MLB ROUNDUP Thursday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Twins 7, Mariners 3
SEATTLE -- Joe Mauer had three hits and ace Johan Santana survived a rocky beginning to lead the Twins to the win. One day after reaching base five times, Mauer doubled twice and singled. The Mariners had seen enough of him by the fourth inning -- they intentionally walked him. He finally flied out in the eighth. Mauer was 9-for-12 and reached base 13 times in 15 plate appearances during the three-game series. Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, the major league leader in hits and second to Mauer in average, had three more singles and finished the series 11-for-15. Santana (6-4) allowed six baserunners in the first three innings but held the Mariners to one run and five hits in five innings. Joel Pineiro (5-6) got the loss. He allowed nine hits and six earned runs in 51/3 innings.
Red Sox 9, Yankees 3
NEW YORK -- Curt Schilling became the American League's first nine-game winner, limiting the Yankees to four hits in eight innings. Three of the hits against Schilling (9-2) were home runs by Johnny Damon, Bernie Williams and Robinson Cano. That gave New York a 3-1 lead before the Red Sox came back against Jaret Wright (3-4). Manny Ramirez led off the sixth inning with a walk and Trot Nixon singled to right. Jason Varitek's single to left scored Ramirez and when Mike Lowell was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, Wright was finished. Scott Proctor relieved and surrendered a sacrifice fly to Kevin Youkilis, tying the score at 3-3.Then Alex Gonzalez doubled off third baseman Alex Rodriguez's glove, scoring Varitek and giving Boston the lead. An inning later, the Red Sox padded their lead, batting around against Proctor and Scott Erickson. Varitek hit his sixth home run, a three-run shot off Proctor, and Coco Crisp added a two-run single off Erickson.
Tigers 6, White Sox 2
CHICAGO -- Kenny Rogers settled down after a shaky start to retire 17 straight in seven strong innings, and Marcus Thames homered to cap a four-run sixth to help Detroit stay atop the AL Central. The Tigers beat the White Sox for the first time in six tries this season, and moved back 11/2 games ahead of Chicago. Rogers (8-3) gave up five straight hits early, including Paul Konerko's two-run homer in the first inning, but did not allow a baserunner after Alex Cintron's infield single in the second. Detroit scored four runs in the sixth after two were out. The rally was capped by Thames' two-run homer off Jon Garland (4-3).
Orioles 7, Blue Jays 5
BALTIMORE -- Justin Speier walked Brian Roberts to force in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, and Baltimore rallied to beat Toronto. The Orioles trailed 5-4 in the eighth before scoring three runs against four Toronto relievers on two hits, a hit batter, a walk and a wild pitch. Melvin Mora drove in two runs for Baltimore, which salvaged a split of the four-game series after trailing 5-3 in the sixth inning. Brandon Fahey's run-scoring fielder's choice in the bottom of the sixth pulled the Orioles within a run. Ramon Hernandez led off the eighth with a double off Francisco Rosario (1-1) and Speier hit Fahey with a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the tying run. One out later, Roberts walked on a 3-2 pitch. Scott Downs came in and threw a wild pitch, allowing another run to score. Kurt Birkins (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Chris Ray worked the ninth for his 15th save in 15 tries.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brewers 4, Padres 3
MILWAUKEE -- Bill Hall homered to lead off the bottom of the 10th after the Brewers were saved by a two-out error the previous inning. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman took a 3-2 lead into the ninth. With two outs and a runner on first, shortstop Khalil Greene misplayed a grounder by Rickie Weeks and Brady Clark followed with a tying single. Hall connected against Scott Cassidy (4-3) for his second game-ending home run of the season and third of his career.
Reds 7, Cubs 1
CINCINNATI -- Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and the Reds won their eighth straight game. Cincinnati opened the month of June five games behind St. Louis in the NL Central, but jumped a half-game ahead of the idle Cardinals with its latest win. Bronson Arroyo (8-2) beat the Cubs for the third time this season. The right-hander gave up five hits, including Tony Womack's first homer, in seven innings. Arroyo is 4-0 in six starts at Great American Ball Park this season.
Nationals 5, Phillies 2
WASHINGTON -- Alfonso Soriano hit his 23rd home run and scored four runs for the Nationals. Soriano and Mike O'Connor, who allowed three hits over six innings, teamed to stop the Phillies' four-game winning streak and give the Nationals a positive start to a season-high, 11-game homestand. Soriano finished with two walks, a hit by pitch and a seventh-inning solo homer to left. He has homered in 11 consecutive series, the longest such streak in baseball this season and the second longest streak in franchise history. O'Connor (3-3) struck out three and allowed two runs. Chad Cordero pitched the ninth inning for his 12th save.
Astros 7, Braves 4
HOUSTON -- Lance Berkman homered twice and Orlando Palmeiro had a pinch-hit, two-run single Thursday night to lead Houston. Berkman had a solo shot and a three-run blast, his second multihomer game of the season and 16th of his career. He also homered twice in the Astros' 8-0 win at San Francisco on April 13. Andy Pettitte (5-7) won for just the second time in his last five starts and backup first baseman Mike Lamb also homered for the Astros, who won their third straight following five consecutive losses.
Associated Press
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