KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer, Jason Vargas pitched into the seventh inning and Kansas City beat Texas, 4-1, to finish a three-game sweep.
Vargas (11-7) stranded four runners in scoring position before turning over a two-on, two-out mess to Kelvin Herrera, who escaped the jam. Louis Coleman gave up a run in the eighth before Wade Davis finished the inning. Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his 42nd save.
The victory, along with Detroit’s loss to Cleveland, allowed the first-place Royals to extend their lead to 1 1/2 games over the Tigers in the AL Central.
Cardinals 1, Pirates 0
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Peter Bourjos singled home the winning run in the ninth inning, and St. Louis beat Pittsburgh to stretch its winning streak to five.
St. Louis moved into sole possession of the NL Central lead for the first time Monday.