Elimination Closer for Red Sox

Tony Batista had his fifth consecutive multi-hit game and the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox, 5-1, Monday night, assuring the New York Yankees of at least a tie for the American League East title.

The Yankees, idle Monday, are 89-60. With 14 games left, the Red Sox can win no more than 89.

New York can clinch the division championship tonight with a win at home over Tampa Bay or a Boston loss to Baltimore.

Seattle 9, Texas 3--Jamie Moyer won his 10th consecutive decision and John Olerud hit a tiebreaking two-run double as the West Division champion Mariners ended a four-game losing streak at Arlington, Texas.

Olerud’s double off Doug Davis (10-9) with two out in the third broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Mariners their first lead in 36 innings--since the second inning of their loss to the Angels on Thursday that started their longest losing streak of the season.

Moyer (19-5) joined 12 other active pitchers with 150 victories. He is unbeaten in 13 starts since losing to San Francisco on July 13.

Toronto 3, Cleveland 2--Raul Mondesi hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning off Danys Baez (5-2) to lift the Blue Jays at Cleveland in the first meeting of the season between the teams.

Under baseball’s new unbalanced schedule and with one week of the season postponed because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the former division rivals didn’t play until Toronto’s 150th game and the 151st for Cleveland.

Detroit 4, Kansas City 2--Steve Sparks stopped the Royals for eight innings and the Tigers ended a nine-game losing streak at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Sparks (12-9) set a career high for victories.

Matt Anderson worked a perfect ninth for his 20th save. His streak of converting 20 consecutive save chances is the majors’ longest active string.