MLB ROUNDUP \ Friday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 9, Twins 4

Twins 5, Royals 0

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Baker came within three outs of a perfect game and two outs of a no-hitter, falling short of history but leading Minnesota in the second game. Baker entered the ninth inning with a chance for just the 18th perfect game in major league history. But he went to a 3-0 count leading off on John Buck, who took a strike before the next pitch went inside for ball four. Esteban German grounded into a forceout and Mike Sweeney, activated from the disabled list between games, pinch hit and blooped a single to left-center for Kansas City’s only hit. Baker (8-6) struck out a career-high nine and threw 111 pitches in just his second complete game in 44 major league starts. Gil Meche (7-12) allowed just three runs and seven hits in seven innings, giving up a two-run single to Jason Bartlett in the third and a sacrifice fly to Justin Morneau in the fifth. In the opener, Ross Gload homered and drove in three runs for the Royals. Matt Garza (3-5) gave up nine hits and two walks in 51⁄3 innings while striking out six. He was charged with eight runs, though only four were earned. Kyle Davies (2-3) earned the win, beating Minnesota for the second time in three weeks.

Blue Jays 7, Mariners 5

TORONTO — The slumping Mariners lost their seventh straight game as Troy Glaus hit a two-run homer and Lyle Overbay and Alex Rios also went deep for the Blue Jays. Jose Vidro hit a two-run drive and Adrian Beltre also connected for Seattle. Shaun Marcum (12-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings to win for the eighth time in 10 starts. He walked two and struck out three.

Devil Rays 9, Yankees 1

NEW YORK — Carlos Pena homered twice and Andy Sonnanstine pitched eight innings of two-hit ball, stopping the Yankees’ winning streak at three games. Carl Crawford capped a huge month with two run-scoring hits, and the surging Devil Rays roughed up an ineffective Phil Hughes to win for the seventh time in eight games. Pena also drew three walks and had his second multihomer game in six days.

Orioles 9, Red Sox 8

BOSTON — Nick Markakis hit a three-run homer and the Orioles broke a nine-game losing streak, while the Red Sox lost starter Tim Wakefield even before the game began. Wakefield, tied for the major league lead with 16 wins, was scratched from his start with a sore lower back and replaced by Julian Tavarez.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 7, Braves 1

ATLANTA — Carlos Delgado hit a three-run homer and John Maine gave up only three hits, leading New York over the Atlanta Braves and stopping the NL East-leading Mets’ losing streak at five games. The only run Maine (14-8) allowed came in the sixth, after he loaded the bases with no outs. Maine struck out eight and walked three in seven innings, and won for only the second time in his last six starts. Jose Reyes also hit a homer for the Mets, who were coming off four straight losses to division rival Philadelphia. New York, which remained two games ahead of the Phillies, won for only the third time in seven games in Atlanta this season. Tim Hudson (15-7) was 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his first two starts against New York this season, but surrendered six hits and four runs in six innings. He had allowed only five homers in his first 28 starts before giving up the homers to Delgado and Reyes.

Phillies 9, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Kyle Kendrick took a fastball off his right arm trying to bunt in the second inning, but he still pitched seven innings and help the Phillies extend their winning streak to a season-best six games.

Astros 6, Cubs 1

CHICAGO — Hunter Pence homered twice and had a career-high five RBIs, Wandy Rodriguez pitched six shutout innings and the Astros won for the third time in four games. Pence’s first career multihomer game featured a three-run shot in the fourth off Sean Marshall (7-7) and two-run drive in the sixth. The homers gave the standout rookie 14 for the season, while helping Rodriguez (8-12) win for the first time since July 26.

Cardinals 8, Reds 5

ST. LOUIS — Rick Ankiel hit a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning, and Yadier Molina’s two-run homer helped manager Tony La Russa pass Red Schoendienst as the winningest manager in Cardinals history.

Giants 3, Nationals 2

WASHINGTON — Kevin Correia had his longest outing as a starter in more than two years, and Rajai Davis’ broken-bat double capped a three-run second inning for the Giants.

Associated Press