Sep 16, 2006 5 min read

DETROIT (AP) – Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer in an eight-run fourth inning, Brandon Inge added a grand slam in the sixth and Detroit boosted its AL Central lead to two games with a 17-2 victory over Baltimore on Friday night. Detroit, which had 19 hits, scored more runs against the Orioles than the Tigers totaled in their previous six games combined. Carlos Guillen and Sean Casey both had two hits in the fourth inning, and Guillen scored twice.

The Tigers entered with 17 losses in 25 games and the division lead, which was 10 games before play on Aug. 8, was down to one game over second-place Minnesota. But the Twins lost to Cleveland 5-4 in 10 innings.

Indians 5, Twins 4

CLEVELAND – Rookie Ryan Garko’s bouncer scored Franklin Gutierrez from third in the 10th inning to give Cleveland the win.

The Twins tied it with a two-run ninth, a rally that kept starter Johan Santana unbeaten since July 9. However, Minnesota’s top-notch bullpen couldn’t close it and the Twins fell to 12-1 in games Santana has started since the All-Star break.

Gutierrez opened the 10th against Pat Neshek (4-2) with a double off the wall in straightaway center and Dennys Reyes, a left-hander, came on and struck out Grady Sizemore.

Casey Blake was walked to set up a possible double play against the slow-footed Martinez, who was 0-for-10 in his career against Reyes. However, a wild pitch advanced the runners, and Martinez was put on. Jesse Crain came on and Garko, who homered in the first, hit a hard hopper toward center that was backhanded by second baseman Luis Castillo, who flipped to Jason Bartlett for the force. However, Bartlett’s throw to first was off the bag, and Gutierrez scored.

Blue Jays 5, Devil Rays 4

TORONTO – Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer in the 10th to give Toronto the victory.

The Blue Jays rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the ninth and a 4-3 deficit in the 10th. Gregg Zaun led off the 10th with a single and Hill, who was 4-for-4 with three runs, followed with a two-run shot off Seth McClung (5-13).

The Devil Rays had taken a 4-3 lead in the 10th on a wild pitch by B.J. Ryan (2-2).

Angels 2, Rangers 1

ARLINGTON, Texas – Vladimir Guerrero homered leading off the 11th inning for Los Angeles.

Guerrero hit the second pitch from Frank Francisco (0-1) into the left field seats for his 29th homer of the season and 100th in his three seasons with the Angels.

Brendan Donnelly (5-0), returning from a four-game suspension, pitched two perfect innings for the victory.

The Angels moved within 61/2 games of Minnesota in the AL wild-card race as the Twins lost 5-4 to Cleveland in 10 innings.

Phillies 4, Astros 3

HOUSTON – Pat Burrell hit a grand slam in the first inning off Roger Clemens and Philadelphia kept its slim NL East title hopes alive.

The Astros had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth after Phillies left fielder Jeff Conine dropped a fly ball to load the bases with one out. But Tom Gordon got pinch-hitter Humberto Quintero to ground into a double play for his 30th save.

Cardinals 14, Giants 4

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Scott Rolen hit two home runs and drove in a career-high seven runs, and rookie Chris Duncan also homered twice to lead St. Louis.

St. Louis, closing in on its third straight NL Central title, maintained a 51/2-game division lead over second-place Cincinnati. It was the most runs for the Cardinals since they beat San Diego 15-5 on May 8, 2005.

Marlins 6, Braves 4

ATLANTA – Dontrelle Willis pitched seven strong innings before tiring in the eighth, and Florida’s beleaguered bullpen came through to preserve the win.

Dan Uggla hit his 25th homer, most in major league history for rookie second basemen. The Marlins also scored twice in the first inning on an error by right fielder Jeff Francoeur to win the first game of their 10-game road trip.

Reds 4, Cubs 0

CHICAGO – Bronson Arroyo pitched eight strong innings and David Ross hit a three-run homer for Chicago, which managed just four hits.

Rich Aurilia’s RBI single and Ross’ shot off Carlos Marmol (5-7) during a four-run fourth were enough to give the Reds their sixth victory in 19 games.

Arroyo (14-9) won his fourth straight start, allowing four hits while striking out seven and walking three. Scott Schoeneweis pitched the ninth to finish the combined five-hitter.

Brewers 5, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON – Carlos Villanueva earned his first major league victory with six-plus innings in relief of injured starter Tomo Ohka, and Geoff Jenkins homered twice for Milwaukee.

Villanueva (1-1), who began the season at Double-A Huntsville, came on after Ohka strained his right hamstring while legging out an infield single in the third.

Villanueva retired his first 16 batters, until an error by first baseman Prince Fielder with one out in the eighth, and didn’t give up a hit until Felipe Lopez’s triple leading off the ninth.

Both of Jenkins’ homers were Ramon Ortiz (10-14), who lasted five innings, allowing five runs and eight hits.

Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1

PHOENIX – Arizona’s Brandon Webb threw a six-hitter to become the National League’s second 16-game winner.

Webb (16-5), coming off a one-hit shutout over St. Louis last Saturday, joined Brad Penny of Los Angeles as 16-game winners in the NL. Webb struck out 10 and walked none.

He went to a three-ball count only once in his fifth complete game of the season, most in the National League.

Luis Gonzalez drew loud ovations in all four plate appearances one day after being told by the Diamondbacks that they would not bring him back for a ninth season with Arizona next year. He drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Byung-Hyun Kim (8-11) allowed three runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Webb allowed three straight singles to start the game, then retired 16 in a row.