Tampa Bay loses; Indians win •
BALTIMORE—Clay Buchholz allowed three runs over seven innings as the AL East champion Boston Red Sox routed the Baltimore Orioles 12-3 Friday night and moved closer to securing home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Daniel Nava and David Ortiz hit three-run homers for Boston, which opened an 8-0 lead by the third inning. Jarrod Saltalamacchia had a three-run drive overturned in a video review.
Dustin Pedroia had three hits for the Red Sox, who would clinch the AL's best record with another win or a loss by Oakland.
Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 53rd homer in the sixth.
Given a big lead before his his first pitch, Buchholz (12-1) rebounded from a loss to Toronto last weekend. Adam Jones hit a two-run homer in the third, the first home run by a right-handed hitter off Buchholz this year,
Buchholz gave up three runs and seven hits in seven innings, with his ERA rising from 1.60 to 1.74. He threw 106 pitches, his most since a a lengthy stint on the disabled list caused by a strained neck, and improved to 6-0 with a 1.40 ERA in seven road starts this year. He is 4-0 with a 1.74 ERA in his last four starts against Baltimore.
Scott Feldman (5-6) gave up eight runs and eight hits in 2 1-3 innings for the Orioles, who have
lost seven of nine.
Blue Jays 6, Rays 3
TORONTO—R.A. Dickey slowed Tampa Bay's stretch run, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a victory that stopped the Rays' seven-game winning streak.
Tampa Bay wasted a 2-0 lead
and committed a season-high three errors, including a pair by two-time Gold Glove third baseman Evan Longoria.
Dickey (14-13) allowed two runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings, retiring 13 of 14 during one stretch. The 38-year-old knuckleballer is 5-1 with a 3.17 ERA in his last seven starts.
Royals 6, White Sox 1
CHICAGO—James Shields struck out 10 and scattered four hits over seven innings for his 100th career win, and the Kansas City Royals beat Chicago to ensure the White Sox of their worst record since 1970.
At 62-98 with two games remaining, the White Sox will finish with the second-most losses in franchise history, ahead of only the team that went 56-106 more than four decades ago.
Shields (13-9) gave up just one run and walked one.
Billy Butler led the Royals with three hits and two RBIs, while Emilio Bonifacio drove in two runs with two hits.
The Royals took a 3-0 lead in the first off White Sox starter Chris Sale (11-14).