Instant reversal

Baseball’s instant replay system produced its first reversal Friday night when Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena had a two-run double changed to a three-run homer during the fourth inning against Minnesota at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Pena’s drive to right field off Boof Bonser appeared to be touched by a fan before bouncing off the top of the fence.

First base umpire Mike DiMuro signaled fan interference, bringing both managers out of the dugout.

The umpires huddled immediately and decided to look at the video for the third test of the system since Aug. 28, when baseball allowed umpires to use it determine boundary calls.

“The thought was the fan reached over and definitely made contact with the ball,” DiMuro said.

It took 4 minutes, 10 seconds to reverse the call.

“We saw two angles,” crew chief Gerry Davis said. “The first one was inconclusive. The second one was the one that showed it.”

A.L. highlights

Rays 11, Twins 1: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Carlos Pena homered and drove in four runs and Tampa Bay routed Minnesota to close in on clinching the first playoff berth in franchise history.

The East leaders moved within one win of wrapping up at least a wild-card spot.

Angels 15, Rangers 13: At Arlington, Texas, Torii Hunter homered and drove in four runs, Kendry Morales and Mike Napoli hit back-to-back homers and the West champion Angels had a season-high 22 hits to beat the Rangers.

Red Sox 4, Blue Jays 3: At Toronto, Jason Varitek drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and Boston moved one step closer to a playoff berth with a victory over the Blue Jays.

Boston stayed 1 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the East and opened a 7 1/2 -game lead in the wild-card race over Minnesota.

N.L. highlights

Mets 9, Braves 5: At Atlanta, pinch-hitter Daniel Murphy delivered a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning and New York regained first place in the East by beating the Braves.

The Mets have a 1/2 -game lead over Philadelphia after the Phillies fell 14-8 to the Florida Marlins at Miami.

Reds 11, Brewers 2: At Cincinnati, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce each hit a pair of homers, and the Reds piled up seven overall against a tattered pitching staff, rolling to a victory that dealt another major setback to Milwaukee’s playoff chances.

Cardinals 12, Cubs 6: At Chicago, Adam Kennedy capped a five-run first with a grand slam, and St. Louis beat the Cubs, slowing their march toward a second straight division title.

Clearing the bases

Blue Jays right-hander Shaun Marcum needs ligament replacement surgery in his right elbow, and is expected to miss the entire 2009 season. … Mike Lowell is expected to miss Boston’s weekend series against the Blue Jays because of a sore hip, leaving the Red Sox without their third baseman as they close in on a playoff berth. … Right-hander Ben Sheets rested his sore pitching elbow, hoping the pain subsides enough to let him start a game in Milwaukee’s final regular-season series next weekend. … The Triple-A Buffalo Bisons are expected to announce Monday that the Mets will be their new parent club next season. … The Mets won a coin flip with the Brewers and would host a tiebreaker for the N.L. wild card on Sept. 29, if necessary.