Recap: Seattle vs. Oakland

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Texas Rangers (86-73) at Seattle Mariners (83-76), 10:10 p.m.

Two American League West teams that showed improvement in 2009 wrap up their respective seasons with a three-game set that starts tonight at Safeco Field, where the Seattle Mariners will host the Texas Rangers.

Seattle has put together one of the most noticeable turnarounds of the year, rebounding strongly from a brutal 61-101 2008 campaign to enter this final series with 83 wins. Texas was in the thick of the AL playoff race until fading down the stretch and has compiled an 86-73 record thus far, the franchise's most victories since winning 89 times in 2004.

The Mariners have been the hotter of the two clubs of late, having just produced a three-game home sweep of Oakland that was capped by Thursday's 4-2 triumph. Rookie Doug Fister threw seven outstanding innings to lead the way, while both Adrian Beltre and Mike Sweeney knocked in a pair of runs to pace Seattle offensively.

Tigers take 2-0 lead in AL series

Alexis Gomez hit a two-run homer and a two-run single in his first postseason game, and the Detroit Tigers took a two-game lead in the AL championship series with an 8-5 win over the Oakland Athletics Wednesday night.

Craig Monroe had two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers as they erased an early two-run deficit with seven RBIs from the bottom three hitters in their lineup. And the most remarkable production of all came from a highly unlikely source.

Gomez split the season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo, driving in just six runs for the Tigers in the entire regular season before making the postseason roster as a spare outfielder.

Buck stops at third twice; Royals double up Blue Jays

John Buck, a 230-pound catcher, tripled twice and drove in five runs, and the Kansas City Royals turned six double plays during an 8-6 victory Thursday against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

The Royals took three of four from Toronto, which hit town Monday leading the AL East with the best record in the majors.

The Royals hadn't turned six double plays since 1972 but grounded into six themselves just last week in Cleveland.

LSU edges Texas in 11th, 7-6

Mikie Mahtook singled in the winning run in the top of the 11th inning after DJ LeMahieu tied the score in the ninth, and LSU survived Texas' five home runs to beat the Longhorns 7-6 in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Monday night.

LSU (55-16) would win its sixth national title with a victory over the Longhorns (49-15-1) tonight.

LeMahieu walked leading off the 11th against Brandon Workman (3-4), stole second with two outs and took third when catcher Cameron Rupp's throw went into center field. After Micah Gibbs walked, Mahtook singled into center field for the go-ahead run.

Oakland Athletics (75-83) at Seattle Mariners (82-76), 10:10 p.m.

The Oakland Athletics will finish in last place in the American League West this season. However, there is some reason for optimism in the Bay Area.

A big reason for the high hopes heading into next season takes the hill this evening when Brett Anderson puts the finishing touches on an impressive rookie campaign, as the Athletics try and avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.

Anderson won his fourth straight start last Thursday against Texas, holding the Rangers to three runs (one earned) and six hits in 5 2/3 innings, upping his record to 11-10 on the season to go along with a 4.12 earned run average.