MLB: Wildcard boost for American League Central outfit Kansas City Royals
Last Updated: 23/09/14 8:02am
The Kansas City Royals picked up half-a-game on American League Central leaders the Detroit Tigers in the race for the post-season.
A 2-0 win over the Cleveland Indians pulled Kansas within one game of the division summit and strengthened their wildcard position.
That victory came after the teams had earlier finished off a game suspended from August 31, with Cleveland closing out a tense victory.
Stormy weather had forced the teams off with Cleveland leading 4-2 in the 10th inning and though Nori Aoki's single on Monday scored pinch-runner Terrance Gore, the Royals could not find the equalising run.
Detroit were beaten 2-0 by the Chicago White Sox, Tyler Flowers' two-run homer helping pitcher Chris Bassitt to his first Major League win.
The Royals are two games clear of the Seattle Mariners, who lost 14-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays, in the wildcard race.
Danny Valencia's three-run triple started Toronto's punishment of Mariners starter James Paxton, with Jose Bautista, Kevin Pillar and Anthony Gose hitting home runs.
Secured
Cleveland are a further game and a half back, with the New York Yankees four games off the wildcard pace after a fine 5-0 win over already-crowned AL East winners the Baltimore Orioles.
The Oakland Athletics hold the top wildcard spot after beating AL West rivals the Los Angeles Angels 8-4. The Angels have already won the division.
The Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros 4-3 while the Minnesota Twins lost 6-2 to the Arizona Diamondbacks after giving up five runs in the fifth inning.
The St Louis Cardinals have secured a playoff berth in the National League Central and they beat the Chicago Cubs 8-0, Adam Wainwright's 20th win of the season.
They need four games to clinch the division ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who beat the Atlanta Braves 1-0 on Andrew McCutchen's homer.
The San Francisco Giants kept themselves in touch with NL West leaders the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-2 win as the two sides did battle over 13 innings. Andrew Susac scored Brandon Belt before Gregor Blanco's 2RBI double secured victory.
Elsewhere in the NL West, Eric Stults pitched the San Diego Padres to a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rockies.
