Thursday, July 24, 2008
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Tigers 7, Royals 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Armando Galarraga carried a perfect game into the seventh inning, Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs and the Tigers beat the Royals to complete a three-game sweep. Galarraga retired the first 18 batters before David DeJesus led off the seventh with a single to right on a full-count pitch. To that point, the 26-year-old rookie right-hander had allowed just two fly balls to the outfield and struck out six. He wound up allowing a run in the seventh on three singles and a walk, but left the bases loaded. Galarraga (8-4) was replaced by Casey Fossum in the eighth, after lowering his ERA to 3.27 while striking out a career-high seven against just one walk.
Red Sox 6, Mariners 3, 12 innings
SEATTLE — Mike Lowell hit a two-run single off Sean Green in the 12th inning, and the Red Sox took advantage of two outfield errors for their first sweep at Seattle in 15 years. The Red Sox entered the series having lost eight of 11 on the road, but flew home for a weekend against the Yankees after their first three-game sweep on the road this season. Jonathan Papelbon (4-3), pitching a third consecutive day, escaped a jam of his own creation in the 11th inning. Craig Hansen worked the 12th for his second save in four chances.
White Sox 10, Rangers 8
CHICAGO — Carlos Quentin hit two home runs, including the go-ahead, three-run shot during a five-run eighth inning to help the White Sox rally. Quentin’s go-ahead homer came on the first pitch from Rangers closer C.J. Wilson, who entered in relief of Eddie Guardado with two on and two out. It was the third multihomer game of the season for Quentin, whose shot in the fifth barely cleared the center field wall. Octavio Dotel (4-4) pitched the eighth and Bobby Jenks the ninth for his 19th save.
Yankees 5, Twins 1
NEW YORK — Mike Mussina baffled the Twins for eight innings, Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run double and the Yankees won their 10th straight at home. Justin Christian also drove in two runs for New York, which completed a perfect post-break homestand with sweeps of Oakland and the Twins. Up next is a three-game trip to Boston. The Twins did not get a runner past second against Mussina (13-6), who scattered six hits, retired 14 of the first 17 batters he faced, and walked none for the third straight start. Glen Perkins (7-3) gave up a season-high five runs on eight hits and a walk for Minnesota.
Rays 4, Athletics 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields allowed three runs pitching into the ninth inning, and Jonny Gomes and Ben Zobrist hit back-to-back homers to lead the Rays. Shields (9-6) gave up six hits and struck out seven in improving to 5-1 in his last six starts. His bid for a fourth complete game this season ended when Jack Cust doubled with one out in the ninth, but Troy Percival wrapped things up for his 20th save in 22 chances. Greg Smith (5-9) allowed four runs and five hits in six-plus innings, dropping to 1-4 over his last six starts. The Athletics have lost seven of eight.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Reds 9, Padres 5
CINCINNATI — Adam Dunn hit Cincinnati’s first grand slam of the season, and the Reds kept Greg Maddux in the longest winless streak of his sterling career. The 42-year-old Maddux hasn’t won since May 10, going 14 starts without a victory. He was thwarted again on Wednesday with an assist by the Padres’ defense and bullpen. Maddux left the game with a 3-2 lead in the sixth after giving up an unearned run. Edwin Encarnacion hit the first pitch by Cla Meredith (0-3) for a two-run homer that put the Reds ahead, dooming Maddux to his fifth loss with nine no-decisions since his last victory.
Rockies 5, Dodgers 3
DENVER — Matt Holliday drove in two runs, including one on a double that bounced off the pitcher’s glove, and Jeff Baker scored twice to lead the Rockies. Brad Hawpe, Ian Stewart and Garrett Atkins also drove in a run apiece for the defending NL champions, who closed out a seven-game homestand with a 6-1 mark. Glendon Rusch (4-3) earned his third straight victory, his longest streak since winning four in a row in September 2005 while a member of the Chicago Cubs.
Braves 9, Marlins 4
MIAMI — By the time Chipper Jones pulled up lame, the Atlanta Braves already had plenty of runs for Tim Hudson. Then Hudson departed with a tender elbow. Jones strained his left hamstring, and Hudson left after six innings with tightness in his right elbow, tempering the glow of the Braves’ 9-4 victory Wednesday night over the Florida Marlins. Jones, the major-league batting leader at .369, was hurt running out a groundout in the fourth inning and immediately left the game. It was an alarming development for a team that’s 2-10 without Jones and struggling to stay in the NL East race. Hudson’s status is even more worrisome. He improved to 11-7, allowing only three hits and one walk, but departed after throwing just 68 pitches in six shutout innings.
Mets 6, Phillies 3.
NEW YORK — Jose Reyes’ three-run homer snapped a sixth-inning tie and the New York Mets, with closer Billy Wagner back, rebounded from a demoralizing defeat by beating the Phillies. John Maine (9-7) pitched seven effective innings and New York took advantage of a wild Brett Myers in his return from the minors to again tie the Phillies for first place in the NL East. Without an ailing Wagner on Tuesday, the Mets blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning of an 8-6 loss. Wagner declared himself available Wednesday after testing his sore left shoulder before the game. He got three outs for his 25th save in 31 chances, securing New York’s eighth victory in nine home games.
Associated Press