MLB ROUNDUP

MLB ROUNDUP

Friday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Twins 20, White Sox 14, 1st game
Twins 12, White Sox 0, 2nd game

CHICAGO — Justin Morneau homered three times in the second game of a doubleheader as Minnesota capped a huge day on offense. Morneau became the fourth Twins player to hit three home runs in a game, and Minnesota hit six in all in the nightcap to complete the sweep. Morneau hit a three-run drive in the first, a solo shot in the third and a two-run homer in the seventh, giving him 23 on the year. That put him alongside Bob Allison, Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva as the only Twins to hit three in a game. Torii Hunter added a solo shot in the third after going deep in the early game, Michael Cuddyer hit a solo homer in the fifth and Jeff Cirillo pinch hit a three-run homer in the seventh. This came after a day game that featured more runs than any contest in more than eight years. The 34 runs were the most since May 19, 1999, when Cincinnati beat Colorado 24-12, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Tigers 9, Red Sox 2

DETROIT — Curtis Granderson led off the fifth with a home run and Marcus Thames added a grand slam in the inning for Detroit. Rookie Andrew Miller (4-2) gave up one run and three hits over seven innings. He matched a season-high with six strikeouts and set a career mark with four walks. Julian Tavarez (5-7) allowed a season-high eight runs and matched his season high by giving up 10 hits over 42⁄3 innings to lose his third straight start. Granderson hit the first pitch of the fifth for his 12th homer, giving Detroit a three-run lead. Thames’ third career grand slam, and ninth homer of the season, made it 8-1. Pinch-hitter Ryan Raburn, activated in place of the suspended Neifi Perez, had an RBI single in the eighth to make it 9-1. Boston’s Doug Mirabelli hit his third homer in the ninth.

Yankees 14, Angels 9

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez homered to tie Lou Gehrig on the career list to lead New York, which overcame a blown five-run lead. A day after a strained left hamstring forced him to miss his only game this year, Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the sixth for a 12-9 lead. His 493rd homer matched Gehrig and Fred McGriff for 22nd place. New York set season highs for runs and hits (19) — every starter had a hit and an RBI — and won for the fourth time in five games. The AL West leaders have lost seven of 10. After Figgins’ two-out, two-run single off rookie Edwar Ramirez (1-0) tied it in the sixth, Rodriguez and the Yankees struck back in the bottom half off Chris Bootcheck (2-2). Rodriguez also singled and doubled, ending his season-worst 0-for-19 slump. Andy Pettitte failed to hold an 8-3 lead.

Devil Rays 6, Royals 5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brendan Harris and Delmon Young drove in two runs apiece as Tampa Bay snapped an 11-game losing streak. James Shields (7-4), who opened the season 6-0, went seven innings but faltered in the eighth when the Royals scored three. In 72⁄3 innings, he was charged with four runs and seven hits, with six strikeouts and no walks to win for the first time in his last five starts.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Giants 4, Cardinals 3

ST. LOUIS — Barry Bonds grounded out, drew three walks and remained at 751 career homers. Noah Lowry (9-6) struck out five in six innings to win his third straight start, and Ray Durham hit an RBI single. Cardinals center fielder So Taguchi did the rest — with a costly misplay that allowed three runs to score in the fifth. Lowry didn’t let a runner past second base until Ryan Ludwick scored on Juan Encarnacion’s RBI double in the sixth to put the Cardinals on the board. Kevin Correia pitched two scoreless innings, but the Giants’ bullpen nearly blew it.

Reds 8, Diamondbacks 1

CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Jr. tied Frank Robinson for sixth place on the career home run list and Kyle Lohse pitched a four-hitter. Griffey capped the Reds’ three-run fifth inning with his 586th homer — 23rd of the season — a two-run shot off Micah Owings. Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips also homered for the Reds, who won consecutive games for the first time since beating Cleveland June 10 and the Angels June 12. Lohse (5-10) had five strikeouts and two walks in his sixth career complete game and second this season.

Brewers 6, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON — Ryan Braun homered twice, Dave Bush took a shutout into the seventh inning and Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak. Braun hit a solo shot and Kevin Mench a three-run drive in a four-run first inning against Mike Bacsik (2-6).

Astros 4, Mets 0

HOUSTON — Wandy Rodriguez threw a four-hitter for his first complete game and Lance Berkman had a two-run homer to lead Houston. Rodriguez (6-7) struck out eight, tying a career high, and walked one. The Mets didn’t get a runner past first base after Carlos Beltran’s first-inning double.

Associated Press