MLB ROUNDUP \ Friday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 4, Orioles 0

BALTIMORE — Jon Lester allowed four hits in seven innings to win his third straight start, and the Boston Red Sox handed an angry Daniel Cabrera his 15th loss of the season, barely avoiding a brawl. Both teams charged from the dugouts and bullpens in the fourth inning after Cabrera threw a fastball behind the ear of Dustin Pedroia. The pitch came immediately after a balk produced a run to put the Red Sox up 3-0. Punches were thrown, and Cabrera (9-15) was ejected from the game before order was finally restored. The fracas deflected some of the focus from Lester (4-0), who pitched brilliantly in his eighth start since returning to the majors following a bout with lymphoma. The left-hander struck out four, walked two and allowed only one runner past second base.

Tigers 6, Mariners 1

DETROIT — Curtis Granderson’s homer put him in elite company and Justin Verlander gave up one run over eight innings as Detroit got its first three-game winning streak in nearly two months. Granderson hit his 20th home run in the seventh inning, making him just the sixth player since 1900 with at least 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles in one season. George Brett, in 1979 for Kansas City, was the last player to pull off the feat and Willie Mays also did it. Placido Polanco, Magglio Ordonez, Brandon Inge, Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Guillen each drove in a run to help the Tigers win the opener of a three-game series involving two teams competing with the New York Yankees for AL wild card. Verlander (16-5) allowed seven hits while walking none and striking out three. He has won his last three starts, combining to give up just two runs and lead a rotation that has struggled recently. Miguel Batista (13-11) gave up six runs, nine hits and three walks over 62⁄3 innings, losing his third straight start.

Blue Jays 7, Devil Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Dustin McGowan struck out a career-high 12 in eight innings and Gregg Zaun hit a three-run homer to lead Toronto. McGowan (10-8) gave up two runs on four hits and a walk. He has won two straight starts, giving up just three runs in 16 innings over the stretch. The right-hander struck out seven of his final nine batters, including five consecutive in one stretch. Zaun made it 6-0 on his ninth homer of the season with two outs in the sixth off Edwin Jackson (4-14). Matt Stairs, who had two RBIs, extended the lead to 7-0 on a run-scoring single later in the inning. The Blue Jays have won eight of 12. B.J. Upton had a sacrifice fly during a two-run sixth for Tampa Bay, which lost for just the fourth time in 14 games.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Braves 7, Nationals 1

ATLANTA — John Smoltz has accomplished plenty in his career. A no-hitter will have to wait. The 40-year-old Smoltz didn’t allow a hit through seven innings, but Washington’s Ronnie Belliard led off the eighth with a clean single to right. The only pitcher in baseball history with at least 200 wins and 150 saves, Smoltz had the crowd on its feet when he walked slowly to the mound to begin the eighth. He got ahead in the count 1-2, but Belliard lined the next pitch in front of Jeff Francoeur to end Smoltz’s attempt at his first career no-hitter. Smoltz (13-7) then walked off to a standing ovation, having struck out 10 and walked two.

Marlins 6, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA — Miguel Olivo homered, Byung-Hyun Kim struck out seven over six innings and Florida handed Philadelphia its fifth loss in seven games. Pat Burrell’s three-run homer was the only offense for the Phillies.

Reds 11, Brewers 4

CINCINNATI — Cincinnati scored six runs in the first inning, Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 593rd homer in the second and Cincinnati breezed past Milwaukee. Bronson Arroyo (8-14) gave up three runs and five hits in 72⁄3 innings, striking out eight. Dave Bush (11-10) got just three outs in the shortest of his 99 career starts, allowing eight runs and nine hits. Not exactly what was needed by Milwaukee, which remained tied with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central lead. It was just the third loss in nine games for the Brewers. Prince Fielder had one of Milwaukee’s few highlights, hitting his NL-leading 42nd homer.

Mets 11, Astros 3

NEW YORK — Lastings Milledge made a diving catch to help thwart a potential rally, then hit a three-run homer that punctuated New York’s rout. Carlos Beltran homered and drove in two runs, David Wright delivered another big hit and the NL East leaders backed Mike Pelfrey with a relentless offensive outburst as they returned home from a 5-5 road trip with a rousing victory.

Associated Press