MINNEAPOLIS — Michael Cuddyer hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, lifting the Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals, 5-4, yesterday and pushing the AL Central race to the final day.

The Twins (85-76) moved into a tie with first-place Detroit, which lost to the Chicago White Sox, 5-1, yesterday.

If the Tigers and Twins are still tied at the end of today, there will be a one-game playoff Tuesday at the Metrodome.

Joe Mauer delivered his biggest hit in an MVP-caliber season, a two-out single off Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke that broke a scoreless tie in the sixth. The Twins took a 4-0 lead before the Royals rallied to tie it.

Cuddyer hit his 31st homer of the season off Dusty Hughes (0-2).

"This is what it's all about," Cuddyer said. "When you break spring training, you hope to experience this. All 162 games are going to count. You can't go wrong with that."

Jon Rauch (5-1) went one inning for the win and Joe Nathan got a brilliant diving catch from Denard Span in right field to help him pick up his 47th save.

White Sox 5, Tigers 1: Freddy Garcia (3-4) gave up one run, six hits and struck out seven in seven-plus innings to lift Chicago over host Detroit.

The Tigers are in danger of becoming the first team to be in first place on May 10 and stay atop a division until losing the title in the last week.

Angels 4, Athletics 2: Scott Kazmir pitched five scoreless innings, Robb Quinlan drove in three runs and Los Angeles beat host Oakland.

Kazmir (10-9) gave up three hits in his final playoff tuneup. Brian Fuentes pitched a scoreless ninth for his major league-leading 48th save.

Rays 5, Yankees 3: Dioner Navarro hit a two-run homer and rookie Jeff Niemann (13-6) allowed two runs and six hits in five innings as host Tampa beat New York.

Navarro homered off Andy Pettitte (14-8) in a three-run second inning.

Red Sox 11, Indians 6: Victor Martinez hit a grand slam against his former team and host Boston beat Cleveland despite a shaky outing by Josh Beckett.

After missing his previously scheduled start with back spasms, Beckett (17-6) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings in his final postseason tuneup.

Orioles 6, Blue Jays 3: Mark Hendrickson (6-5) won his first start since April, Jeff Fiorentino drove in two runs and host Baltimore beat Toronto for its third straight victory.

Earlier in the day, Toronto fired general manager J.P. Ricciardi after eight seasons and promoted 32-year-old assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos.

Mariners 2, Rangers 1: Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 630th career home run to help host Seattle beat Texas.

Griffey opened the fourth inning with a line shot over the right-field wall, his 19th this season, against Tommy Hunter (9-6). Griffey has three home runs in his past four games.