ROUNDUP \ Other Saturday games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rays 5, White Sox 3

CHICAGO — Carlos Pena’s two-run single capped a four-run eighth inning, and the surging Tampa Bay Rays increased their AL East lead by rallying for a victory. Pena’s bases-loaded single off Matt Thornton broke a 3-all tie and sent Tampa Bay to its 11th win in 14 games. The surprising Rays, who keep winning despite injuries to Evan Longoria, Carl Crawford and Troy Percival, moved 51‚Ñ2 games ahead of second-place Boston. Tampa Bay pulled this one out even though Chicago’s Jermaine Dye hit two solo homers and Javier Vazquez (10-11) retired his first 17 batters.

Blue Jays 11, Red Sox 0

TORONTO — Vernon Wells hit two home runs, Marco Scutaro added a solo shot and the Blue Jays roughed up Jon Lester in a rout of Boston. Wells went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and scored four times to back Jesse Litsch’s strong outing. He hit a two-run shot off Lester in the first inning and a solo drive in the fifth for his team-leading 12th homer. Litsch (9-7) pitched six sharp innings to win for the first time since June 26. He allowed three hits, walked three and struck out four.

Yankees 5, Orioles 3

BALTIMORE — Pitching in the major leagues for the first time since April 2007, Carl Pavano (1-0) allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings for New York. The right-hander walked one, hit two batters and struck out five in his 91-pitch effort. It was Pavano’s 20th start with the Yankees since signing a four-year, $39.95 million contract before the 2005 season. Brian Bruney followed Pavano with two innings of one-hit ball. Jose Veras worked the eighth and Mariano Rivera got three outs for his 30th save in 31 tries.

Tigers 4, Royals 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Zach Miner pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Miguel Cabrera hit his third homer in two games to reach 100 RBIs and the Detroit handed the Royals their seventh straight loss.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 9, Dodgers 2

PHILADELPHIA — Pat Burrell homered and matched his career high with five RBIs, and Cole Hamels pitched effectively with some overdue run support to lead Philadelphia. Burrell put the Phillies ahead with his 30th homer, a three-run shot just inside the left-field foul pole in the first inning. He got a gift RBI double in the fifth when Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp lost a routine fly in the sun, then capped his big day with an RBI single in the sixth.

Cubs 9, Nationals 2

CHICAGO — Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of three-run homers and Ryan Dempster matched a career high with his 15th win for the Cubs. Mark DeRosa homered in his third straight game and Alfonso Soriano added an RBI double for the Cubs, who improved to 48-19 at Wrigley Field. Dempster (15-5) allowed one run in 71‚Ñ3 innings. The right-hander, who also won 15 games for Florida in 2001, scattered eight hits, struck out four and walked one, sending the Nationals to their 13th loss in 15 games.

Giants 4, Padres 3

SAN FRANCISCO — Rich Aurilia tripled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Barry Zito (8-15) allowed four hits in eight innings to help the Giants match their season-best four-game winning streak. It was Zito’s second straight victory and only his third win at home in 13 decisions. He gave up three runs, walked three and struck out five as the Giants won four straight for the first time since June 6-9.

Braves 8, Cardinals 4

ST. LOUIS — Pinch-hitter Greg Norton delivered a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning, and Atlanta beat St. Louis to snap a six-game losing streak.

Astros 8, Mets 3

NEW YORK — Lance Berkman hit a three-run homer, Brandon Backe brought his best stuff to the mound and Houston roughed up John Maine early in a victory over New York. Berkman finished with three hits and four RBIs. David Newhan added his first homer of the season and Miguel Tejada drove in a pair of runs for the Astros, who are 3-5 following an eight-game winning streak.

Associated Press