DETROIT — Those pesky Twins forced the Detroit Tigers to keep their champagne on ice.

Scott Baker got plenty of run support and pitched Minnesota to a testy 8-3 victory yesterday, preventing the Tigers from clinching their first division title in 22 years.

Minnesota avoided elimination from the playoff race and moved within two games of the first-place Tigers with three to play.

"We just didn't want to see them celebrating," Twins outfielder Denard Span said.

The teams wound up splitting their crucial four-game series. The Tigers had a chance to wrap up their first division crown since 1987 in the finale, but their bats were quieted and their pitchers got roughed up in a three-run third inning and a four-run eighth.

Tempers flared late in the game, too.

Detroit manager Jim Leyland was ejected during a face-to-face argument with umpire Angel Hernandez in the eighth inning after Minnesota's Jose Mijares threw behind Adam Everett.

Both benches and bullpens emptied in the ninth after Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman plunked Delmon Young in the leg, but there was no pushing or punching.

RANGERS 11, ANGELS 3

Chris Davis homered and drove in three runs, and Julio Borbon triggered a six-run sixth inning with an RBI single as visiting Texas roughed up playoff-bound Los Angeles.

RED SOX 3, INDIANS 0

Jon Lester (15-8) gave up two hits in 6 1/3 innings as host Boston ended a six-game slide, while extending Cleveland's losing streak to 12.

ORIOLES 3, RAYS 2

Chris Waters allowed one run over five innings in his first start of the season, helping visiting Baltimore stop a 13-game losing streak.

MARINERS 4, ATHLETICS 2

Mike Sweeney hit a two-run single in a three-run fifth inning which gave host Seattle at 4-1 lead en route to beating Oakland.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 13, REDS 0

Chris Carpenter (17-4) threw five innings of three-hit ball, hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as visiting St. Louis routed Cincinnati.

GIANTS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 3

Tim Lincecum (15-7) gave up two runs and two hits over seven inning in his final start of the season as San Francisco finished its home schedule.

ASTROS 5, PHILLIES 3

Miguel Tejada homered to extend his hitting streak to 18 games and Lance Berkman had a two-run double to lead visiting Houston.

NATIONALS 2, BRAVES 1

Pete Orr hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning and visiting Washington beat Atlanta, hours after the Braves were eliminated from playoff contention.

PIRATES-CUBS

Pittsburgh's game at Chicago was called in the top of the fourth inning after a rain delay of 2 hours, 32 minutes and will not be made up.