SEATTLE — Add another achievement to the Tampa Bay Rays' remarkable season: the return of outfielder Rocco Baldelli.

Oh, and that franchise-record 71st victory was pretty significant too.

Willy Aybar homered twice, including a three-run shot, Shawn Riggans added a three-run homer of his own, and Baldelli returned after missing more than a year with various injuries and ailments in the Rays' 11-3 rout of the Seattle Mariners yesterday.

"I've said it before, there were times I didn't know if I was going to be playing anymore. I honestly didn't know," Baldelli said after going 1 for 4.

Tampa Bay bettered its previous best record of 70-92 in 2004. The Rays improved to 71-46 by taking three of four in Seattle and own a 4 1/2-game lead over Boston in the AL East, their largest advantage since July 6.

"It's going to take more than that," manager Joe Maddon said bluntly afterward.

Edwin Jackson won his fourth straight start, scattering seven hits and a run over seven strong innings, striking out two. Jackson (9-7) allowed only Jose Lopez's solo homer leading off the second.

Meanwhile, the Rays learned they'll be without outfield star Carl Crawford (injured hand) for at least two weeks, and possibly longer.

Angels 4, Yankees 3: Chone Figgins hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth inning against Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, and host Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep of New York. Howie Kendrick led off the ninth with a single against Damaso Marte (0-2). After Gary Matthews Jr. struck out, Marte walked Mike Napoli and Figgins grounded Rivera's first pitch into right field to end it.

White Sox 6, Red Sox 5: Carlos Quentin hit his American League-leading 32nd homer, Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye connected, and host Chicago beat Boston. Gavin Floyd (12-6) got the win, allowing five runs and seven hits while striking out six and walking one in 5 1/3 innings. He is 7-1 after White Sox losses.

Indians 4, Blue Jays 0: Cliff Lee (16-2) worked eight shutout innings for his American League-leading 16th win and Cleveland completed a three-game sweep of host Toronto. Lee won his fifth straight decision and has not lost since a 4-3 defeat at Minnesota on July 6.

Tigers 6, Athletics 1: Nate Robertson (7-8) won for the first time since June 21, allowing five hits in 7 2/3 innings to lift host Detroit over Oakland. Curtis Granderson homered and Magglio Ordonez drove in two runs for Detroit, which took two of three from the A's.

Rangers 15, Orioles 7: Ian Kinsler had a career-high five hits, including a homer, and Texas matched its season-high with 20 hits to beat host Baltimore. Josh Hamilton hit his 28th homer and Marlon Byrd went 4 for 6 with a homer and four RBIs for the Rangers. Baltimore's Aubrey Huff homered to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 18 games.

Royals 5, Twins 4: Tony Pena Jr.'s one-out single in the 12th inning drove in Mark Teahen with the winning run as host Kansas City beat Minnesota. The Royals snapped a four-game losing streak. The Twins dropped a half-game back of the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Diamondbacks 6, Braves 1: Brandon Webb (17-4) allowed one run and six hits over six innings for his major league-leading 17th win and also hit a two-run double to lead host Arizona over Atlanta. Chris Snyder homered for the Diamondbacks, who snapped a four-game losing streak to remain in first place in the NL West.

Giants 5, Dodgers 4: Aaron Rowand scored from third on Eugenio Velez's two-out infield single off Hong-Chih Kuo (3-2) in the ninth, and host San Francisco rallied past Los Angeles for the second straight game. Jack Taschner (3-1) pitched one inning of relief to earn the win.

Padres 16, Rockies 7: San Diego hit four home runs, Brian Giles and Adrian Gonzalez finished with four hits each and San Diego beat host Colorado and spoiled Livan Hernandez's return to the National League. Hernandez (0-1), who was claimed off waivers by the Rockies on Wednesday, allowed nine runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Brewers 5, Nationals 4: Gabe Kapler homered off the pole in left leading off the 13th inning and host Milwaukee came back from a late three-run deficit to beat Washington. Kapler's shot off Luis Ayala (1-8) gave Milwaukee its fifth consecutive victory.

Phillies 6, Pirates 3: Chase Utley hit a tie-breaking homer, and host Philadelphia went on to beat Pittsburgh and move two games ahead of the New York Mets in the NL East. Philadelphia's Greg Dobbs added his major league-leading 21st pinch hit with an RBI double, setting a new club record. Dobbs is 21 for 51 as a pinch-hitter this season.

Marlins 8, Mets 2: Josh Johnson (3-0) gave up two runs and five hits through seven innings and Dan Uggla had two doubles and three RBIs as Florida avoided a three-game sweep at New York. Luis Gonzalez and Mike Jacobs each homered for Florida.

Astros 13, Reds 4: Michael Bourn homered and drove in a career-high four runs and Lance Berkman and Geoff Blum also went deep as Houston routed host Cincinnati. Wandy Rodriguez (7-4) retired the first 14 batters he faced and pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and two runs for Houston.

Cubs 6, Cardinals 2: Ryan Dempster (13-5) took a shutout into the seventh and host Chicago beat St. Louis 6-2 in a game in which Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter left with another injury. Carpenter (0-1), making his third start since opening day last year, left the game during the inning with a strained right triceps. The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner underwent elbow ligament replacement surgery in July 2007.

NOTES

Diamondbacks: Arizona second baseman Orlando Hudson underwent surgery late Saturday night to repair a dislocated bone in his left wrist and will miss the remainder of the season.

Red Sox: Boston knuckleballer Tim Wakefield will miss at least two starts and go on the disabled list because of a stiff right shoulder, manager Terry Francona said yesterday.