MLB ROUNDUP

MLB ROUNDUP

Saturday’s other games

White Sox 8, Twins 7

CHICAGO — Jim Thome hit his 497th career home run and added the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning. After blowing a six-run lead in the ninth on Friday night, the Twins couldn’t hold on to a two-run lead in the seventh. Juan Uribe doubled off Twins reliever Kevin Slowey, then with two-outs, A.J. Pierzynski hit a pinch-hit homer off Carmen Cali (0-1) on the first pitch.

Yankees 11, Royals 5

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alex Rodriguez reached 50 home runs for the first time in five seasons, and promptly added to his total. A-Rod homered in consecutive at-bats against rookie Brian Bannister to set a single-season record for a third baseman. Rodriguez just missed homering in three straight at-bats, flying out to the center field wall in the sixth, and was hit by a pitch from rookie Luke Hochevar in the seventh before coming out for a pinch runner. He became the first Yankees player to reach 50 homers in a season since Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle did it in 1961. Andy Pettitte (13-8) pitched into the seventh and Johnny Damon and Wilson Betemit also homered for New York, which has won four in a row and is a major league-best 37-19 since the All-Star break.

Orioles 11, Red Sox 5

BALTIMORE — Rookie Scott Moore hit a grand slam to cap a seven-run third inning against Daisuke Matsuzaka, and the Baltimore Orioles ended a record 11-game home losing streak. Tike Redman and Nick Markakis also homered for the Orioles, who won for only the third time in 18 games.

Tigers 12, Mariners 6

DETROIT — Brandon Inge hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning to help Detroit move ahead of the Mariners in the American League wild-card race. Ivan Rodriguez went 4-for-5 with a home run in the eighth for the Tigers, who entered the day trailing the New York Yankees by three games for the wild-card playoff spot. Placido Polanco had three hits and drove in four runs and Timo Perez also had three hits for the Tigers, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

National League

Mets 3, Astros 1

NEW YORK — Tom Glavine carried a perfect game into the sixth and allowed one run over seven-plus innings to lead New York. David Wright matched his career high with his 27th homer for the NL East-leading Mets, who have won seven of eight to improve to a season best 19 games above .500. Paul Lo Duca had an RBI double and Luis Castillo scored on a wild pitch. Houston has lost six of its last seven. Glavine (13-6) departed to a hearty ovation after allowing singles to Carlos Lee and Mark Loretta with no outs in the eighth. Aaron Heilman came in and allowed Ty Wigginton’s RBI single before striking out three straight to get out of the inning. Billy Wagner, who had allowed at least one run in each of his previous five outings, pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 35 opportunities. Woody Williams (8-14) allowed Lo Duca’s RBI double in the fourth but struck out Jose Reyes with runners on second and third to end the inning and limit the damage. Williams was charged with three runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out three and walked three.

Phillies 9, Marlins 1

PHILADELPHIA — Greg Dobbs tied the game with a two-out triple in the fourth and Chris Coste lined the next offering from Florida starter Rick VandenHurk into the left-field seats as the Phillies snapped a two-game losing streak. Clay Condrey (5-0), who has spent the season shuttling back-and-forth to Triple-A Ottawa, pitched 21⁄3 innings of relief to earn the victory. He now has as many wins as stints with the big league club this season. VandenHurk (4-6) took the loss for Florida, which fell to 5-18 in its last 23 games. Hanley Ramirez hit a leadoff homer, his 25th of the season, but emergency Phillies starter John Ennis wove his way in-and-out of trouble for four innings. Condrey took over after Florida’s first two batters singled in the fifth, and the much-maligned bullpen slammed the door the rest of the way.

Dodgers 6, Giants 2

SAN FRANCISCO — David Wells took a perfect game into the sixth inning and Luis Gonzalez hit a three-run homer in the first, leading the Dodgers past the Giants. Kevin Frandsen’s one-out single to left in the sixth broke up Boomer’s bid. Scott McClain then reached on a fielder’s choice in his Giants debut and scored on an error when Shea Hillenbrand’s wild throw hit McClain as he rounded second on Rajai Davis’ single. Rookie Nate Schierholtz followed with an RBI triple to make it 3-2. Wells (7-8), who signed with the Dodgers on Aug. 24 after being designated for assignment by the Padres, won for the second time in as many decisions with his new club. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter in seven innings, allowing four hits and two runs. Barry Zito (9-12) saw his winless stretch reach four starts, but lost for the first time since Aug. 12 against Pittsburgh. Facing Los Angeles for the third time this season, Zito again fell behind early as he has so many times this season.

Associated Press