MLB ROUNDUP \ Sunday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Angels 5, Red Sox 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Casey Kotchman hit a two-run double to cap a three-run rally in the eighth inning as Los Angeles won its fifth straight victory. With another late comeback, the Angels completed their first three-game sweep of Boston in seven years. Los Angeles scored four runs in the seventh Saturday for a 4-2 win.

Yankees 2, Athletics 1

NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte outpitched Oakland All-Star Justin Duchscherer, getting just enough run support from Jason Giambi’s homer and a sacrifice fly by Alex Rodriguez to help the New York Yankees hold off the Athletics for a three-game sweep. The Yankees (53-45) won their seventh straight at home and climbed a season-best eight games over .500. The A’s have dropped five straight, managing just nine runs in the process.

Blue Jays 9, Rays 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Alex Rios and Marco Scutaro homered, and Toronto avoided a three-game sweep with a victory over AL East-leading Tampa Bay. Scutaro hit a three-run shot off Edwin Jackson (5-7) in the fifth to put the Blue Jays ahead 6-4. Rios had a two-run homer in the third and added a run-scoring double during a three-run seventh.

Rangers 1, Twins 0

MINNEAPOLIS — Taylor Teagarden broke up Scott Baker’s perfect-game bid with a sixth-inning home run for his first major league hit, and Vicente Padilla pitched Texas past Minnesota. The Rangers denied the Twins their fourth series sweep over the past month, handing them just their eighth defeat in 31 games. Baker (6-3) took a hard-luck loss, his first in six starts. Padilla (11-5), activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up three hits in seven innings.

Tigers 5, Orioles 1

BALTIMORE — Justin Verlander came within an out of completing a three-hitter, and Detroit got home runs from Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames to hand Baltimore its 15th consecutive Sunday loss. Ryan Raburn had two RBIs for the Tigers, who split the four-game series and moved back to .500 (49-49).

Royals 8, White Sox 7

CHICAGO — Esteban German hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the eighth inning to lead Kansas City over Chicago. German was 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Mike Aviles had three hits for the Royals, who have won five of seven. Joakim Soria got three outs for his 26th save and Ramon Ramirez (1-1) earned the win.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Marlins 3, Phillies 2

MIAMI — Jorge Cantu hit a bases-loaded single off the scoreboard with none out in the 11th inning, and the Florida Marlins tightened the NL East race by beating Philadelphia. By winning two of three games in the series, the Marlins closed to within one-half game of the Phillies and New York Mets.

Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 5

PHOENIX — Andre Ethier hit a go-ahead triple to highlight a five-run ninth-inning rally for Los Angeles. The Dodgers took two of three from Arizona to pull even with the Diamondbacks in the NL West. Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks had staked Brandon Lyon to a three-run lead, but the Diamondbacks closer, pitching in his third straight game, couldn’t hold it.

Cubs 9, Astros 0

HOUSTON — Ryan Dempster struck out seven in eight shutout innings to earn his first road win in two years and Chicago snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over Houston. Mike Fontenot hit a solo homer and a two-run double and Derrek Lee had three RBIs to help Chicago shake out a mini-offensive slump that bridged the All-Star break.

Mets 7, Reds 5, 10 innings

CINCINNATI — Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion hit one of Cincinnati’s three homers off Mike Pelfrey, then made a throwing error in the 10th inning that helped New York rally for a victory and a split of their four-game series.

Brewers 7, Giants 4

SAN FRANCISCO — Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs, pitcher Manny Parra had an RBI single en route to winning his eighth straight decision and Milwaukee completed a season sweep of San Francisco.

Nationals 15, Braves 6

ATLANTA — Former Braves outfielder Willie Harris drove in five runs and reached base five times, Jesus Flores had five hits and Austin Kearns hit a two-run homer as Washington routed Atlanta.

Cardinals 9, Padres 5

ST. LOUIS — Aaron Miles’ grand slam in the ninth inning, the first game-ending hit of his career, helped St. Louis recover from another blown save by Jason Isringhausen to wrap up a four-game sweep of San Diego.

Associated Press