The Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays held onto their Wild Card spots with wins, and the Texas Rangers remain within a half-game of the second Wild Card.
AL Wild Card standings: Rays, Indians maintain lead
The Rays and Indians held onto their leads in the AL Wild card, with the Rangers sitting a half-game behind.
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The Rays faced the Baltimore Orioles 10 hours, 56 minutes after Tampa Bay won with one out in the 18th inning early Saturday morning. Alex Cobb helped pick up an exhausted bullpen, throwing 8⅓ strong innings, leading the Rays to a 5-1 win. Cobb fanned 12, carrying a shutout into the ninth inning. Desmond Jennings drove in four runs for the Rays, blasting a three-run homer and an RBI-triple.
Cleveland picked up a third straight win over the Houston Astros, 4-1. Scott Kazmir tossed seven shutout innings, only allowing four hits while striking out 10. Michael Brantley capped off a three-run first with a two-run homer, while Lonnie Chisenhall and Jason Kipnis each drove in a run.
Texas earned its victory over fellow Wild Card hopeful Kansas City, 3-1 at Kauffman Stadium. Matt Garza carried a shutout into the ninth inning and his only blemish was an Eric Homser solo homer. Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and A.J. Pierzynski each had an RBI, while Ian Kinsler led off the game with a triple.
The New York Yankees also kept pace with the leaders, defeating the San Francisco Giants 6-0. Ivan Nova threw a complete-game shutout, only allowing six hits. Eduardo Nunez and Alfonso Soriano each homered.
Here are the updated standings for the AL Wild Card:
American League Wild Card Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay | 85 | 69 | .552 | +½ | Won 2 |
| Cleveland | 85 | 70 | .548 | -- | Won 3 |
| Texas | 84 | 70 | .552 | ½ | Won 1 |
| Yankees | 82 | 73 | .529 | 3 | Won 2 |
| Kansas City | 81 | 73 | .526 | 3½ | Lost 1 |
| Orioles | 81 | 73 | .526 | 3½ | Lost 3 |
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