Fielder homer gives Tigers jolt
Mauer threatening Cabrera’s Crown bid
The Tigers finally have a little bit of breathing room in what has been an air-tight AL Central race.
Miguel Cabrera has no such luxury as he tries to become the first Triple Crown winner in 45 years.
Prince Fielder hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, lifting Detroit to a 2-1 win over the Twins on Sunday, moving the Tigers to a season-high three-game lead over the White Sox in the Central.
The White Sox lost to Tampa Bay 6-2. So with three games to go, Detroit can clinch the division title with a win in Kansas City on Monday or a Chicago loss to Cleveland.
“We’re not all the way happy yet,” Fielder said. “We have what, three games left? Try to win those and after that, we’ll see what happens.”
Fielder’s opposite-field shot off Jared Burton just barely cleared the wall in left field for his 30th homer of the season.
Cabrera, trying to become the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown, went 0 for 3 with an intentional walk, dropping his AL-leading batting average to .325. Twins star Joe Mauer went 3 for 4 with an intentional walk to raise his average to .323, putting him right on Cabrera’s heels going into the final series of the season.
Cabrera leads the AL in RBIs with 136, nine more than Texas star Josh Hamilton, and remains tied with Hamilton for the lead in home runs with 43. But the batting race suddenly is up in the air.
“This is his team,” Fielder said of Cabrera. “I just want to come and help and be a part of it — be a part of being able to watch somebody that great. I just love being a fan, just watching him.”
ANGELS 5-7, RANGERS 4-8: Torii Hunter hit a two-run double with two out in the ninth to beat Texas in the first game of a day-night double-
header, while Mike Napoli’s twohomer, six-RBI effort led the Rangers in the nightcap. In the opener, Angel Mike Trout homered to became the first major league rookie with 30 home runs and 40 stolen bases in one season. The 21-yearold Trout is the youngest player ever with a 30-30 year and needs two stolen bases to become only the third in major league history with 30 homers and 50 stolen bases. The others? Eric Davis (1987) and Barry Bonds (1990).
ORIOLES 6, RED SOX 3: Solo homers by J.J. Hardy, Nate McLouth and Chris Davis helped Baltimore win and, with the Rangers’ victory Sunday night, clinch a playoff spot.
RAYS 3, WHITE SOX 2: David Price became Tampa Bay’s first 20-game winner and B.J. Upton homered twice as the Rays stayed afloat in the wild-card race.
A’S 5, MARINERS 2: Yoenis Cespedes hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning to move Oakland a win closer to the club’s first playoff berth in six years. The A’s could still win the West by sweeping the Rangers in Oakland.
CARDINALS 10, NATIONALS 4: Carlos Beltran homered from both sides of the plate for the ninth time in his career and drove in five runs to boost St. Louis’ playoff hopes.
BRAVES 6, METS 2: Atlanta won for the 23rd straight time in games started by Kris Medlen, a major league record.
DODGERS 7, ROCKIES 1: Josh Beckett earned his first win in five starts and L.A. backed him with three homers to stay in contention.
GIANTS 7, PADRES 5: Despite the win, Tim Lincecum might no longer be a lock for the No. 3 spot in the NL West champion Giants’ playoff rotation after allowing a season-high three homers.
REDS 4, PIRATES 3: Cincinnati clinched home-field advantage in the NLDS and ensured the Pirates would finish with their 20th straight losing season, extending their North American pro sports record in that dubious category.