mlb roundup | Thursday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers 8, Yankees 4

NEW YORK — Miguel Cabrera homered, tripled and drove in three runs, leading the Detroit Tigers past the Yankees for their first three-game sweep in New York since 1966. Reserve infielder Ramon Santiago made the most of his first start at shortstop this season, turning in a key defensive play and hitting a tiebreaking triple to back Nate Robertson (1-3). Magglio Ordonez had three hits — including a two-run double off Ian Kennedy — and scored twice for the Tigers, who got a strong effort from their bullpen and won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0

BOSTON — A.J. Burnett scattered three hits pitching into the eighth inning and Alex Rios homered for the Blue Jays, who wrapped up a miserable road trip with a victory. Toronto finished the nine-game trip at 2-7 and avoided a sweep after Boston had won the two previous games in the last at-bat. The Red Sox and Blue Jays combined for seven total runs in the series. Burnett (3-2) continued his mastery of the Red Sox, improving to 4-0 against Boston while allowing just one run in sixteen innings over two starts at Fenway Park. Burnett struck out five and walked five in 72‚Ñ3 innings. Jesse Carlson worked the eighth and B.J. Ryan pitched the ninth for his third save.

Rays 4, Orioles 2

BALTIMORE — Matt Garza allowed three hits in six innings, Carl Crawford snapped a tie with a two-run single in the seventh, and the surging Rays defeated the Orioles. The Rays took two of three from Baltimore to win their third straight series and climb four games over .500 (16-12) for only the third time in the 11-year history of the franchise. Tampa Bay has never been five games over the break-even point. Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who have lost four of five.

Rangers 2, Royals 1

ARLINGTON, Texas — Sidney Ponson got his first victory in a year and Texas finished off a successful homestand with Ron Washington still its manager. Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff homer in the first and Ramon Vazquez hit a tiebreaking drive in the sixth off Zack Greinke (3-1). he Rangers took two-of-three from both Minnesota and Kansas City during the homestand, which began after a miserable road trip and a meeting of owner Tom Hicks, president Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels about the team’s direction. Texas (11-18) set a team record with 18 losses in April, and still has the worst record in the majors.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Brewers 4, Cubs 3

CHICAGO — Ryan Braun hit a two-run double off Kerry Wood during Milwaukee’s three-run ninth inning. Wood blew his third save in seven chances and wasted a fine performance by Carlos Zambrano, who pitched 61‚Ñ3 innings and helped himself with his 13th career homer — tying the team record held by Ferguson Jenkins. With the Cubs ahead 3-1, Wood hit leadoff batter Craig Counsell in the ninth and pinch-hitter Gabe Kapler doubled over the head off left fielder Alfonso Soriano — who just came off the disabled list Thursday after being sidelined with a strained right calf. Jason Kendall followed with an RBI single up the middle that shortstop Ryan Theriot knocked down, preventing the tying run from scoring. Wood (2-1) walked Rickie Weeks to load the bases before striking out Mike Cameron. But Braun lined a double to right-center to give the Brewers a 4-3 lead. Braun homered in the sixth and went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Brian Shouse (2-0) got the final out in the eighth and Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 13 chances.

Dodgers 5, Marlins 3

MIAMI — Matt Kemp drove in the tiebreaking run with a ninth-inning single and Los Angeles completed its second consecutive series sweep. The Dodgers have won six straight, their longest winning streak since taking seven in a row to close the 2006 season. The Marlins, who fell percentage points behind the New York Mets atop the NL East, have lost three in a row for the first time this year. With the score 3-all, Rafael Furcal led off the ninth with a walk against Kevin Gregg (3-2), advanced on Juan Pierre’s sacrifice and scored on Kemp’s single. Joe Beimel (3-0) threw one pitch, retiring Jeremy Hermida on a popup to end the eighth. Takashi Saito pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in six chances. Cody Ross hit his first home run for the Marlins.

Phillies 3, Padres 2

PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning to lift Philadelphia to the win. Tom Gordon (3-2) pitched a perfect eighth and Brad Lidge retired the side in the ninth for his seventh save in as many chances. Lidge hasn’t allowed an earned run in 12 innings this season. The slumping Howard connected off Joe Thatcher (0-3) leading off the eighth, driving one into the right-field seats. The 2006 NL MVP also had an RBI double against starter Randy Wolf. Howard is batting just .184 with six homers and 14 RBIs. Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for San Diego. The Phillies won on the 125th anniversary of the first game in franchise history. They lost to the Providence Grays, 4-3, on May 1, 1883.

Associated Press