MLB ROUNDUP Sunday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rangers 12, White Sox 11

ARLINGTON, Texas — All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler extended his majors-best hitting streak to 25 games with three hits and drove in three runs for the Rangers, who held on for a wild victory. Marlon Byrd hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh that finally put Texas ahead to stay and Michael Young, one of four Rangers going to Yankee Stadium for the All-Star game, added a two-run single to push his hitting streak to 15 games. Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye homered for Chicago (54-40), which had a season-high 22 hits.

Angels 4, Athletics 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Erick Aybar’s infield single drove in the winning run with two outs in the ninth. Casey Kotchman hit a home run and Howie Kendrick drove in two runs to help the Angels record their 19th comeback win and improved to a major league-best 36-19 in games decided by two runs or less.

Red Sox 2, Orioles 1

BOSTON — Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched six scoreless innings and Boston reclaimed the AL East lead going into the All-Star break. The Red Sox moved a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay and took the division lead for the first time since June 28. Boston trailed by a season-high five games last weekend, then won five of six while the Rays lost seven in a row.

Blue Jays 4, Yankees 1

TORONTO — A.J. Burnett came within two outs of a shutout, Marco Scutaro hit a three-run home run and Toronto beat New York for its fifth win in six games.

Tigers 4, Twins 2

DETROIT — Justin Verlander tossed seven sharp innings and Detroit avoided a four-game sweep by beating Minnesota. Verlander (7-9) allowed two runs and four hits, improving to 5-0 in his last seven starts. He hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs during his unbeaten streak, lowering his ERA from 5.05 to 4.15.

Mariners 4, Royals 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Adrian Beltre scored the go-ahead run on an error in the ninth, enabling Seattle to close out a disappointing first half of the season with a victory over Kansas City.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 6, Diamondbacks 3

PHILADELPHIA — Pat Burrell hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Philadelphia Phillies held their NL East lead heading into the All-Star break. Arizona still leads the NL West, albeit with a 47-48 record.

Brewers 3, Reds 2

MILWAUKEE — CC Sabathia homered in his first National League complete game to help Milwaukee avoid being swept by Cincinnati. Sabathia hit a home run off Reds starter Homer Bailey in the third, his third career home run and second this season. He became the first pitcher to hit home runs in both leagues in one season since Earl Wilson did it in 1970 for Detroit and San Diego, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. After allowing run-scoring sacrifice flies to David Ross in the second and Adam Dunn in the third, Sabathia (2-0) shut down Cincinnati, striking out nine batters, all from the fourth inning on. He struck out the side in the ninth.

Giants 4, Cubs 2

CHICAGO — Tim Lincecum tossed eight strong innings to hand fellow All-Star Ryan Dempster his first loss at Wrigley Field. Dempster (10-4), one of eight Cubs selected for Tuesday’s game at Yankee Stadium, entered with a 10-0 record in 11 home starts this season, but was upstaged by another brilliant start by Lincecum (11-2). The Giants right-hander struck out nine, allowed one runs and six hits and also drove in a run with his first career triple.

Braves 12, Padres 3

SAN DIEGO — All-Star catcher Brian McCann homered and drove in three runs to help Atlanta.

Dodgers 9, Marlins 1

LOS ANGELES — Chad Billingsley struck out a career-high 13 without walking a batter and the Dodgers used a six-run first inning to beat Florida, avoiding a four-game sweep.

Astros 5, Nationals 0

WASHINGTON — Brandon Backe pitched seven-plus innings and helped himself with a pair of hits to lead Houston over Washington in a battle of last-place teams.

Associated Press