mlb roundup \ Friday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 11, Rangers 3

BOSTON — Slumping David Ortiz hit a grand slam, Daisuke Matsuzaka stayed unbeaten and the Red Sox beat the Rangers. Dustin Pedroia hit his first homer, a two-run shot that capped Boston’s five-run fourth inning. The Red Sox won for the sixth time in seven games. Ortiz entered the game hitting just .111, the lowest of any regular in the majors. He went 2-for-4 with five RBIs. His grand slam was the eighth career slam, seventh with the Red Sox. Milton Bradley extended his hitting streak to 13 games and Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer for the Rangers.

White Sox 9, Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jim Thome hit his 511th career home run and Javier Vazquez won his third consecutive start. Thome connected in the third inning for a three-run shot off rookie Jeff Niemann, who was making his second career start.

Tigers 8, Blue Jays 4

TORONTO — Edgar Renteria hit a two-run home run, Kenny Rogers won for the first time since July and the Tigers beat the Blue Jays, handing Toronto its sixth consecutive home defeat. The Blue Jays have not won at home since April 6, when they completed a three-game sweep of Boston. It’s Toronto’s longest home losing streak since an eight-game skid from April 5-17, 2004. Renteria, who singled home a run in the ninth, finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Orioles 8, Yankees 2

BALTIMORE — Jay Payton and Melvin Mora had two RBIs apiece in a seven-run sixth inning, Daniel Cabrera took a four-hitter into the seventh, and the Orioles beat the Yankees. Cabrera and Phil Hughes were locked in a 1-1 duel before the Orioles sent 11 men to the plate in their most productive inning of the season. Baltimore got seven hits, all of them singles, against three pitchers. Cabrera (1-0) was pulled after giving up a a leadoff homer to Chad Moeller in the seventh. The right-hander allowed two runs, five hits and a season-low two walks.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Braves 6, Dodgers 1

ATLANTA — Another night, another two homers for Chipper Jones. The Braves slugger homered twice for the second game in a row, leading Atlanta. Jones hit a three-run shot off Derek Lowe in the fifth to break open a 2-0 game, then added a solo homer against Chan Ho Park in the seventh to make it 6-1.

Mets 6, Phillies 4

PHILADELPHIA — Johan Santana struck out 10 over seven innings, David Wright went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and the Mets beat the Phillies for the third straight time. Santana (2-2) allowed three runs and four hits, outpitching Cole Hamels in a matchup of two of the best left-handers in the majors. Pinch-hitter Greg Dobbs hit a three-run homer off reliever Aaron Heilman to cut the Phillies’ deficit to 5-4 in the eighth, but the Mets bullpen held on. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his third save.

Brewers 5, Reds 2

CINCINNATI — Ben Sheets dominated for five innings before a tight pitching arm forced him from the game, and Milwaukee held on to beat slumping Cincinnati. Sheets (3-0) allowed only a pair of singles, looking very comfortable in a hitter-friendly ballpark where he has never lost. At age 29, the hard-throwing right-hander is having one of the best Aprils of his career, allowing only three earned runs in four games.

Nationals 6, Marlins 4

MIAMI — Nick Johnson hit a three-run double and drove in four runs, helping Washington snap a three-game skid. Washington, which had lost 12 of 13, scored only five runs in being swept by the Mets. Tim Redding (3-1) pitched six innings, allowing four runs on three hits, while striking out a career-high 10.

Cardinals 11, Giants 1

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run fourth inning, Skip Schumaker and Chris Duncan each had two hits and two RBIs with a walk in their first three at-bats, and the Cardinals routed Matt Cain and the Giants. St. Louis reached a season best for runs and tied its best for hits, also against the Giants a week ago, in a game that began in 53-degree chill.

Rockies 11, Astros 5

HOUSTON — The Colorado Rockies didn’t look tired. Troy Tulowitzki had two doubles and three RBIs, Garrett Atkins had an RBI single and a two-run homer and the Rockies beat the Astros less than 20 hours after winning a 22-inning marathon in San Diego.

Associated Press