DETROIT (AP) ― Max Scherzer escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez homered, and the Detroit Tigers beat Kansas City 4-2 on Tuesday night to pull within percentage points of the Royals atop the AL Central.

Scherzer (16-5) allowed a run and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. Kansas City was down 3-1 in the fifth when Alex Gordon’s deep fly to right went just foul with two on. Gordon walked to load the bases with one out, but Salvador Perez lined out and Eric Hosmer struck out.

Joe Nathan earned his 30th save in 36 chances, allowing two infield singles to start the ninth before ending it with two strikeouts sandwiched around a picked-off runner.

Kansas City’s Jason Vargas (11-8) allowed four runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked three.

Detroit will try to sweep the three-game series Wednesday night.

The Royals had two on for the dangerous Gordon in the ninth, but he struck out, and pinch-runner Jarrod Dyson was picked off second. Perez went down swinging for the final out.

The Tigers are trying for their fourth straight AL Central title, and the hallmark of this run has been their ability to beat their closest competitors in the division head to head. Last year, Detroit went 15-4 against Cleveland and finished one game ahead of the Indians.

The Tigers are 11-4 against the Royals this year, and that’s why the race is now in a virtual tie. Detroit has one more win and one more loss than Kansas City ― and the Royals still have to finish a suspended game in which they trail Cleveland 4-2 in the 10th. 

Nats stretch NL East lead

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Adam LaRoche kept up his torrid stretch with two hits and two RBIs, and the Washington Nationals essentially put to rest any thought that there is still a serious race for the NL East title with a 6-4 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

Washington’s second victory in two nights over the Braves, gave the Nationals a nine-game lead over their second-place rivals with 19 to play. Atlanta was a regular nemesis for about a year and a half, but the Nationals have put the kibosh on that trend by winning five of the last seven meetings.

Jordan Zimmermann (11-5) allowed four runs (two earned) with seven strikeouts and no walks in six innings. He hasn’t lost a decision since July 11 and is 5-0 ― and the Nationals are 8-0 ― in his last eight starts.


Padres end six-game skid

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Andrew Cashner pitched seven strong innings to win for the first time since mid-April, Jedd Gyorko hit a two-run homer, and the San Diego Padres snapped a six-game skid by beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 Tuesday.

The Dodgers had their four-game winning streak end, and their NL West lead was cut to 2 1/2 games over San Francisco.

The Padres totaled 12 runs during their losing streak, but they built a 5-0 lead for Cashner by the third inning, allowing him to beat the Dodgers for the first time.

Cashner (3-7) allowed two runs and nine hits, struck out two and walked one after being winless in 11 outings. His last victory was against Colorado on April 16. The right-hander improved to 1-2 against the Dodgers.

Minnesota 4, Cleveland 3

Tampa Bay 4, NY Yankees 3

Philadelphia 4, Pittsburgh 3

Toronto 9, Chicago Cubs 2

Baltimore 4, Boston 1

Cincinnati 9, St. Louis 5

NY Mets 2, Colorado 0

LA Angels 9, Texas 3

Oakland 11, Chicago White Sox 2

Miami 6, Milwaukee 3

San Francisco 5, Arizona 1

Houston 2, Seattle 1