MLB ROUNDUP Tuesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Twins 7, Rangers 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Johan Santana struck out a season-high 13 in seven innings and Justin Morneau homered twice as Minnesota beat Texas. Santana (5-4) broke a personal two-game losing streak, shutting down a Texas offense that had produced 28 runs in its two previous games. Santana reached double digits for strikeouts for the 35th time and fell one short of matching his career high. Santana allowed one run and four hits, and walked two. Sammy Sosa hit his 598th career homer for the Rangers, who struck out 18 times in the game.

Red Sox 7, Yankees 3

NEW YORK — Manny Ramirez hit a three-run homer and Boston jumped on Mike Mussina right away. Mike Lowell also connected and Julian Tavarez (3-4) won on his 34th birthday, helping the AL East leaders beat their top rivals for the sixth time in eight tries this season. One night after losing the series opener, Boston extended its cushion over the Yankees to 101⁄2 games once more. The Red Sox have won eight of 10 meetings starting Sept. 17 last year and are 9-3 against New York since a five-game sweep at Fenway Park in August sent the Yankees on the way to their ninth straight division title.

Angels 6, Tigers 3

DETROIT — Orlando Cabrera homered and made a leaping catch to end Detroit’s comeback, leading the Los Angeles Angels to their sixth straight victory. Down 6-1, the Tigers’ rally in the ninth inning fell short. Placido Polanco hit an RBI single and Magglio Ordonez drew a bases-loaded walk from Francisco Rodriguez with two outs. Carlos Guillen followed with a hard liner up the middle, but Cabrera saved the Angels. The former Gold Glove shortstop cut over and caught the ball at the top of his jump.

Blue Jays 6, Orioles 4

BALTIMORE — Alex Rios had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run in a four-run fifth inning for Toronto. A.J. Burnett (5-3) allowed four runs and six hits in 6 2-3 innings to win his third straight start. He struck out eight and walked two. Jason Phillips homered for the Blue Jays, who have won five of seven — including 4-0 against the Orioles. Brian Roberts connected for Baltimore, and Nick Markakis had three hits.

Mariners 5, Devil Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Richie Sexson hit a two-run single and Yuniesky Betancourt snapped a sixth-inning tie with a solo homer for Seattle. Jarrod Washburn (4-4) settled after a shaky first inning to improve to 10-2 lifetime against the Devil Rays, who have lost four straight. The left-hander allowed two runs and eight hits in 61⁄3 innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Braves 8, Mets 1

ATLANTA — Kyle Davies pitched eight strong innings and turned the game into a rout with a three-run homer over the center-field wall, leading the Atlanta Braves past the New York Mets 8-1 and tightening the race in the NL East. Davies (2-2) allowed only six hits, but his biggest splash came in the sixth. The .096 career hitter drove a 3-1 fastball from Aaron Sele over the 400-foot sign, clearing the wall with plenty to spare.

The Braves returned home from a 4-6 road trip that dropped them from first to second behind the Mets, who had surged to the league’s best record by winning nine of 12. Atlanta closed to 11⁄2 games of the division lead by knocking around one of its former starters. Jorge Sosa (3-1) surrendered six hits, walked three and was charged with five runs during his four-inning stint.

Marlins 5, Phillies 3

MIAMI — Miguel Cabrera’s triple paced a sixth-inning rally against Cole Hamels, and Florida extended its winning streak to a season-high four games. Hamels (6-2) had a 3-1 lead before allowing four runs in the sixth and failed to become the NL’s first seven-game winner. For the third time in the past week, the Phillies squandered a chance to climb above .500 for the first time. Scott Olsen (4-3) allowed three runs in six innings for his first win in the past four starts. Three relievers combined to retire all nine batters, with Kevin Gregg pitching the ninth for his fourth save in as many chances.

Nationals 8, Reds 4

CINCINNATI — Felipe Lopez hit a grand slam in the eighth inning against his former team, rallying Washington. Lopez, who was an All-Star shortstop with Cincinnati, connected for his third career grand slam off left-hander Jon Coutlangus (2-1), snapping a 4-all tie. His drive to left-center landed in the Reds’ bullpen.

Associated Press