David Dellucci's two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning helped the Texas Rangers complete a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 5-4 win in the American League at Arlington on Friday.
Hank Blalock whacked a solo homer earlier in the ninth to start a three-run rally which pushed the Rangers within two games of first place Oakland in the West Division.
The Anaheim Angels are also two games behind the A's, with all three clubs having 10 games to play.
Octavio Dotel (4-2) came on in the ninth but allowed Blalock's 32nd home run of the season and Dellucci's game-winning double, a line drive into right field.
Dotel recorded two outs and was charged with three runs on three hits as he lost a 4-2 lead to blow the save opportunity.
Michael Young had four hits for the Rangers, including a double in the ninth.
Mark Teixeira was walked a club record five times in the game, including intentionally in the ninth, while Laynce Nix added two hits and an RBI for Texas.
Jeff Nelson (1-2), the fifth Texas pitcher, gave up one run on one hit in the ninth but picked up the victory for the surprising Rangers, who finished last in each of the previous four years.
Mark Kotsay, Adam Melhuse and Bobby Crosby homered for Oakland.
In New York, Jon Lieber pitched 7 1/3 solid innings as the Yankees clinched a playoff spot for the 10th straight season with a 7-3 triumph over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
The Yankees have a chance to all but wrap up their seventh straight East Division title when they play the second place Boston Red Sox in a three-game series at Fenway Park this weekend.
Lieber (13-8) allowed three runs on 11 hits. Derek Jeter belted a lead-off homer and three hits while John Flaherty also homered for the Yankees (96-57).
Aubrey Huff notched four hits and drove in a run for the Devil Rays. Todd Ritchie (0-2) was rocked for five runs, four earned, on six hits over 1 2/3 innings.
In Boston, Miguel Tejada bludgeoned a three-run homer to lead the Baltimore Orioles past the Red Sox 9-7.
Jose Leon and Melvin Mora drove in two runs apiece for the Orioles. Todd Williams (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win while Ramiro Mendoza (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits in 1/3 inning for the loss.
Manny Ramirez and Kevin Millar each drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who slipped 4 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the East Division.
In Cleveland, Grady Sizemore picked up a two-run homer as the Indians edged the Minnesota Twins 9-7.
Josh Bard homered and had three RBI for the Tribe while Coco Crisp drove in two runs. Cliff Lee (12-8) went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, before Rafael Betancourt finished up for his fourth save of the season.
JD Durbin (0-1) gave up five runs on seven hits over three innings and took the loss. Shannon Stewart and Lew Ford each had two hits and drove in two runs for the Twins.
In Chicago, Joe Crede's three-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning handed the White Sox a 7-6 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Crede also produced a solo blast in the eighth while Aaron Rowland and Ross Gload added two more homers for Chicago. Damaso Marte (6-5) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.
Jeremy Affeldt (3-4) allowed the game-winning blow and took the
loss. Matt Stairs homered for the Royals.
