MLB ROUNDUP \ Saturday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Angels 4, Red Sox 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pinch hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, and the Angels rallied over the defending World Series champions. Los Angeles pinch hitters were just 6-for-38 with five RBIs this season before Aybar’s clutch hit. The Angels, going for their fourth AL West title in five years, won their fourth straight game including an 11-3 triumph over the Red Sox on Friday night to move a season-high 21 games over .500 and extend their division lead over Oakland to eight games.

Yankees 4, Athletics 3, 12 innings

NEW YORK — Jose Molina was hit by Lenny DiNardo’s pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, and the Yankees outlasted the Athletics. Robinson Cano had four hits and David Robertson earned his first major league win as New York pulled out a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 93-degree heat. The Yankees, who stranded a whopping 21 runners, were down to their final out in the ninth when Cano doubled off Huston Street. Wilson Betemit tied it with an opposite-field single to left-center on an 0-2 pitch, handing Street his fifth blown save in 22 chances.

Rays 6, Blue Jays 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rookie All-Star Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam during a five-run sixth and Matt Garza threw 72‚Ñ3 scoreless innings. Longoria has struggled recently, going 3-for-23 with no RBIs in his previous seven games. He broke out the slide in a big way with the bases-clearing drive off Toronto ace Roy Halladay (11-7) to put the Rays ahead 5-0. Garza (8-5) allowed two hits and struck out six.

Twins 14, Rangers 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each homered and drove in eight runs between them. Morneau had a two-run homer and a three-run double. Mauer hit a two-run double and a solo shot. Brian Buscher added a two-run home run in the seventh to push the lead to a dozen and give Minnesota a 23-7 record since mid-June. Lost in the shuffle of a 16-hit barrage by the home team was another win for Livan Hernandez (10-6), who was dominant for seven innings and matched his season low of five hits allowed. Minnesota is 14-7 when he starts, despite an ERA he reduced to 5.29.

Royals 9, White Sox 1

CHICAGO — Gil Meche and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, and John Buck and Billy Butler homered for Kansas City. Meche (7-9) shut down the AL Central leaders, allowing the two hits and a run in 61‚Ñ3 strong innings. Ron Mahay, Ramon Ramirez and Horacio Ramirez completed the two-hitter.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Marlins 9, Phillies 5

MIAMI — Rookie catcher John Baker drove in four runs and hit one of three homers for Florida, which tightened the race in the NL East. Dan Uggla added a two-run homer, his 24th, and Jeremy Hermida hit his 11th. The Marlins lead the majors with 138 home runs. Pat Burrell hit two solo homers for Philadelphia, giving him 25 this year. Florida’s homers came off Kyle Kendrick (8-4), who allowed 10 hits and seven runs in 41‚Ñ3 innings. Scott Olsen (6-4) allowed four runs, three earned, in five innings.

Brewers 8, Giants 5

SAN FRANCISCO — Rickie Weeks hit a two-run double to cap a four-run sixth inning, Prince Fielder homered and the Brewers remained unbeaten against the Giants. Ryan Braun missed hitting for the cycle by a home run for Milwaukee, which had had nine extra-base hits while winning its third straight. Milwaukee trailed 4-2 in the sixth before scoring four times to break the game open. One run scored on a wild pitch and another came home on an error by Giants catcher Bengie Molina — both on the same play. Weeks then doubled to left-center to drive in two more and give the Brewers a 6-4 lead.

Nationals 8, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Willie Harris, a part-time starter for Atlanta last season, had three hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and scored three runs in the Nationals’ win over the Braves. Harris made a diving catch of a line drive by Gregor Blanco in center field to end the game and has five hits in the first two games of the series. Harris and Christian Guzman drove in runs with triples. Guzman was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Ryan Langerhans, another former Braves outfielder, was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs scored, giving him four hits in the first two games.

Cardinals 6, Padres 5

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols had three hits and four RBIs, helping the Cardinals rally from five runs down to beat San Diego for their fourth straight win. Todd Wellemeyer (8-4) allowed one hit in his last 41‚Ñ3 innings after surrendering five runs on four hits in the first two frames and Ryan Franklin worked the last two innings for his 14th save in 18 chances. Randy Wolf (6-10) was knocked out in the sixth after a strong beginning for the Padres, who have lost five in a row and eight of 10. Rookie Edgar Gonzalez hit a three-run home run, matching his career best for RBIs.

Astros 4, Cubs 1

HOUSTON — Wandy Rodriguez struck out seven, and the Houston Astros again stifled the Cubs’ offense. Rodriguez (5-3) allowed nine hits, including a solo homer by Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, but Chicago stranded seven runners and dropped its third straight game. Carlos Lee and Miguel Tejada had RBIs for the Astros, who’ve won four in a row and five of their last six. Zambrano (10-4) allowed four runs and walked six, a season high. He hit his 14th career homer in the seventh inning, a Cubs record for a pitcher.

Associated Press