AROUND THE HORN | Tuesday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Mariners 9, Blue Jays 1
TORONTO -- Edgar Martinez hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth and drove in four runs against Kelvim Escobar (9-7), who lost for the first time in seven starts since June 17. Seattle remained four games ahead of second-place Oakland in the AL West. Ryan Franklin (9-10) allowed one run and five hits in six innings.
Rangers 5, Tigers 4
DETROIT -- Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer and tripled as Texas won its seventh straight. Detroit has lost seven straight and 11 of 12, falling a franchise-worst 62 games under .500 at 31-93. The Tigers (31-93) are 6-26 since the All-Star break and have had six losing streaks of seven or more games this year. John Thomson (11-10) improved to 4-0 in his last six starts, giving up four runs and 11 hits in eight-plus innings. Brian Shouse got three outs for his first career save, escaping a two-on, no-outs jam in the ninth. Mike Maroth (6-18) lost for the fifth time in six starts, giving up four runs -- three earned -- and seven hits in 61/3 innings. He is the first pitcher with 18 losses by Aug. 19 since Clyde Wright and Randy Jones in 1974.
Devil Rays 9, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE -- Rocco Baldelli drove in three runs, helping send Baltimore to its eighth straight loss. Julio Lugo and Jared Sandberg homered in a five-run ninth. Jeremi Gonzalez (6-5) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and five hits in 71/3 innings. Eric DuBose (1-3) gave up three runs and nine hits over seven innings in his first start since taking the starting spot of Rick Helling.
White Sox 5, Angels 2
CHICAGO -- Carlos Lee keyed a four-run seventh with a bases-loaded single off Scott Shields (3-4) as Chicago moved within one game first-place Kansas City in the AL Central. Adam Riggs and Alfredo Amezaga hit their first major league homers for the Angels, but Amezaga's throwing error and back-to-back bunt singles helped Chicago break a 1-1 tie in the seventh. Jon Garland (9-9) allowed five hits in eight innings. Tom Gordon pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brewers 6, Phillies 4
MILWAUKEE -- Pinch-hitter Mark Smith hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in the eighth inning after reliever Mike DeJean worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top half, and Milwaukee beat Philadelphia. Jim Thome hit his 34th homer for the Phillies, who had their five-game winning streak snapped. With the score 3-all, Richie Sexson singled off reliever Turk Wendell (3-3) to open the eighth. Brady Clark sacrificed him over and Keith Ginter was intentionally walked to set up a possible double play. Smith, 0-for-4 as a pinch-hitter this season, then hit his first homer of the year and gave Milwaukee a 6-3 lead. DeJean (4-7) came on for Leo Estrella with the bases loaded, none out and the score tied at 3 in the top of the eighth. He struck out Chase Utley and pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee and got Jimmy Rollins to pop out to end the inning.
Astros 12, Cubs 8
HOUSTON -- Jeff Kent homered and drove in six runs, powering Houston over Chicago. Neither starter lasted into the fifth. Jeriome Robertson allowed five runs on five hits in three innings, while Chicago's Matt Clement (10-11) pitched four innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits. Clement struck out three and walked four. With the game tied at 5 in the fourth, Kent followed walks to Lance Berkman and Jeff Bagwell with a three-run homer, his 18th of the season. Dan Miceli (1-2) got the win, giving up just one hit over two scoreless innings.
Rockies 10, Marlins 2
DENVER -- Jay Payton had four hits and three RBIs, Denny Stark pitched seven solid innings and Colorado defeated Florida. The decision snapped Florida's three-game winning streak and Colorado's five-game losing streak. The Marlins lost catcher Ivan Rodriguez in the fourth inning when he sprained his left wrist after making contact with Payton on a play at the plate. Rodriguez is day to day. Payton and Larry Walker each homered for Colorado. Stark (2-1) allowed just four hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. Carl Pavano (9-11), losing for the first time since July 9, went six innings, yielding 10 hits and seven runs -- six earned.
Diamondbacks 6, Reds 1
PHOENIX -- Junior Spivey, Shea Hillenbrand and Robby Hammock homered, and Brandon Webb struck out a career-high 11 in seven strong innings as Arizona beat the Cincinnati. The win, just the Diamondbacks' second in six games, moved them within 31/2 games of Philadelphia in the National League wild-card race. Spivey and Hillenbrand hit solo shots off John Bale (0-1), who had not allowed a run in two previous major league starts. Hammock lined another solo homer into the center-field concourse in the seventh off reliever Brian Reith. Webb (8-6) walked four and allowed four hits in winning his first game since July 13 against San Francisco, ending an 0-4 stretch in six starts.
Expos 7, Dodgers 5
LOS ANGELES -- Wil Cordero drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a double in the eighth inning as Montreal beat Los Angeles for its sixth straight victory. Cordero was batting for right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, who was ejected for arguing with first-base umpire Steve Rippley about Shawn Green's homer in the seventh. Guerrero was thrown out between innings, and Cordero was sent to bat in his spot. Cordero drove a pitch by Paul Quantrill (1-4) to the wall in left-center for a 6-5 lead. Luis Ayala (8-3) pitched 11/3 hitless innings for the victory. Rocky Biddle got three outs for his 30th save in 35 chances. Green put Los Angeles in front 5-4 with his 12th homer this season. Replays appeared to show a fan reached over the low wall and that the ball would have hit the gate and stayed in play.
Padres 3, Mets 2
SAN DIEGO -- Phil Nevin hit a two-run homer with one out in the eighth inning to give San Diego a win over New York, which was in control until its bullpen took over for Tom Glavine. Nevin's opposite-field shot to right-center, his fourth since returning on July 23 from a dislocated left shoulder, came on a 3-2 pitch off left-hander Mike Stanton (2-5). Mark Loretta was aboard on a one-out walk. The Padres snapped their five-game losing streak and New York's six-game winning streak. Scott Linebrink (2-2) pitched a perfect eighth for the win and Rod Beck pitched the ninth for his 17th save in as many chances. Glavine pitched 62/3 strong innings on three days' rest. He allowed one run on six hits, struck out five and walked three.
-- Associated Press