ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) β The Los Angeles Angels have clinched their first AL West title as C.J. Wilson retired his first 14 batters and combined with two relievers on a one-hitter in a 5-0 shutout of Seattle. C.J. Cron smacked a three-run homer in the Angels’ five-run seventh. The Angels actually wrapped up the division when Oakland blew a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning of a 6-1 loss to Texas.
UNDATED (AP) β The Kansas City Royals are back within a half-game of first-place Detroit in the American League Central. The Tigers suffered their second-straight loss as Brian Dozier, Danny Santana and Joe Mauer each had two RBIs and combined for seven of the Twins’ 13 hits in an 8-4 triumph over Detroit. Lorenzo Cain hit a three-run homer and Nori Aoki went 3-for-5 with three RBIs as the Royals thumped the Chicago White Sox 6-2.
UNDATED (AP) β The St. Louis Cardinals still pace the National League Central race by 2 Β½ games over Pittsburgh after both teams won on Wednesday. Adam Wainwright became the league’s second 19-game winner by tossing a seven-hitter in the Redbirds’ 2-0 shutout of Milwaukee, dropping the Brewers 2 Β½ games behind Pittsburgh for the second NL wild-card berth. The Pirates kept pace with St. Louis as Gregory Polanco and Neil Walker hit solo homers before Ike Davis belted a three-run shot in the Bucs’ 9-1 romp over Boston.
UNDATED (AP) β The San Francisco Giants moved a step closer to a National League playoff berth while pulling within two games of the West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Justin Morneau hit a three-run homer and a two-run single while Colorado was scoring eight times in the first inning of a 16-2 laugher against the Dodgers. Matt Duffy hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the ninth inning to lift the Giants over the Diamondbacks 4-2 in Arizona.
PHOENIX (AP) β Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer has been deactivated by the team following his arrest on aggravated assault charges in connection with two fights at his home in late July involving a 27-year-old woman and an 18-month-old child. The Cardinals said they became aware of the situation on Wednesday and are cooperating with the investigation. Dwyer’s arrest became public after Carolina defensive end Greg Hardy and Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson were deactivated by their teams because of their abuse cases.
