MLB ROUNDUP \Sunday’s other games

Associated Press

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I'M SAFE! Alexei Ramirez, left, of the Chicago White Sox yells as he slides in safely to home plate, beating the tag of the Boston Red Sox catcher Kevin Cash in the ninth inning of Chicago's 4-2 win at Fenway Park.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox 4, Red Sox 2

BOSTON — Jim Thome tied Mickey Mantle for 14th place with his 536th career homer and Gavin Floyd won his fifth straight decision as Chicago avoided a three-game sweep. Thome hit a two-out, two-run drive off Tim Wakefield (8-9) in the first inning for his 29th of the season. Thome and Paul Konerko hit consecutive two-out doubles in the sixth to give Chicago a 3-1 lead.

Rays 10, Orioles 4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields allowed one run over seven innings, and Jason Bartlett hit his first homer in over an year to help the AL East-leading Rays complete a three-game sweep. Shields (12-8) gave up six hits to match his career high for wins set last season. He has won seven of his last nine starts at home.

Blue Jays 6, Yankees 2

NEW YORK — Roy Halladay won his fourth straight start, giving him four wins over the Yankees this season, and Scott Rolen homered for Toronto. The Blue Jays took two of three in this series to finish 100-124 at Yankee Stadium, which is closing at the end of the season.

Rangers 4, Angels 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Josh Hamilton and Marlon Byrd hit home runs and Texas beat the Angels to avoid a sweep of the four-game series. Kevin Millwood (9-7) won his third straight start, allowing two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings following back-to-back complete-game victories over Detroit and Kansas City. The right-hander struck out seven and was lifted after 101.

Twins 12, Athletics 4

OAKLAND, Calif. — Justin Morneau homered and drove in four runs, Scott Baker won for only the second time since the All-Star break and Minnesota beat the Athletics to earn a split of the four-game series. Alexi Casilla also homered and Nick Punto added two hits, including an infield single that sparked the Twins’ five-run sixth inning.

Tigers 4, Royals 2

DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in four runs in Detroit’s win over Kansas. Jose Guillen hit a home run for Kansas City, which has lost 12 of 14.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Dodgers 8, Diamondbacks 1

PHOENIX — Andre Ethier and Casey Blake hit first-inning homers, and Los Angeles roughed up Brandon Webb and climbed within 2 1/2 games of the Diamondbacks in the NL West. Derek Lowe (11-11) tossed six shutout innings as the Dodgers took two of three games from Arizona after entering the series having lost seven straight.

Mets 6, Marlins 2

MIAMI — Pedro Martinez pitched six innings for only his second victory since July 7, and New York homered three times to beat Florida. Back-to-back home runs in the third inning by Nick Evans and David Wright put the Mets ahead to stay. Carlos Beltran added his 21st homer.

Phillies 5, Cubs 3

CHICAGO — Jayson Werth hit another home run against the Chicago Cubs and 45-year-old Jamie Moyer got his 12th win, helping Philadelphia salvage a split of their four-game series at Wrigley Field. Werth hit a two-run double in the first and a solo drive in the fifth for his 21st homer of the season.

Astros 3, Cardinals 0

HOUSTON — Ty Wigginton hit his 12th home run of August and four Astros pitchers combined to shut out St. Louis. Houston swept the three-game series with the Cardinals and has won five straight.

Nationals 8, Braves 4

WASHINGTON — Aaron Boone failed to lay down a sacrifice, then slammed a three-run, eighth-inning home run to lift Washington to its season-high sixth straight win.

Reds 9, Giants 3

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, Bronson Arroyo turned in another impressive start and the Reds beat San Francisco to complete their first three-game sweep of the Giants at home in 14 years.

Padres 2, Rockies 1

SAN DIEGO — Trevor Hoffman blew the save after a terrific outing by Jake Peavy but Luis Rodriguez singled in the winning run in the ninth to give San Diego a victory over Colorado.

Associated Press