Homers lead Tigers to victory

Gary Sheffield passed Jose Canseco for home runs.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

DETROIT — Ivan Rodriguez’s three-run homer in the third inning Saturday gave Detroit a six-run lead, and some strong defensive plays helped the Tigers hold on to beat St. Louis, 8-7.

Gary Sheffield hit a solo homer in the seventh, helping Detroit win the first two games of a three-game series between last year’s World Series teams. The homer was the 463rd of Sheffield’s career, moving him past Jose Canseco for 30th on baseball’s all-time list.

Tigers closer Todd Jones got Scott Rolen to pop up to third with the bases loaded in the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.

Nate Robertson (4-3) allowed two runs, six hits and four walks for the victory.

Anthony Reyes (0-7) had another rough outing, giving up seven runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings for the Cardinals.

Twins 5, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE — Scott Baker pitched into the ninth inning in his first major league appearance this season and Minnesota won its 12th straight interleague game.

Torii Hunter hit a two-run homer off Dave Bush (3-4) in the second as the Twins beat their regional rival for the fifth time in a row.

The Brewers have lost seven of nine. Before the slump, they had the best record in the majors at 24-10.

Baker (1-0), who made the team out of spring training last season but faltered this March, earned his first victory since Aug. 17. He gave up six hits, leaving after Bill Hall’s solo home run with one out in the ninth.

Marlins 7, Devil Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dontrelle Willis allowed two runs in seven innings, Jeremy Hermida and Aaron Boone homered on consecutive pitches in the sixth Florida beat Tampa Bay.

Willis (6-3) stopped a personal two-game losing streak. He gave up five hits, three walks and struck out seven.

Hermida hit a two-run homer off Jae Seo (2-4) to give the Marlins a 5-1 lead. Boone, who hit a grand slam in Florida’s 8-4 win on Friday, then connected for his third homer of the season on the next pitch. Hanley Ramirez also homered for the Marlins.

Elijah Dukes and Jonny Gomes homered for the Devil Rays.

Blue Jays 13, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA — Matt Stairs hit a grand slam, Lyle Overbay drove in four runs with a triple and homer and Toronto routed Philadelphia.

Troy Glaus also homered for the Blue Jays, who tagged Jamie Moyer for seven runs.

Stairs hit his 10th career grand slam during a six-run eighth inning against reliever Clay Condrey. It was the third home run of the year for Stairs, who went 3-for-5.

Shaun Marcum pitched six strong innings in his second start this year after 13 relief appearances. Marcum (2-2) allowed two runs, four hits and struck out six. He ran his hitless streak as a starter to 10 innings, before Chase Utley homered leading off the bottom of the fifth.

Astros 6, Rangers 1

HOUSTON — Lance Berkman hit a two-run single after an umpire’s missed call in the sixth inning, and Houston went on to beat Texas.

The Astros won for the seventh time in 10 home games. Texas has lost nine of 12.

Houston led 3-1 with two outs in the sixth when third-base umpire Tim Timmons called Mike Lamb safe even though third baseman Travis Metcalf clearly touched the bag to clearly force out Lamb. Texas manager Ron Washington argued, to no avail. Berkman and Carlos Leff followed with singles to make it 6-1.

Orioles 3, Nationals 2, 11 innings

WASHINGTON — Jay Payton’s two-run double in the 11th inning and Baltimore rallied to beat Washington.

The Orioles trailed most of the game before tying it in the eighth on pinch-hitter Aubrey Huff’s sacrifice fly to center.

Ramon Hernandez started the winning rally in the 11th with a leadoff walk off former Orioles right-hander Winston Abreu (0-1). Melvin Mora blooped a single to left and Payton lined a double into the left-field corner to score pinch-runner Freddie Bynum and Mora.

Orioles closer Chris Ray allowed a run in the bottom of the 11th on Tony Batista’s RBI single. Ray retired Brian Schneider on a grounder to first for his 10th save. John Parrish (2-0) got the win with 1 1-3 innings of relief.

Rockies 6, Royals 4

DENVER — Brad Hawpe and Garrett Atkins hit home runs off Gil Meche — the first earned runs the right-hander allowed on the road this season — as Colorado beat Kansas City.

Todd Helton also homered and scored three runs for the Rockies, who received an impressive start from Taylor Buchholz (2-2). The right-hander gave up an unearned run and scattered five hits over seven innings to win for the first time since April 18.