MLB ROUNDUP \ Thursday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 2, Tigers 1
Red Sox 4, Tigers 2

BOSTON — Eric Hinske slammed his chin into the ground making a spectacular, run-saving catch, and hit a go-ahead homer two innings later to give Boston a doubleheader sweep. Hinske, making a rare start in place of injured right fielder J.D. Drew, hit his first homer of the season, a two-run shot into Boston’s bullpen in right-center field, to break a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning. Boston won the opener behind starter Julian Tavarez’s most effective game of the season. Hinske’s go-ahead homer came with two outs against Wilfredo Ledezma (3-1). Brendan Donnelly (2-1) pitched 11⁄3 scoreless innings and Hideki Okajima got his second save, extending his streak of scoreless innings to 192⁄3. In the opener, Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis drove in runs for the AL East leaders. In the opener, Manny Ramirez and Kevin Youkilis drove in runs for the AL East leaders. Tavarez (2-4), who lost three of his previous four starts, allowed one run, four singles and four walks and seven innings. Okajima pitched a perfect eighth, and Jonathan Papelbon finished the four-hitter for his 11th save.

White Sox 4, Yankees 1

CHICAGO — Jon Garland limited New York to a run and six hits over seven innings and Jermaine Dye homered and had four RBIs for the White Sox. Chicago’s victory came a day after the teams split a day-night doubleheader at U.S. Cellular Field and a day before they both were to start a spirited interleague series. The White Sox go to Wrigley Field on Friday for three games with the Cubs, while the Yankees head to Shea Stadium to play the Mets. The Yankees had two runners on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but couldn’t score against Garland (3-2) until Doug Mientkiewicz hit a two-out RBI double in the seventh. Garland walked four and struck out two and was backed by three double plays in running his career record to 2-5 against the Yankees. Bobby Jenks pitched the ninth inning to record his 13th save. Matt DeSalvo (1-1) lasted only 31⁄3 innings in his third major league start, giving up six hits and four runs.

Royals 7, Athletics 4

OAKLAND, Calif. — Scott Elarton got his first victory since last July and slumping Mike Sweeney had a pair of hits for Kansas City. The Royals, who were 0-10 when opponents started lefties, got to Dallas Braden (1-3) early. Making his fourth major league start, Braden allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1-3 innings. Elarton (1-0) gave up four runs and six hits in 51⁄3 innings, getting his first win since July 16 at Detroit. The right-hander made his second start of the season after missing the final 71 games last year and the first 36 this year because of shoulder surgery. Joakim Soria finished for his eighth save in 10 chances. Bobby Crosby hit a second-inning home run and drove in two runs as the A’s lost two in a row for the first time since ending a three-game slide on April 28.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 6, Cubs 5

NEW YORK — Carlos Delgado’s two-run single capped a five-run rally for New York in the bottom of the ninth inning. Delgado’s one-out single gave the Mets their seventh win in nine games. Cubs manager Lou Piniella watched relievers Ryan Dempster (1-2) and Scott Eyre blow the big lead. They lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Brewers 3, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA — Ben Sheets struck out eight in 72⁄3 innings, and Gabe Gross hit a pair of solo homers for the first multihomer game of his big league career, helping Milwaukee end a four-game losing streak. Freddy Garcia (1-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in 52⁄3 innings.

Nationals 4, Braves 3

WASHINGTON — Felipe Lopez returned from a rare day off by stopping an 0-for-13 skid with a single, double and go-ahead triple. Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer to center in the fourth helped Atlanta take a 3-1 lead off Matt Chico (3-4).

Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 1

DENVER — Livan Hernandez allowed four hits over seven innings, singled twice and scored a run for Arizona. Hernandez (4-2) gave up a run while walking four and striking out two. He was 2-for-3 for his 30th multiple hit game of his career and a hit short of his career high.

Associated Press