MLB ROUNDUP | Thursday’s other games

Yankees 7, Diamondbacks 1

NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs, Andy Pettitte breezed for eight innings and the Yankees won their ninth straight game. At 33-31, New York matched its high point this season — a vast improvement for a club that was eight games under .500 and 141⁄2 games behind Boston barely two weeks ago. Pettitte (4-4) gave up a run and four hits. He retired 10 straight batters in the middle innings and kept out of trouble — Arizona was hitless in its only two at-bats with runners in scoring position and 0-for-13 in the series.

Angels 9, Reds 7

CINCINNATI — Vladimir Guerrero’s bases-loaded single in the seventh inning helped Los Angeles move to 42-25, the best start in franchise history. Bartolo Colon (6-2) got the win despite trailing when he left the game after the sixth. Promising rookie Homer Bailey turned a 5-3 lead over to the bullpen after walking the first two batters in the seventh. Gary Majewski (0-1) walked Orlando Cabrera to force in a run, then gave up Guerrero’s two-run single. Casey Kotchman and Jose Molina added RBI singles off Mike Stanton to complete the decisive rally.

Brewers 6, Tigers 5

DETROIT — Ben Sheets became the second pitcher in Milwaukee Brewers history with 1,000 career strikeouts, helping the Brewers win a road series for the first time since late April. Sheets (7-3) struck out seven, giving him 1,003 since making his major league debut with the Brewers in 2001. Teddy Higuera has the franchise record with 1,081 strikeouts from 1985-1994. Sheets gave up three runs, eight hits and three walks over 52⁄3 innings.

Padres 7, Devil Rays 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Justin Germano won his fifth straight decision since coming up from the minor leagues, helping the first-place San Diego Padres remain atop the NL West. Germano (5-0) allowed three hits in six innings, walked one and struck out four.

Cubs 5, Mariners 4

CHICAGO — Cesar Izturis hit a two-run double in the eighth as the Chicago Cubs denied Jeff Weaver his first victory for Seattle. Weaver, winless in six decisions with a 12.46 ERA entering the game, gave up 10 hits in six strong innings and was staked to a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth. But reliever Brandon Morrow (3-1) walked the first two batters he faced, and Koyie Hill moved them up before Izturis’ liner down the left field line put the Cubs ahead. Bob Howry (3-3) got the final four outs for the win.

Athletics 6, Astros 5, 11 innings

HOUSTON — Jason Kendall hit the go-ahead RBI single in the 11th inning to help the Oakland Athletics win for the 10th time in 12 games. Back-to-back singles by Bobby Crosby and pinch hitter Kurt Suzuki set up the game-winner, a line drive to left field off Brian Moehler (0-2). It was the first major league hit for Suzuki, who was called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday. Santiago Casilla pitched a perfect 11th for his second save in two tries.

Nationals 3, Orioles 1

BALTIMORE — Ryan Zimmerman singled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning to back Jason Simontacchi’s best start of the season, and Washington completed a three-game sweep of slumping Baltimore. Felipe Lopez and Ryan Langerhans also drove in runs for the Nationals, who have won five of six.

Rockies 7, Red Sox 1

BOSTON — Garrett Atkins went 3-for-5 with a grand slam, Kaz Matsui added three hits and Boston’s Josh Beckett lost for the first time this season. Beckett (9-1) allowed six runs and 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout in five innings and left trailing 6-0. The Rockies won for the eighth time in 11 games and improved to 33-33 for the season — the first time they’d been at .500 since losing on April 14.

Twins 3, Braves 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Mike Redmond capped a three-run rally in the ninth inning with an RBI single for Minnesota against Atlanta closer Bob Wickman, ruining Tim Hudson’s strong start. Hudson dominated for 71⁄3 innings, and Rafael Soriano recorded the last two outs in the eighth. But the Twins hit a bunch of bouncers to scrap together a wild rally in the ninth against Wickman (1-2).

Royals 17, Cardinals 8

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mark Teahen had two triples and five RBIs and Tony Pena Jr. had four hits, leading Kansas City past St. Louis 17-8 Thursday night for the Royals’ first series win at home against the Cardinals in six years.

Associated Press