Surging Twins inch closer

The Twins, who have won 10 of 11, open a four-game series in Detroit Monday.

Billy Butler had four hits and drove in all the Royals’ runs with two home runs, his third multihomer game of the season. Butler hit a solo homer in the fourth and a three-run shot in the fifth that pulled the Royals within 6-4.

The Twins sent 10 men to the plate and scored four runs in the fifth, but had just one hit, Orlando Cabrera’s run-scoring single. Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel and Cuddyer all walked with the bases loaded.

White Sox 2, Tigers 0 - Jake Peavy pitched seven innings and Gordon Beckham homered to break up Eddie Bonine’s no-hit bid as host Chicago slowed Detroit’s chase of the AL Central title.

In his second start with Chicago since being acquired from San Diego July 31, Peavy (2-0) allowed six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. The 2007 NL Cy Young winner spent three months on the disabled list with an ankle injury and his return was slowed when he was hit in the elbow by a line drive during a minor league rehab game.

The White Sox won despite getting only two hits.

Rangers 8, Rays 3 - Ian Kinsler homered to become a 30-30 player for the first time and Julio Borbon had three hits as host Texas beat Tampa Bay to cling to its slim playoff hopes.

Kinsler is the third second baseman in major league history with 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season. Alfonso Soriano, who has done it three times, and Brandon Phillips are the others.

Kinsler’s 30th homer was a three-run shot in the eighth that put Texas up, 8-3. Kinsler stole his 30th base Thursday.

The Rangers, who have nine games remaining, trail Los Angeles by 6 games in the AL West. The Angels’ magic number is four. Texas moved within 7 games of the Red Sox in the wild-card race.

Rockies 2, Cardinals 1 - Yorvit Torrealba’s sacrifice fly scored Troy Tulowitzki from third base with the winning run in the bottom of the ninth and Colorado prevented St. Louis from becoming the first team in the majors to clinch its division.

The win also kept the Rockies 3 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta in the NL wild card.

Braves 4, Nationals 1 - Javier Vazquez (15-9) allowed a run and three hits in his third complete game of the season as visiting Atlanta won its fourth straight.

Blue Jays 5, Mariners 0 - In what could be his final home start with Toronto, Roy Halladay (16-10) struck out nine in a seven-hitter and Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer to shut out Seattle.

The subject of rampant trade speculation leading up to the July 31 deadline, there’s no guarantee that Halladay, a free agent after 2010, will be back with the Blue Jays next season.

Athletics 3, Angels 0 - Rookie Gio Gonzalez outpitched Jered Weaver as host Oakland beat Los Angeles, keeping the Angels’ magic number at four for clinching their fifth AL West title in six years.

Cubs 3, Giants 0 - Carlos Zambrano threw a two-hitter, his first complete game since his no-hitter last season, and drove in two runs as visiting Chicago edged San Francisco.

Brewers 8, Phillies 4 - In Milwaukee, Prince Fielder hit his 43d homer and drove in four runs to become the major league leader for RBIs.

Pirates 3, Dodgers 1 - Brandon Moss’s two-run single gave host Pittsburgh an early lead and the woeful Pirates used five pitchers to beat Los Angeles, stalling the Dodgers’ drive to secure a playoff berth.

Indians 4, Orioles 2 - Fausto Carmona (4-12) pitched six innings and host Cleveland ended its 11-game losing streak.

Reds 10, Astros 4 - Joey Votto drove in four runs with a homer and a double and visiting Cincinnati won its fifth straight.

Padres 4, Diamondbacks 0 - In Phoenix, Kevin Correia tossed a six-hitter for his first complete game for San Diego.

Mets 6, Marlins 5 - Pinch hitter Cory Sullivan delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the ninth inning as New York edged Florida in Miami.