DETROIT ? A steady rain provided the perfect backdrop for Detroit’s depressing season.

Michael Cuddyer hit the first pitch of the 11th inning into the left-field seats and the Minnesota Twins beat Detroit, 5-4, Friday night, putting the Tigers one defeat away from tying the modern-day record for losses.

If Detroit (41-119) loses today or Sunday against the Twins, the Tigers will tie the post-1900 record of 120 losses set by the 1962 New York Mets.

“I don’t want it to happen, but I don’t know what else I can do or they can do right now,” Detroit manager Alan Trammell said. “Honestly, if we do win the next two games, yeah great, but with 119 losses, we’re still going to be talked about. But this week has really been uplifting to watch this effort.”

Lew Ford’s double gave Minnesota a 4-3 lead in the 10th, but the suddenly scrappy Tigers, who had won three straight, tied it in on Shane Halter’s RBI single.

Mariners 9, Athletics 3

Seattle — Joel Pineiro beat AL West champion Oakland for the fourth time this season and Mike Cameron homered. The Athletics’ loss clinched home-field advantage for the New York Yankees throughout the AL playoffs. Pineiro (16-11) improved his career record against the A’s to 6-1, including 4-0 in 2003.

Yankees 11-2, Orioles 2-3

New York — Yankees rookie Jorge De Paula took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his first major-league start, but New York was denied its 100th win as Baltimore rallied for a 3-2 victory in 10 innings and a doubleheader split.

Angels 5, Rangers 3

Anaheim, Calif. — Tim Salmon hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth as Anaheim beat Texas. Derrick Turnbow (2-0) pitched two perfect innings after relieving starter Aaron Sele.

Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 2

St. Petersburg, Fla. — Pedro Martinez threw three scoreless innings in his final playoff tuneup, and Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer as Boston beat Tampa Bay. With their 17th win in 24 games, the Red Sox improved to 95-65 — the first time Boston has won that many since 1986.

Indians 2, Blue Jays 1

Toronto — Jason Stanford pitched six scoreless innings for his first major-league win as Cleveland beat Toronto.