Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher James Shields throws in the third inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in St. Petersburg , Fla.

The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are set for another big series at Fenway Park this weekend. Once again, it could go a long way toward deciding who makes the playoffs.

As the wild card, if the Rays keep playing like this.

Ben Zobrist homered and drove in two runs — then was rewarded by getting shipped back to the minors — and James Shields pitched into the ninth inning, helping the AL East-leading Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday.

The win kept the Rays a half-game in front of the Red Sox, who needed 12 innings to beat the Seattle Mariners 6-3. And despite winning six in a row and 10 straight at home, the Yankees are still 3½ games back in the division after a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.

"It was important to get deep into the game," said Shields, who gave up seven hits and all three runs while striking out seven in 8 1-3 innings. "I knew our team was going to eventually score some runs."

In other American League games, it was Detroit 7, Kansas City 1; the Chicago White Sox 10, Texas 8, and the Los Angeles Angels 14, Cleveland 11.

The game between the Blue Jays and the Baltimore Orioles was suspended by rain with the Blue Jays leading 2-1 in the sixth inning. Play will resume Thursday before the finale of the four-game series.

Jonny Gomes hit a two-run shot and Zobrist homered on the next pitch off Greg Smith in the fifth, giving the Rays a 3-2 lead. Gomes is just 6-for-42 over his last 24 games, but four of the hits have been homers.

Zobrist, the No. 9 hitter, has hit all five of his homers this season in his last 16 games, but it wasn't enough to keep him with the big club. He was optioned to Triple-A Durham afterward to make room for starting shortstop Jason Bartlett, who is expected to be activated Thursday after missing 16 games with a strained right knee.

"I understand," Zobrist said. "I know the way that is. I'm glad I got the chance to help the team out again today, and glad I could leave on kind of a good note going back down. Hopefully, I'll be back up here soon."

Troy Percival replaced Shields in the ninth and got the final two outs for his 20th save in 22 chances. It's the 10th time in his career the right-hander has recorded at least 20 saves.

Smith (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in six-plus innings, dropping to 1-4 over his last six starts. The Athletics have lost seven of eight, including a 1-5 trip following the All-Star break.

"We won one. We were in the position to win two or three," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "We ran into some good pitching, that's for sure."

Red Sox 6, Mariners 3, 12 innings

At Seattle, Mike Lowell hit a two-run single off Sean Green (2-3) in the 12th inning, and the Red Sox took advantage of two outfield errors for their first sweep at Seattle in 15 years.

Jonathan Papelbon (4-3), pitching a third consecutive day, escaped a jam of his own creation in the 11th inning. Craig Hansen worked the 12th for his second save in four chances.

Yankees 5, Twins 1

At New York, Mike Mussina (13-6) baffled the Twins for eight innings, Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run double and the Yankees won their 10th straight at home.

Glen Perkins (7-3) gave up a season-high five runs on eight hits and a walk for Minnesota.

The 10-game winning streak at home is the Yankees' longest since Sept. 9, 1998, to April 14, 1999. They last won 10 in a row at home in a single season from July 26-Aug. 14, 1998.

Tigers 7, Royals 1

At Kansas City, Mo., Armando Galarraga (8-4) carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs and the Tigers wrapped up a three-game sweep.

Galarraga retired the first 18 batters before David DeJesus led off the seventh with a single to right on a full-count pitch. He wound up striking out a career-high seven.

Zack Greinke (7-7) gave up five runs for the Royals, who were outscored 33-6 in the series.

White Sox 10, Rangers 8

At Chicago, Carlos Quentin hit two home runs, including the go-ahead, three-run shot during a five-run eighth inning to help the White Sox rally.

Octavio Dotel (4-4) pitched the eighth, and Bobby Jenks worked the ninth for his 19th save.

Eddie Guardado (1-2) wound up allowing four runs and three hits, retiring only two batters.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen missed the winning rally. He was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with his team trailing 8-4 in the seventh inning.

Angels 14, Indians 11

At Anaheim, Calif., Jeff Mathis had four hits with a career-high six RBIs, including his first grand slam in the majors, and Casey Kotchman had a career-best five hits for the Angels.

John Lackey (8-2) allowed six runs and eight hits over five innings, but was able to call it quits with a 10-6 lead after his teammates scored five runs in the fifth.

Francisco Rodriguez ended up with his major league-leading 42nd save.

Aaron Laffey (5-7) allowed eight runs in four-plus innings for Cleveland.

Blue Jays 2, Orioles 1, Suspended

At Baltimore, the game between the Blue Jays and Orioles was suspended after a delay of more than 90 minutes, and will resume Thursday with two outs in the top of the sixth.

The teams will then play the finale of the four-game series.

Toronto went up 2-1 moments before a thundershower stopped play. Alex Rios led off with a single, stole second and scored on a single by Lyle Overbay. Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie then got two outs before the rain came.