A’s aim and miss again

The Oakland Athletics stalled in their bid to clinch an A.L. wild-card spot, losing to the last-place Texas Rangers 5-4 in Arlington, Texas on Saturday on home runs by rookie Jake Smolinski and Robinson Chirinos.

The A’s needed to win or have Seattle lose in order to clinch a playoff slot for the third straight year. The Mariners won in the evening, meaning the final wild card spot comes down to today’s games.

Jeff Samardzija (5-6) faced spot starter Scott Baker after Derek Holland was a late scratch with a migraine headache.

The Rangers used eight pitchers to beat the A’s for the fifth time in six games since last week. Spencer Patton (1-0), the fourth reliever, got his first major league win and Neftali Feliz earned his 13th save.

Twins 12, Tigers 3

Eduardo Escobar had a homer, four hits and a career-high six RBIs, and Minnesota ensured that the A.L. Central race will come down to the very end with a rout of host Detroit.

The Tigers entered the night with a one-game lead over second-place Kansas City, but Detroit fell short of clinching. Minnesota scored six runs in the fifth. Escobar and Eric Fryer both hit two-run singles during that big rally, and Escobar added a three-run homer in the eighth.

White Sox 5, Royals 4

Jose Abreu hit a two-run homer, and Chicago kept visiting Kansas City out of first place in the A.L. Central.

Danny Duffy (9-12) lasted only two innings for the Royals. He allowed four runs, five hits and one walk. The White Sox jumped on him, scoring three runs in the first inning. Abreu capped the rally with his 36th home run.

Abreu broke a 31-year-old franchise record for the most homers in a season by a rookie, previously held by Ron Kittle. They are the most by a rookie since St. Louis’ Albert Pujols hit 37 in 2001.

National League

Reds 10, Pirates 6

Pittsburgh’s N.L. Central chances were hurt when Todd Frazier had a tying two-run homer in the seventh inning and Ramon Santiago hit a grand slam in the 10th, powering host Cincinnati to victory.

Jordy Mercer homered, and Neil Walker drove in three runs with a bases-loaded single and a triple as the Pirates pulled ahead 6-4 but couldn’t hold on.

D-backs 5, Cardinals 2

Mark Trumbo homered twice and Arizona prevented St. Louis from clinching the N.L. Central title with a victory in Phoenix.

The Cardinals secured at least a tie for the division crown when Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati, but they need to win or have the Pirates lose today to finish alone in first place.

If the Cardinals and Pirates tie, they would meet in a one-game playoff.

Twenty-game winner Adam Wainwright will take the mound today in the regular-season finale for the Cardinals.

Trumbo’s three-run shot off Seth Maness (6-4) broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning. Trumbo and David Peralta had solo shots in the first.