn also homered for the Orioles. Cedric Mullins had a two-run double during a four-run sixth inning that chased Boston starter Tanner Houck (4-9).
Connor Wong hit a solo homer for the Red Sox, who have lost three straight and eight of 11.
BREWERS 8, YANKEES 2
NEW YORK (AP) — William Contreras hit a go-ahead single in a three-run seventh inning, and Milwaukee overcame rookie Jasson Domínguez’s fourth homer to drop New York below .500.
Milwaukee opened a three-game NL Central lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs.
Playing a week after his major league debut, Domínguez put the Yankees ahead 2-0 with a two-run homer in the second off Colin Rea. The 20-year-old became the youngest player since at least 1901 to homer four times in his first seven games.
Willy Adames hit a tying, two-run homer in the fourth off Luis Severino, who left an inning later with an injured left side.
Andruw Monasterio doubled against Jhony Brito (6-7) leading off the eighth, Contreras singled off Jonathan Loáisiga for a 3-2 lead and Carlos Santana added an RBI single.
Andrew Monasterio added a two-run double off Greg Weissert in a three-run eighth that included another Santana run-scoring single.
New York (70-71) lost its second straight following a five-game winning streak and trails Toronto, Texas and Boston for the AL’s final wild card. The Yankees were held to three hits for 15th time this year, their most in a season since 1914.