MLB ROUNDUP

MLB ROUNDUP

Tuesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox 5, Royals 2

CHICAGO — Jim Thome hit his 493rd career homer and Javier Vazquez won his third straight decision, leading Chicago over Kansas City. Danny Richar and Paul Konerko also homered for the White Sox, who won for the second time in 10 games and dropped Kansas City back into last place in the AL Central. Vazquez (11-6) pitched six-plus inning, allowing two runs — one earned — and five hits. He struck out three, walked two and hit two batters.

Mariners 7, Twins 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson hit consecutive home runs, Jarrod Washburn won for the first time in seven starts and Seattle extended its winning streak to five. Jose Vidro finished 3-for-5 and the wild card-leading Mariners pounded out 18 hits. Every Mariners starter except Kenji Johjima had a hit by the sixth. Johjima got on the board with a single in the seventh. Washburn (9-10) snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the first time since July 4.

Red Sox 8, Devil Rays 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Coco Crisp and Julio Lugo had two-run doubles during a five-run fourth for Boston. David Ortiz, who hit a rare triple, and Manny Ramirez had first-inning RBIs as the Red Sox improved to 23-16 since the All-Star break.

Orioles 6, Rangers 2

BALTIMORE — Erik Bedard struck out 11 over seven innings to win his ninth straight decision, and Baltimore got home runs from Miguel Tejada and Aubrey Huff. Bedard (13-4) increased his AL-leading strikeout total to 218, matching Mike Mussina’s club record in 1997. Bedard, who walked none and struck out at least one batter in every inning, has 26 strikeouts in two games against Texas this season.

Athletics 6, Blue Jays 4

TORONTO — Dan Haren matched his career high in wins, Dan Johnson drove in two runs and Oakland overcame three home runs to beat Toronto. Haren (14-4) allowed all three homers but still snapped a three-start winless streak. The right-hander, who came in with the best ERA in the AL at 2.54, gave up four runs and six hits over six innings. He walked none and matched a season high by striking out nine. Frank Thomas homered twice for Toronto, giving him 508 career homers. Vernon Wells added a two-run shot, but the Blue Jays lost for the fourth time in six games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 7, Padres 6

NEW YORK — Carlos Beltran had five RBIs and Luis Castillo singled home the winning run off Trevor Hoffman in the ninth inning. Hoffman and Billy Wagner, two of baseball’s best relievers, struggled in the ninth. Wagner (2-1) gave up a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to Kevin Kouzmanoff that put San Diego up 6-5, but Hoffman couldn’t hold the lead. Lastings Milledge singled to start the bottom half and advanced on Mike DiFelice’s sacrifice before pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson tied it with an RBI single. Jose Reyes blooped a single to center and Castillo grounded a clean single up the middle off Hoffman (2-4). The throw from center by ex-Met Mike Cameron was wide, allowing Anderson to score standing up. Beltran also hit a two-run shot off Chris Young.

Phillies 5, Dodgers 4

PHILADELPHIA — Aaron Rowand hit a go-ahead homer and Kyle Kendrick remained unbeaten at home, as Philadelphia won the opener of a 10-game homestand. Kendrick (6-3) allowed four runs and seven hits in 62⁄3 innings to earn his first win since July 29 and improve to 5-0 in eight home starts. Brett Myers worked the ninth for his 12th save.

Reds 8, Braves 7

CINCINNATI — Brandon Phillips hit a solo homer and a tie-breaking single in the sixth inning. Phillips’ solo homer in the fifth helped the Reds come from two runs down to tie the game at 7. He broke the tie an inning later with a run-scoring single off Peter Moylan (4-3), who hit two batters during the Reds’ go-ahead rally. It was another blown opportunity for the Braves, who have gone only 19-18 since the All-Star break and lost ground in the NL East. Left-hander Bill Bray (3-0) allowed only one hit in 11⁄3 innings, and David Weathers pitched around a single and a walk to get the final three outs for his 26th save in 31 chances. Phillips had three hits, and Jorge Cantu drove in three runs with a double and single, helping the Reds overcome deficits of 3-0 and 7-5. Brian McCann led the Braves with a two-run homer off starter Bobby Livingston, who gave up seven runs in only 42⁄3 innings. McCann had a grand slam in the opening game of the series.

Cardinals 5, Marlins 2

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols homered for the fourth straight game and St. Louis scored four times in the eighth inning to beat Florida. Yadier Molina knocked in the tying run in the eighth, and Aaron Miles drove home the go-ahead run after St. Louis was aided by two crucial errors in the inning. Ryan Ludwick’s two-run shot capped the rally, all against Armando Benitez (2-8). Pujols connected in the sixth and extended his RBI streak to six games for the Cardinals.

Associated Press