NEW YORK YANKEES SHORTSTOP Derek Jeter bumps fists with third base coach Rob Thomson on his way to home plate after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in New York.
The latest loss to the team with the worst record in the majors dropped the A’s a half-game behind idle Kansas City for the first wild-spot slot. Oakland owned the best record in the big leagues as recently as Aug. 15.
Texas roughed up Gray (13-9) for four runs in the first inning and won its season best sixth in a row.
Gray saw his winless stretch reach five starts. The right-hander in his first full major league season has only one victory in 10 starts since his 5-0 July that earned him AL pitcher of the month honors.
Nick Martinez (4-11) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2-3 innings, handing Oakland its sixth loss in eight games.
Leonys Martin hit an RBI double and the Rangers came out swinging for 15 total hits.
Cardinals 3, Brewers 2
Tony Cruz singled in the winning run in the 13th inning and the St. Louis Cardinals moved closer to their second straight NL Central title, beating Milwaukee.
The defending National League champions took two of three in a tight series that featured only 12 runs and another game that lasted 12 innings. St. Louis leads the division by 2 1/2 games with nine games to go.
Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett had an RBI apiece for the Brewers, who are five games back and 3 1/2 out for the second NL wild card.
Mariners 3, Angels 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Logan Morrison hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning that broke a scoreless tie, and the Seattle Mariners boosted their wild- card hopes with a win over the AL West champion Angels.
With just their third win in nine games, the Mariners pulled within one game of slumping Oakland for the second AL wild-card spot.
Mariners ace Felix Hernandez struck out 11 during seven innings of three-hit ball. Seattle awoke from 17 consecutive scoreless innings with a clutch ninthinning burst against Kevin Jepsen (0-2).
Yankees 3, Rays 2
NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Jeter began his final homestand with one more stroll around the bases.
Jeter homered deep into the left-field seats against R.A. Dickey in the sixth inning, earning a standing ovation from his adoring fans and helping the New York Yankees beat Toronto.
After Jose Bautista’s tying, two-run homer off Shawn Kelley with two outs in the eighth, Chase Headley sent the winning run home in the ninth with a one-out grounder through the legs of first baseman Adam Lind for an error.
Jeter ended a 158 at-bat homerless streak with just the fourth home run of his 20th and final major league season. The home run, which put New York ahead 2-0, was his first at Yankee Stadium since July 28 last year.
Nationals 6, Marlins 2
MIAMI (AP) — Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs in seven innings, Bryce Harper had three hits, and the Washington Nationals kept up their push for home-field advantage in the NL playoffs by beating Miami.
Kevin Frandsen and Anthony Rendon each had two hits for Washington.
Dodgers 8, Cubs 4
CHICAGO (AP) — Dee Gordon and pinch-hitter Andre Ethier hit RBI doubles in Los Angeles’ five-run seventh inning, and the Dodgers rallied past the Cubs to extend their lead in the NL West.
Rockies 7, D-Backs 6
DENVER (AP) — Wilin Rosario hit a two-out, tworun homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the Colorado Rockies rallied past Arizona.
Rosario finished with four hits to lift the Rockies into a fourth-place tie with Arizona in the NL West.
Indians 2, Astros 1 (13)
HOUSTON (AP) — Mike Aviles hit a sacrifice fly in the 13th inning and the Cleveland Indians topped Houston.
Ramirez doubled with one out before Samuel Deduno (2-6) walked Michael Brantley and Carlos Santana to set up Aviles’ fly.
Padres 7, Phillies 3
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Robbie Erlin pitched six strong innings, Alexi Amarista and Will Venable homered and the San Diego defeated Philadelphia.
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