Zobrist blast keeps Rays playoff hopes alive  —  Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer off Jon Lester on Saturday to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 4-3 victory over the Red Sox and trim Boston's lead in the AL wild-card race to three games.  —  Jeff Niemann (11-7) pitched five solid innings for Tampa Bay …

Carlos Santana hits 25th homer as Indians beat Twins 10-4  —  MINNEAPOLIS - Carlos Santana hit his 25th home run and Jeanmar Gomez pitched effectively into the seventh inning before leaving with an injury Saturday as the Cleveland Indians beat the Minnesota Twins 10-4.

NY Mets offense explodes for 20 hits in 12-2 rout of Braves in Atlanta after Terry Collins unhappy  —  ATLANTA - The Mets were sharing another dead-energy meal in the players' lounge of their home clubhouse Thursday afternoon.  As usual, the postgame show blared on the television …

Rodrigo Lopez, Cubs hand Houston its record 100th loss  —  CHICAGO - The Houston Astros lost 100 games in a season for the first time in franchise history, squandering a bases-loaded chance in the ninth inning and falling to Rodrigo Lopez and the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Saturday.

Royals notes: Team has to figure out what it will do with Cabrera  —  What to do with outfielder Melky Cabrera looms as one of the Royals' biggest questions heading into the offseason.  —  Cabrera's value has never been higher after a resounding bounce-back season that, at age 27 …

Carlos Beltran makes a case for former teammate Jose Reyes  —  Can you imagine a top five in the Giants lineup of Jose Reyes, Freddy Sanchez, Carlos Beltran, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval?  —  Sounds like a pipe dream, to be sure.  It's hard to imagine the Giants finding the dough to sign …

Rivera Ties MLB Record With 601st Career Save  —  TORONTO (AP) — Mariano Rivera tied the major league saves record, earning the 601st of his career and matching Trevor Hoffman while preserving the New York Yankees' 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.

Tigers clinch Central crown, first division title since '87  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — Newcomer Doug Fister pitched the Detroit Tigers to the AL Central title on Friday night, beating the Oakland Athletics 3-1 to secure the club's first division title in nearly a quarter-century.

Stauffer Shuts Down D-Backs in 2-0 Padres Win  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tim Stauffer shut down Arizona into the seventh inning before leaving with arm stiffness and the last-place San Diego Padres beat the NL West-leading Diamondbacks 2-0 on Friday night.  —  The Diamondbacks' lead …

Dodgers Beat Pirates 7-2 on Loney's 3-Run Homer  —  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Pinch-hitter James Loney hit a three-run homer, Matt Kemp increased his career-high RBIs total to 111 and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 on Friday night.  —  Hiroki Kuroda (12-16) …