The Dodgers clinched their first National League West championship in four yea trouble after losing their eighth straight game Aug. 29, a 9-3 setback at Arizona that gave the Diamondbacks a 4½-game lead in the division. But with inseason acquisition Manny Ramirez leading the way, they turned things around and won 18 of 23 games - including five straight over the Diamondbacks. Ramirez is hitting .393 with 17 homers and 53 RBIs in 51 games with the Dodgers. Jake Peavy (10-11) allowing three runs in five innings for the win and Trevor Hoffman worked a hitless ninth for his 29th save. Cardinals 12, Diamondbacks 3: At. St. Louis, the Diamondbacks' loss to St. Louis ended Arizona's playoffs chances. Arizona (79-80) led the division by 4 1/2 games before play on Aug. 29, then lost 11 of 14 as Los Angeles took control of the NL West. The Diamondbacks won seven of eight to regain some faint hope before dropping their final three games in a four-game series against the Cardinals. Albert Pujols had a three-run homer and four RBIs to back Joel Pineiro (7-7), who allowed three runs and three hits over seven innings. St. Louis had been eliminated from postseason contention on Tuesday. Brewers 5, Pirates 1, 10 innings: At Milwaukee, Ryan Braun hit a grand slam in the 10th inning and Milwaukee finished a sweep of Pittsburgh to remain tied with New York in the NL wild-card race. Eds: Mets 7, Cubs 6: At New York, Carlos Beltran singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth and New York rallied for the win over Chicago that kept it tied for the wild-card lead. New York tied it in the eighth on hits by Ramon Martinez and third-string catcher Robinson Cancel. Astros 8, Reds 6: At Houston, Roy Oswalt allowed two hits and struck out three in six innings to keep Houston barely alive for the wild card. The Astros remained 3 1/2 games behind New York and Milwaukee. One more Houston loss or victory by either the Mets or Brewers will eliminate the Astros. Rockies 3, Giants 1: At San Francisco, Clint Barmes homered for the second straight game, pitcher Jorge De La Rosa hit an RBI single and Colorado completed a three-game sweep of San Francisco. Tigers halt Tampa Bay The Tampa Bay Rays' bid for their first American League division crown was delayed by a 7-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. Having already secured no worse than a wild-card berth, the Rays would have clinched the American League East division with a victory. Their first title would be assured if second-place Boston lost to Cleveland later Thursday. Scott Kazmir (12-8) allowed four homers, two to Ramon Santiago, and six hits in five innings, struck out eight and walked two. He allowed four homers for the second time in three starts - the only times he's allowed four in a game in his career. Ben Zobrist homered twice and had four RBIs for the Rays, headed to their first playoff appearance. Red Sox 6, Indians 1: At Boston, Jon Lester flirted with a no-hitter in his final tuneup before the playoffs, allowing two hits over six innings for Boston. Kevin Youkilis was 2-for-3 with his 28th homer for the Red Sox, who retained a mathematical chance of winning the AL East - if they win their last three games of the season and Tampa Bay loses its last three. Lester, who threw a no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19, missed the chance to become the fifth pitcher in history with two in a season when Josh Barfield lined a clean double to left to lead off the sixth. Lester (16-6) also gave up an RBI single to Jamey Carroll. Blue Jays 8, Yankees 2: At Toronto, Roy Halladay pitched his major league-leading ninth complete game to become the AL's second 20-game winner as Toronto downed New York. Twins 7, White Sox 6, 10 innings: At Minneapolis, Alexi Casilla singled in the winning run in the 10th inning and Minnesota completed its three-game sweep of Chicago that moved the Twins into first place in the AL Central. Angels 6, Mariners 4: At Seattle, Vladimir Guerrero hit two home runs - including a two-run shot in the ninth inning - and Los Angeles downed Seattle to move closer to securing home field throughout the playoffs.
