MLB ROUNDUP Wednesday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 6, Orioles 3

BOSTON — Bartolo Colon got the 150th victory of his career with six strong innings, allowing one run and five hits for Boston. Colon (4-1) was staked to a 5-0 lead as Jason Varitek’s three-run homer off Garrett Olson (5-2) capped the Red Sox’s five-run first inning. Mike Lowell’s solo shot made it 6-1 in the sixth, one inning after Luke Scott homered for Baltimore. Boston was forced to use Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the ninth after Mike Timlin allowed two runs on Kevin Millar’s RBI double and a run-scoring error by second baseman Dustin Pedroia. The closer retired Brian Roberts on a grounder for his 19th save in 21 chances.

Tigers 5, White Sox 1

DETROIT — Justin Verlander pitched a four-hitter for his third career complete game and Marcus Thames hit a three-run homer to lift Detroit over Chicago. Verlander (3-9) didn’t walk a batter and struck out three. He threw 101 pitches in his best outing of the season. White Sox starter Javier Vazquez (6-5) gave up five runs and 10 hits in six innings, walking three and striking out nine. Thames’ three-run homer in the second gave Detroit a 3-0 lead. Magglio Ordonez’s two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth made it 4-1 and Carlos Guillen tripled in a run in the sixth.

Mariners 2, Blue Jays 1

TORONTO — Raul Ibanez singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and Felix Hernandez worked eight strong innings as Seattle beat Toronto. Seattle improved to 10-23 away from home and won a three-game road series for the first time since taking two of three at Tampa Bay, April 8-10. Seattle also swept a two-game series in Oakland, April 16-17. The Mariners mounted the winning rally against Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan (1-3). Ichiro Suzuki drew a one out walk and stole second and third while Willie Bloomquist struck out. Miguel Cairo walked and took second on defensive indifference before Ibanez lined an RBI single to right, advancing to second as the throw came went to the plate.

Angels 4, Rays 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Gary Matthews Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero homered, Maicer Izturis hit a go-ahead single and Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay to snap Scott Kazmir’s six-game winning streak. John Lackey (3-1) allowed two runs and four hits over 71‚Ñ3 innings, striking out seven and walking two. The right-hander, who had a career-high 19 wins and an AL-best 3.01 ERA last year, has a 1.83 ERA mark in six starts after spending the first 6 1-2 weeks of the season on the disabled list with a strained triceps. He is 9-1 with a 2.25 in 11 career starts against Tampa Bay. Scot Shields pitched two-thirds of an inning and Francisco Rodriguez worked a hitless ninth for his major league-leading 27th save in 28 chances. It was his 24th straight save, extending his club record.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 10, Reds 0

CINCINNATI — Rick Ankiel and Jason LaRue homered off wild Johnny Cueto, and Braden Looper pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout. Ryan Ludwick also homered for the Cardinals, who moved a season-high 13 games over .500 with their fourth straight victory. Looper (8-5) stayed in his up-and-down pattern, alternating losses and wins in his last six starts. The Reds got only two runners into scoring position against the reliever-turned-starter, who hadn’t gone more than 81‚Ñ3 innings in any of his 43 previous starts.

Marlins 6, Phillies 2

MIAMI — Dan Uggla hit a game-ending grand slam with one out in the ninth inning as Florida beat Philadelphia for the Marlins second win in as many nights against the NL East leaders. Jorge Cantu homered twice for the Marlins off Cole Hamels, who was nearly flawless otherwise. Hamels struck out 13 in eight innings. Tom Gordon relieved Hamels to start the ninth and gave up a single to Cantu and a pair of walks. Gordon (5-3) fell behind Uggla as well, and the Marlins’ stocky little slugger crushed a 3-1 offering high over the left-field scoreboard for his 19th home run.

Cubs 7, Braves 2

CHICAGO — A really bad break for the Chicago Cubs. The NL Central leaders won again, but lost leadoff hitter Alfonso Soriano for up to six weeks with a broken left hand after he was hit by a pitch. Soriano was hit by Atlanta starter Jeff Bennett in the second inning, left the game and went to a hospital for X-rays. Soriano will be in a splint for three weeks, Cubs spokesman Peter Chase said.

Associated Press