MLB Roundup: Monday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankees 8, Rays 7

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Robinson Cano’s pinch-hit homer snapped an eighth-inning tie, and Alex Rodriguez hit No. 521 to match Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey on the career list during New York’s victory. With shortstop Derek Jeter back in the lineup, Yankees starter Ian Kennedy cruised into the seventh inning with a 7-2 lead before he was hit on the right hip by Jason Bartlett’s line drive. The infield single knocked a hobbling Kennedy out of the game, and Tampa Bay hit three quick homers off New York’s bullpen before the inning was over to tie the score at 7.

Tigers 11, Twins 9

DETROIT — Ivan Rodriguez hit a tying two-run triple in a six-run eighth inning then scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to lift Detroit to their its win at home this season. Trailing 9-5, the Tigers scored six runs in the eighth inning. Placido Polanco, mired in an awful slump, drove in the final run to give Todd Jones a two-run cushion.

Orioles 4, Blue Jays 3

BALTIMORE — Kevin Millar homered and drove in three runs to back a fine pitching performance by Baltimore’s Matt Albers. Adam Jones tied a career high with three hits for the Orioles, who won their sixth straight home game and broke a first-place tie with Toronto in the AL East.

Angels 7, Rangers 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ervin Santana rebounded from a three-run first to pitch seven strong innings, Mike Napoli homered and Los Angeles handed Texas its fourth straight loss.

Athletics 2, White Sox 1

CHICAGO — Greg Smith outpitched Mark Buehrle for his first major league win, and Kurt Suzuki went 4-for-4 as Oakland beat Chicago for its eighth victory in 10 games. Making his second big league appearance, Smith (1-0) gave up one run and six hits over seven innings on another cold night at U.S. Cellular Field, where the gametime temperature was 42 degrees. The A’s are 6-1 on their first road trip of the season and they improved to 9-5 overall for their best start through 14 games since opening 10-4 in 1992. Not only was Smith’s pitching effective, but so was his move to first during a close game. He was able to thwart former Athletic Nick Swisher’s third-inning steal attempt by making a quick throw to first and catching him leaving early. And in the seventh, he caught Jermaine Dye leaning the wrong way at first after Dye started the inning with a single.

Associated Press