The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Another poor second half is likely to leave the Seattle Mariners out of the playoffs for a second straight season.

John Lackey pitched a five-hitter and rookie Tom Gregorio had a two-run single as the Anaheim Angels beat Seattle 4-0 Wednesday, pushing the Mariners to the brink of postseason elimination.

Seattle's seventh loss in 11 games meant Boston clinched no worse than a tie for the AL wild-card berth.

For the Mariners to make the playoffs, Boston would have to lose its final four games, and Seattle would have to sweep a three-game series against Oakland, then beat the Red Sox in a tiebreaker playoff.

The Mariners led Oakland by eight games in the AL West on June 13. By Aug. 27, the Athletics overtook them. Last season, the Mariners were ahead of the A's by five games before losing the lead for good Aug. 23.

Orioles 7, Red Sox 3

BOSTON - Boston would have clinched a wild-card berth with a win, but Tony Batista hit a grand slam off John Burkett (11-9) in a seven-run Baltimore first inning that put the game out of reach.

White Sox 9, Yankees 4

CHICAGO - Esteban Loaiza (20-9) became the fifth 20-game winner of the season, allowing three runs and five hits in six innings for Chicago. He joined Toronto's Roy Halladay (21-7), Seattle's Jamie Moyer (20-7), Atlanta's Russ Ortiz (20-7) and the Yankees' Andy Pettitte (20-8).

Mike Mussina (17-8), bidding for his 200th career victory, gave up a season-high eight runs - all in the sixth inning.

Athletics 5, Rangers 3

OAKLAND, Calif. - Jose Guillen, playing with a broken bone in his left hand, hit a two-run homer for the AL West champions and bunted home the go-ahead run.

Blue Jays 5, Devil Rays 3

TORONTO - Kelvim Escobar (13-9) tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts in what might have been his last start for Toronto. Escobar, eligible for free agency after this season, allowed two runs, eight hits and five walks in seven innings.

Twins 3, Indians 2

MINNEAPOLIS - Michael Cuddyer hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and Minnesota, the AL Central champion, won its 11th straight game. It was the Twins' team-record 13th in a row at home.

Tigers 4, Royals 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Detroit (40-118) remained two losses short of the post-1900 major-league record, set by the 1962 New York Mets (40-120).