Rays Lose; Braves Stay Hot In MLB

The Detroit Tigers increase their lead in the American League Central division after beating the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 Tuesday night in St. Petersburg.

Detroit now leads Cleveland by six games after the Tribe split a doubleheader with Seattle.

In other AL games, Boston pounds Texas 11-5 as Oakland downed New York 6-5 so Boston and New York are now tied for the top spot in the AL East. Kansas City stops Toronto 6-4; Baltimore pounds Minnesota 8-1 and the LA Angels top Chicago 6-5.

In the National League, Atlanta wins its sixth straight, beating Chicago 5-4. Philadelphia pounds New York again 9-4; Cincinnati takes care of Florida 8-6; Ian Kennedy wins his 16th game as Arizona blanks Washington 2-0 and Clayton Kershaw wins his 16th as Los Angeles beats St.Louis 13-2.

Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh 9-4 while Colorado downs Houston 8-6 and San Diego tops San Francisco 7-5.