mlb roundup \ Monday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Twins 4, Yankees 0

MINNEAPOLIS — Brand new papa Glen Perkins pitched eight outstanding innings and light-hitting Adam Everett hit a two-run homer, lifting the Twins over the reeling Yankees. Perkins (9-3) allowed four hits and three walks while striking out four. He induced two inning-ending double plays and got a standing ovation when he left after the eighth. Joe Nathan fanned Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez and Xavier Nady in the ninth to complete the first shutout of the Yankees at the Metrodome since June 24, 1996.

Red Sox 5, White Sox 1

CHICAGO — Josh Beckett pitched eight strong innings and the Red Sox beat the White Sox even though John Danks took a no-hitter into the seventh. Kevin Youkilis’ broken-bat single with one out ended the no-hit bid and J.D. Drew’s two-run double put Boston ahead 2-1. Jed Lowrie added a two-run double in the ninth.

Blue Jays 7, Tigers 2

DETROIT — Justin Verlander struggled yet again and Toronto roughed him up to snap a three-game losing streak. Rod Barajas had a homer and three RBIs for the Blue Jays. Toronto scored just four runs in three games while getting swept by the Indians over the weekend. The Tigers lost for the eighth time in 11 games. Verlander (8-13) lasted just 4 1/3 innings, giving up six runs and seven hits. The 2006 AL Rookie of the Year has given 24 earned runs over his last four starts, losing each of them to equal the worst skid of his career. Shaun Marcum (7-5) allowed two runs and eight hits over six innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Brewers 7, Nationals 1

MILWAUKEE — Rickie Weeks and Corey Hart homered, and Dave Bush pitched Milwaukee past Washington for its sixth straight victory. Weeks hit a leadoff homer and Hart added a two-run shot in the fourth for the Brewers, who finished a four-game sweep. It was the second consecutive season that the Nationals were swept at Miller Park. Milwaukee stayed three games ahead of St. Louis for the NL wild-card lead despite the absence of Ryan Braun for the second straight game. Out with a lower-back injury, he is day to day. Bush (7-9) won his third start in a row against Washington, allowing five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked two, struck out six and left with a 4-1 lead. Garrett Mock (0-3), called up from Triple-A Columbus last Thursday, yielded four runs and five hits in 4 2-3 innings. He walked three but struck out a career-high nine.

Cardinals 4, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Yadier Molina hit a two-run homer, Joel Pineiro pitched seven strong innings and St. Louis beat Florida in a matchup of surprising playoff contenders. Joe Mather added a pinch-hit home run in the ninth for the Cardinals, who took the opener of a four-game series to keep pace with Milwaukee in the wild-card race. The low-budget Marlins, who began the day 2 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia in the NL East, fell six games off the wild-card pace. Pineiro (5-5) allowed two runs, one earned, and seven hits. Kyle McClellan worked out of a tough jam in the eighth to protect a one-run lead, and Chris Perez pitched the ninth for his second save. Anibal Sanchez (1-2), making his third start since returning from shoulder surgery, gave up three runs in seven innings. He struck out eight, equaling his career high. Cody Ross homered for Florida.

Astros 3, Giants 1

HOUSTON — Brandon Backe threw seven effective innings, Ty Wigginton homered and drove in three runs, and Houston beat San Francisco to win its fifth straight. Jose Valverde shut out the Giants in the ninth for his 29th save after LaTroy Hawkins pitched a perfect eighth for the Astros, who have won nine of 11. Backe (7-11) allowed a run and four hits. He rebounded from his worst start of the season, when he gave up 11 runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Wednesday. Jonathan Sanchez (8-9) didn’t allow a hit for five innings, but again got little support from San Francisco’s bats.

Associated Press