MLB ROUNDUP

MLB ROUNDUP

Thursday’s games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Blue Jays 2, Yankees 1.

TORONTO — Frank Thomas drove in the winning run with a ninth-inning single, and the Blue Jays beat the Yankees to snap New York’s seven-game winning streak. The Yankees, who fell 51⁄2 games behind first-place Boston in the AL East, now head to Fenway Park to begin a big three-game series against their longtime rival Friday night. Roger Clemens threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday and said he has “no doubt” he’ll be able to return from a sore elbow to start the series finale Sunday night. Johnny Damon homered and rookie Ian Kennedy allowed one hit in seven-plus innings for New York, which leads the wild-card race by 31⁄2 games over Detroit. Alex Rios led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off reliever Chris Britton (0-1), stole second and scored when Thomas grounded a clean single to center. A.J. Burnett pitched eight outstanding innings, Thomas went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Toronto (73-73) ended a five-game skid.

Orioles 3, Angels 0

BALTIMORE — Jon Leicester and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and Scott Moore had two RBIs to lead Baltimore. The Orioles won the finale of the series after losing the first two games by a combined score of 28-11. They won for just the fourth time in their last 22 games and for the second time in their last 16 home games. Los Angeles had its six-game road winning streak snapped and was shut out for the seventh time this season. Leicester (2-1) became Baltimore’s first starter to not give up a run since Erik Bedard held the New York Yankees scoreless on Aug. 15, a span of 25 games. Leicester was the last Baltimore starter to earn a win, beating Boston in his last outing on Sept. 8.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs 6, Astros 2

HOUSTON — Steve Trachsel earned his first win with the Cubs in eight years and Chicago hit four home runs to regain the NL Central lead. Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Daryle Ward and Cliff Floyd all homered for Chicago, which moved a half-game ahead of idle Milwaukee in the division race. The Cubs open a four-game series at third-place St. Louis on Friday night. Trachsel (1-2) gave up two solo homers and seven hits in five innings for his first win since the Cubs acquired him from Baltimore on Aug. 31.

Phillies 12, Rockies 4

PHILADELPHIA — Chase Utley hit a two-run homer and Philadelphia’s much-maligned bullpen was superb in the Phillies’ victory. Geoff Geary (2-2) pitched three scoreless innings after starter J.D. Durbin lasted just one inning, then five other relievers allowed one run over the final five innings. The Phillies moved within two games of San Diego in the NL wild-card standings, pending the result of the Padres’ game at Los Angeles later Thursday. The Dodgers entered the day tied with the Phillies. The Rockies fell one game behind Philadelphia.

Reds 5, Cardinals 4

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto hit a two-run double and David Ross had a two-run homer for Cincinnati, leaving St. Louis winless on its seven-game road trip. The Cardinals ended the trip with their first three-game sweep in Cincinnati since July 1998. It’s their first winless trip of at least seven games since May 1972, when they went 0-7 in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

Associated Press