Justin Verlander took a shutout into the ninth inning, allowing just three hits and worked out of the one jam he faced, and the Houston Astros created some cushion in the AL playoff chase with a 5-1 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Robbie Ray was tagged for home runs by Shea Langeliers, Cristian Pache and Nick Allen, and the Seattle Mariners hopes of hosting the AL wild-card series took a serious blow in a 10-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Seattle's Luis Castillo got chased as the Kansas City Royals erupted for 11 runs in the sixth inning for a 13-12 win. That could cost the Mariners a chance to move up in the AL wild-card standings.