Rays close gap on Red Sox

Jeff Niemann (10-7) gave up two runs in 72/3 innings and Ben Zobrist had three hits and three RBIs as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Orioles in Baltimore, 5-2, Tuesday night to move within three games of the Red Sox for the AL wild card after trailing by nine games on Sept. 2.

After playing the Orioles twice more, the Rays head to Boston for a four-game series.

It was the Rays' fifth straight win and their eighth in nine games. The Red Sox were idle.

Tigers 14, White Sox 4: Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Raburn ignited visiting Detroit with back-to-back homers in the second inning as the Tigers won their 10th straight. Detroit's magic number was reduced to six in the AL Central.

Astros 5, Phillies 1: Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer off Roy Oswalt for visiting Houston. Despite the loss, Philadelphia's magic number for gaining at least a wild-card spot dropped to one with St. Louis' loss.

Pirates 6, Cardinals 5: Pedro Ciriaco hit a tiebreaking double to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning for host Pittsburgh. Albert Pujols hit his NL-leading 35th homer and drove in three runs for St. Louis, which had climbed within 41/2 games of Atlanta for the NL wild card.

Marlins 5, Braves 4: Mike Stanton's pinch-hit single in the 12th drove in the go-ahead run for visiting Florida. Atlanta, coming off a 2-6 road trip, has lost four straight and nine of 12.

Cubs 12, Reds 8: Visiting Chicago totaled 16 hits, including nine hits and eight runs off Cincinnati starter Dontrelle Willis (0-6, 5.04 ERA), who lasted 31/3 innings.

Manny Ramirez arrested

Former World Series MVP Manny Ramirez was arrested Monday after a domestic dispute at his South Florida home and charged with battery. Ramirez, 39, and his wife were arguing in their bedroom when he slapped her face, causing her to hit her head on their bed's headboard, police said. Ramirez denied hitting her. Ramirez retired in April after he tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance.-- AP