MINNEAPOLIS – Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera both had two doubles and Jason Kipnis was a homer short of the cycle as the Cleveland Indians had 17 hits in a 12-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.

With the win and Tampa Bay’s loss at Toronto, the Indians moved into a tie with the Rays for the top wild-card spot in the American League, one game ahead of Texas, which beat Los Angeles. Cleveland has won eight straight and 13 of 15, taking advantage of a schedule that ends with 10 games against Houston, the Chicago White Sox and the Twins, the three worst teams in the AL this season.

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A.J. Pierzynski hears a little chin music Friday night from Los Angeles Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson. He was hit by a pitch a couple of throws later, but the Rangers still won to stay alive. The Associated Press

Indians starter Corey Kluber (11-5) won his fifth straight decision.

RANGERS 5, ANGELS 3: Alex Rios had a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning, and for the first time during its five-game winning streak host Texas moved closer in the wild-card standings.

With two games left in the regular season, the Rangers still have a chance to go to the postseason for the fourth year in a row.

BLUE JAYS 6, RAYS 3: R.A. Dickey slowed Tampa Bay’s stretch run, leading Toronto to a home victory and stopping Tampa Bay’s seven-game winning streak.

MARLINS 3, TIGERS 2: Detroit’s Jhonny Peralta played in his first game since completing a 50-game suspension, going 1 for 4 with an RBI in Detroit’s loss at Miami.

Peralta, who was suspended for his involvement in the Florida-based Biogenesis performance-enhancing lab, started in left field.

ROYALS 6, WHITE SOX 1: James Shields struck out 10 and scattered four hits over seven innings for his 100th career win, and Kansas City won at Chicago to ensure the White Sox (62-98) of their worst record since 1970.

YANKEES 3, ASTROS 2: David Robertson got the save as Mariano Rivera looked on, and New York got a glimpse of its future in a win at Houston that sent the Astros to their 13th consecutive loss.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 7, CUBS 0: St. Louis clinched its first NL Central title in four years, beating Chicago at home behind the strong pitching of Lance Lynn.

The Cardinals (95-65) have won 6 of 7 and are tied with Atlanta for the NL’s best record.

PIRATES 4, REDS 1: Marlon Byrd had three hits and Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run homer, leading Pittsburgh to a victory at Cincinnati in a series that will decide which could host the NL wild-card game Tuesday.

BRAVES 1, PHILLIES 0: Chris Johnson led off the eighth with a homer to spoil an otherwise dominant start by Cliff Lee, Kris Medlen allowed only two hits in eight innings and Atlanta won at home.

Medlen (15-12) strengthened his case to be the Braves’ Game 1 starter in the playoffs. He will carry a streak of five straight winning decisions into the postseason.

BREWERS 4, METS 2: Norichika Aoki hit a leadoff homer, Khris Davis connected three batters later and Yovani Gallardo pitched Milwaukee to a victory at New York.

Martin Maldonado also homered and Gallardo (12-10) went six innings to end his inconsistent season with a win. The right-hander, who won 33 games over the previous two years, finished 4-1 in eight starts since returning from a strained left hamstring.

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