Yankees rout Red Sox, Orioles rally against Blue Jays

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Sabathia allowed just two runs and three hits, while claiming eight strikeouts over six innings against the World Series champions at Fenway Park.

Thursday's rout saw the Yankees, the American League's East division leaders, clinch an entertaining three-game set in Boston after slipping up in game two.

An eventful series was capped off by Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda earning a 10-game suspension for "possessing a foreign substance on his person" during Wednesday's 5-1 loss.

Pineda was ejected by umpire Gerry Davis for pine tar use in the second inning. The 25-year-old will not appeal the decision.

The Yankees remain just over a game ahead of Baltimore after the Orioles routed the Toronto Blue Jays for a series-clinching win at Rogers Centre.

Toronto had built a 3-0 lead courtesy of Drew Hutchison but the Blue Jays faded dramatically once he departed, with the Orioles blasting nine runs across the seventh and eighth innings.

David Lough scored three times for the road team, while Nick Markakis, Nelson Cruz and Jonathan Schoop all crossed home plate twice.

It was the second straight game Baltimore had overturned a deficit, having trailed Toronto by five runs inside the opening two innings on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on Thursday, Corey Kluber starred with a career-high 11 strikeouts as the Cleveland Indians accounted for the Kansas City Royals 5-1.

Aaron Hicks' three-run homer inspired the Minnesota Twins to a 9-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Detroit Tigers trumped the Chicago White Sox 7-4 courtesy of 10 strikeouts from Max Scherzer, who allowed two runs in six innings.

Ryan Ludwick lined up a two-run double as the in-form Cincinnati Reds edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1.

The Arizona Diamondbacks ran out 5-2 winners against the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets overcame the St Louis Cardinals 4-1.

In other results, the San Diego Padres needed 12 innings to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3.

The high-flying Oakland Athletics flexed their muscles against the Houston Astros, recording an emphatic 10-1 win, while the Philadelphia Phillies were too good for the Los Angeles Angels 7-3.

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