MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Tigers gave themselves a little breathing room in the AL Central.

Placido Polanco drove in three runs, Detroit's bullpen pitched four shutout innings and the Tigers avoided a three-game sweep with a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins yesterday to increase their division lead to three games.

Ryan Raburn homered for slumping Detroit, which won for the second time in six games and fourth in 13.

"We needed this one," pitcher Nate Robertson said. "You play here and the Twins get the first two, they sniff sweep. I've seen it a few times."

Minnesota, which had won six straight, got two hits from Joe Mauer, who increased his average to a major league-best .374.

The teams meet again for four games at Comerica Park beginning Sept. 28. That will wrap up a 10-game road trip for Minnesota, and begin a seven-game, final-week homestand for the Tigers, who have three games each in Cleveland and Chicago before going home.

Robertson (2-2) allowed five hits and two earned runs in five innings.

Zach Miner, Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney combined to allow two singles in four scoreless innings for Detroit.

MARINERS 7, YANKEES 1:

Ken Griffey Jr. homered and drove in four runs, putting host New York's playoff party on hold. The loss prevented New York from clinching a spot in the postseason. Seattle took two of three from the Yankees, who lead the AL East by five games over Boston with 12 to play.

RED SOX 9, ORIOLES 3:

Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury both homered and drove in three runs to lead visiting Boston past Baltimore. Bay's 35th homer tied a career high, and the three RBIs gave him a career-best 110.

ROYALS 2, WHITE SOX 1:

Robinson Tejeda won his third straight start and visiting Kansas City beat Chicago. Tejeda (4-1) allowed one run and three hits in six innings. Since moving from the bullpen to the starting rotation Sept. 4, Tejeda is 3-0.

RAYS 3, BLUE JAYS 1:

David Price allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings, Carl Crawford hit a two-run homer and host Tampa Bay beat Toronto. Price (9-7) gave up three hits. Crawford put the Rays up 2-0 with his 14th homer of the season in the first.

ATHLETICS 11, INDIANS 4:

Adam Kennedy had three hits and drove in three runs to help host Oakland match its season-high seven-game win streak. Ryan Sweeney added two RBIs as the A's improved to 12-2 in their last 14 games.

ANGELS 10, RANGERS 5:

Howie Kendrick drove in five runs with a two-run homer and a bases-loaded triple for visiting Los Angeles. The Angels' Gary Matthews Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer and a two-run single.