Javier Vazquez missed a golden opportunity to help the White Sox put away those pesky Twins.

Vazquez lasted just four innings in a 9-3 loss to Minnesota that pulled the Twins within 1 1/2 games of Chicago in the AL Central race on Tuesday night.

Boston’s win ensured that Derek Jeter won’t be playing in October for the first time in his career. Even though the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 3-1, New York was eliminated from playoff contention after 13 straight postseason appearances.

“It basically boils down to we weren’t good enough,” Jeter said. “That’s the only way you can put it. Our team didn’t play well enough the whole season in order to get to where we needed to be. It’s a huge disappointment. That’s pretty much all you can say.”

In other AL games, it was: Tampa Bay 5, Baltimore 2, 1st game; Tampa Bay 7, Baltimore 5, 2nd game; Texas 6, Oakland 4; Kansas City 5, Detroit 0; and Seattle 9, Los Angeles 6.

At Minneapolis, Vazquez (12-15) gave up five runs and seven hits, including a two-run homer and a triple to Jason Kubel, whose Twins practically need a sweep to position themselves for a fifth division title in seven years.

“I know Javy is a good pitcher,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “You don’t pitch that many innings and strike out 200 batters and not be a good pitcher. We didn’t help him out much today.”

Kubel went 3-for-4 with two homers in the game, going back-to-back with Delmon Young off Boone Logan in the seventh to put the game out of reach and start this crucial three-game series in emphatic fashion.

“If we lost tonight, that’s almost the season right there,” Kubel said. “It’s one we really needed to have and it just sets up the rest of the series and gives us extra confidence after tonight.”

Yankees 3, Blue Jays 1

At Toronto, Mike Mussina pitched five shutout innings to earn his 19th win and Jason Giambi homered. It wasn’t enough to keep New York’s slim postseason hopes alive.

Mussina said New York’s elimination had felt inevitable for some time.

“We’ve been disappointed for a little longer than just today,” Mussina said. “It’s been a tough summer for us. We expected more out of ourselves than what has happened.”

Rays 5, Orioles 2        Rays 7, Orioles 5

At Baltimore, Tampa Bay reduced its magic number to win the AL East to two with a franchise first: a doubleheader sweep.

After James Shields pitched seven effective innings in the opener, the Rays rallied to win the nightcap, that combined with Boston’s victory over Cleveland, left them three games ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East in pursuit of their first division title.

In the second game, Tampa Bay trailed 5-1 before Evan Longoria homered and pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro singled in two runs off Jamie Walker (1-3) in a six-run eighth.

Royals 5, Tigers 0

At Detroit, Zack Greinke (13-10) and Leo Nunez combined on a four-hitter to lift Kansas City.

Mike Aviles, Ryan Shealy and Alex Gordon homered for Kansas City, which has won 10 of its last 12.

Freddy Garcia (1-1) gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings.

Rangers 6, Athletics 4

At Arlington, Texas, Hank Blalock hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh and Texas snapped its five-game losing streak. Jack Cust and Travis Buck homered for Oakland.

, which had won four straight and eight of nine.