DETROIT -- Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting Detroit over the Oakland Athletics 7-6 Thursday and boosting the Tigers after Max Scherzer was denied his 20th win and Miguel Cabrera limped off with an injury.
Detroit scored four times in the ninth off Grant Balfour (0-3). A two-out walk set up Victor Martinez's RBI single, and then Hunter connected as the Tigers avoided a four-game series sweep.
Scherzer gave up six runs in five innings. The no-decision left him with a 19-1 record.
Cabrera hurt his abdomen making an awkward slide while trying to stretch a single into a double in the fifth. He was listed as day to day with discomfort, but insisted he would be back in the lineup Friday night when the AL Central-leading Tigers begin a series against the second-place Cleveland Indians.
Prince Fielder hit his 21st homer for Detroit, and Joaquin Benoit (4-0) pitched the ninth for the win.
Jed Lowrie and Brandon Moss each hit a two-run homer for Oakland.
ORIOLES 3, RED SOX 2
BOSTON -- Chris Tillman pitched seven strong innings to earn his 15th victory of the season and Baltimore avoided a three-game sweep.
The Red Sox remained 2½ games ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East, with Baltimore another four games back.
Manny Machado had two hits for the Orioles, including a two-run double that gave them the lead for good in the third inning. Danny Valencia had two doubles, and Adam Jones also had a pair of hits for Baltimore.
Tillman (15-4) allowed two runs and six hits while striking out eight. Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his AL-leading 41st save.
Jon Lester (12-8) pitched six innings for Boston, allowing three runs and five hits. Daniel Nava had three hits.
ANGELS 2, RAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jason Vargas allowed two hits over seven innings, helping the Angels win for the fifth time in six games.
Vargas (8-5) gave up a leadoff double to Desmond Jennings in the first and Ben Zobrist's sixth-inning infield single. The left-hander struck out seven and walked three.
AL wild card-leading Tampa Bay has dropped four of five. Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi (0-1) gave up one run and four hits in five innings.
Rays rookie Wil Myers drew a leadoff walk from Ernesto Frieri in the ninth and went to third on Yunel Escobar's one-out double. Frieri rebounded to earn his 28th save, retiring Kelly Johnson on a foul pop and getting pitch hitter David DeJesus on a fly ball.
MARINERS 3, ASTROS 2
HOUSTON -- Franklin Gutierrez hit a two-run homer after Nick Franklin gave Seattle an early lead with a solo shot, and the Mariners ended a six-game skid.
Franklin put the Mariners on top with his one-out homer off Jordan Lyles (6-7) in the first inning.
Raul Ibanez singled to start the fourth inning. Gutierrez's homer to left field with one out pushed Seattle's lead to 3-0.
Seattle starter Erasmo Ramirez (5-1) tied a season high with seven strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings. He allowed two runs and five hits.
Danny Farquhar threw a scoreless ninth for his 10th save.
Brett Wallace homered for Houston. Lyles allowed three runs in six innings.
ROYALS 3, TWINS 1
MINNEAPOLIS -- Bruce Chen bounced back with a solid start and Kansas City completed a sweep for their fifth straight win.
The Royals outscored Minnesota 17-3 in sweeping the three-game series. They finished the season with a 15-4 record against their AL Central rival.
Chen (6-2) gave up one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings. In his past two starts, he allowed 13 runs in nine innings.
Kelvin Herrera and Will Smith combined for 2 1-3 innings of scoreless relief. Greg Holland pitched a scoreless ninth for his 36th save in 38 chances.
Brian Dozier homered for Minnesota, which has totaled just six runs during its five-game skid. Samuel Deduno (8-8) allowed three runs in three innings before leaving because of soreness in his right shoulder.
Alcides Escobar, Chris Getz and Alex Gordon hit RBI singles for the Royals.