AL roundup: Twins keep division race alive

DETROIT — The AL Central is still up for grabs.

Scott Baker got plenty of run support and pitched the Minnesota Twins to a testy 8-3 victory over Detroit on Thursday, preventing the Tigers from clinching their first division title in 22 years.

Minnesota avoided elimination from the playoff race and moved within two games of the first-place Tigers with three to play.

The teams split the four-game series. Next up, Detroit hosts the Chicago White Sox this weekend. The Twins get last-place Kansas City at home.

Tempers flared late in the game.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland was ejected during a face-to-face argument with umpire Angel Hernandez in the eighth inning after Minnesota's Jose Mijares threw behind Adam Everett.

Both benches and bullpens emptied in the ninth after Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman plunked Delmon Young in the leg. An angry Young slammed his helmet to the ground and shouted toward Detroit's dugout, but there was no pushing or punching.

Bonderman and Tigers catcher Gerald Laird also got tossed.

Baker (15-9) gave up an unearned run over five innings and Minnesota overcame four errors, which matched a season high. Detroit starter Nate Robertson (2-3) took the loss.

RANGERS 11, ANGELS 3: At Anaheim, Calif., Chris Davis homered and drove in three runs, Julio Borbon triggered a six-run sixth inning with a go-ahead RBI single and Texas beat the playoff-bound Los Angeles Angels.Kevin Millwood (13-10) recorded his 20th career complete game and third this season. He gave up two earned runs and seven hits in his season finale, tying a season high with 10 strikeouts. He also threw a season-high 122 pitches. The Angels, who played their home finale, open the division series in Anaheim next week against Boston, which beat them in the first round each of the previous two years.

RED SOX 3, INDIANS 0: At Boston, Jon Lester showed no ill effects from his injury last week and was splendid in a final tuneup for the playoffs, pitching into the seventh inning as the Red Sox handed the Indians their club record-tying 12th straight loss. Boston snapped its season-long six-game skid.

ORIOLES 3, RAYS 2: At St. Petersburg, Chris Waters allowed one run over five innings in his first start of the season and Baltimore stopped a 13-game losing streak by beating Tampa Bay. The skid was the longest in the majors this season and the third-worst in Orioles history. Baltimore dropped 14 consecutive games in August 1954 and opened the 1988 season by losing 21 straight.

MARINERS 4, ATHLETICS 2: At Seattle, Mike Sweeney followed a two-out error by Adam Kennedy with a tiebreaking two-run single in the fifth inning, and Seattle beat Oakland for the 14th time in 19 games this season. Doug Fister (3-4) went seven innings, allowing five hits and a run for his first win since Sept. 1. David Aardsma finished for his 37th save in 41 opportunities.