MLB ROUNDUP \ Tuesday’s other games

INTERLEAGUE

Phillies 7, White Sox 3

PHILADELPHIA — Chase Utley drove in four runs to help Cole Hamels become the National League’s first nine-game winner in the Phillies’ victory. Hamels (9-2) allowed two runs and six hits and struck out eight in eight innings, Utley was 3-for-3 with a two-run homer and the Phillies moved a season-best three games above .500 (34-31) with their sixth win in eight games. Paul Konerko and Jermaine Dye hit consecutive homers in the first inning, but the White Sox couldn’t manage any more runs off Hamels. White Sox starter Jose Contreras (4-7) allowed seven runs — five earned — and seven hits in 31⁄3 innings. It was his shortest outing since lasting one inning against Cleveland on opening day.

Red Sox 2, Rockies 1

BOSTON — Tim Wakefield pitched eight innings of four-hit ball and David Ortiz went 3-for-3 with a double that helped break an eighth-inning tie for the Red Sox. Wakefield (6-7) won for just the second time in six starts. He struck out three and walked one before Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 15th save. Aaron Cook (4-3) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out four in 71⁄3 innings, as the Rockies failed to return to .500 for the first time since April 13.

Royals 8, Cardinals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brian Bannister won his third consecutive start with seven scoreless innings and Esteban German had three hits and three RBIs, leading Kansas City. Bannister (3-3), who failed to make the club out of spring training, gave up seven hits, walked two and tied his season-high with six strikeouts.

Devil Rays 11, Padres 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Pena hit an eighth-inning grand slam and Delmon Young delivered a pair of run-scoring singles off Greg Maddux as Tampa Bay came from behind three times before pulling away against San Diego. Pena, who also had a RBI double in the seventh, hit his fourth career grand slam off Doug Brocail to finish a five-run eighth.

Nationals 7, Orioles 4

BALTIMORE — Ryan Church hit the first of three home runs off Daniel Cabrera, and the Washington Nationals received another strong performance from converted reliever Micah Bowie in a victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Church hit a solo shot, and Ryan Zimmerman and Brian Schneider both connected with a man on for the Nationals. Felipe Lopez ended an 0-for-19 skid with a two-run double and received three of the 10 walks allowed by Baltimore pitchers.

Reds 5, Angels 3

CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Jr.’s tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning helped Cincinnati survive an overpowering performance by Kelvim Escobar, rallying the Reds past the Los Angeles Angels. Escobar struck out a career-high 14 — including Griffey twice — during six innings, leaving after his pitch count reached 116. As soon as he was gone, the Reds got rolling. Singles by Scott Hatteberg and Brandon Phillips off Dustin Moseley (4-1) set up the tiebreaking run, and Griffey’s fly to right off Darren Oliver snapped a 3-all tie. A fielding error by second baseman Erick Aybar let in another run in the eighth. Jon Coutlangus (3-1) pitched a perfect inning in relief, and David Weathers got four outs for his 13th save.

Yankees 4, Diamondbacks 1

NEW YORK — Chien-Ming Wang outpitched Brandon Webb in a marquee matchup of exceptional sinkerballers, and streaking Bobby Abreu hit an early three-run homer to help the Yankees win their seventh straight. The Yankees (31-31) won for the 10th time in 12 tries following a five-game skid, reaching .500 for the first time since they were 16-16 after beating Texas on May 9. It’s their first seven-game winning streak since a 10-game run in May 2005. Coming off a five-hitter at the Chicago White Sox, Wang (6-4) allowed six hits and walked none in seven innings.

Astros 5, Athletics 4, 11 innings

HOUSTON — Brad Ausmus drove in his fourth run of the night with the game-winning single in the 10th inning, and the Houston Astros overcame another blown save by Brad Lidge. Ausmus also had an RBI double and a two-run homer, though none of that mattered when Mark Kotsay led off the ninth inning with a homer off Lidge, who was trying to close out a game for the first time since April, when manager Phil Garner demoted him from the role. Lidge had pitched well lately as a setup man, allowing only one earned run in his last 192⁄3 innings. He’s 0-for-3 on save opportunities this season.

Associated Press