MLB Roundup Saturday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 5, Angels 4

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jason Bay homered twice and drove in three runs and Brad Penny won his American League debut for the Red Sox. Mike Lowell added a two-run shot for the Red Sox, who ended a nine-game regular-season losing streak against Los Angeles. It’s been a different story in the postseason, however, with Boston eliminating the Angels in the first round of the playoffs three times since 2004. Jonathan Papelbon, who got the final four outs, gave up a leadoff homer to Torii Hunter in the ninth. The Angels then loaded the bases with two outs before Papelbon retired Howie Kendrick — after seven foul balls on an 0-2 count — on a tricky line drive to right fielder Rocco Baldelli.

Yankees 6, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — CC Sabathia rebounded smartly from his disappointing Yankees debut, and Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher drove in three runs apiece. Sabathia, signed to a $161 million, seven-year contract in the offseason, gave up only six singles in 7 2-3 scoreless innings. He struck out six and did not walk a batter. It was a far cry from opening day in Baltimore when the 6-foot-7 lefty lasted just 4 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs, eight hits and five walks against the Orioles, throwing two wild pitches in a 10-5 loss.

Tigers 4, Rangers 3

DETROIT — Placido Polanco hit a tiebreaking double and five Tigers pitchers combined on a two-hitter. Nate Robertson (1-0) earned the win with two shutout innings of relief, and Fernando Rodney struck out the side in the ninth for his first save. Detroit’s bullpen didn’t allow a baserunner in four innings of work. Tigers starter Justin Verlander needed 97 pitches to get through five innings. He allowed three runs — one earned — and two hits. He walked four and struck out eight. Matt Harrison (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs, nine hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

White Sox 8, Twins 0

CHICAGO — Bartolo Colon pitched six strong innings and Carlos Quentin homered, leading the White Sox. After a rough spring training, Colon handled the Twins’ lineup with relative ease. He allowed just three hits with two walks and two strikeouts, helping the White Sox end a three-game skid. Colon (1-0) is back with Chicago after going 15-13 in 2003 with a 3.87 ERA. He won the 2005 AL Cy Young Award as a member of the Angels, but has made just 35 starts since due to injuries.

Orioles 6, Rays 0

BALTIMORE — Melvin Mora’s third career grand slam capped a five-run first inning against Tampa Bay rookie Jeff Niemann, and the Orioles got six shutout innings from Jeremy Guthrie. Nick Markakis had two hits and an RBI for the Orioles, who have won two straight over the defending AL champions to clinch their first series win against Tampa Bay since Aug. 3-5, 2007. Baltimore, which opened the season by taking two of three from the New York Yankees, is 4-1 for the first time since 2000. Guthrie (2-0) allowed five hits and walked none to lower his ERA to 2.25.

Mariners 8, Athletics 5

OAKLAND, Calif. — Kenji Johjima had a two-run single in a four-run eighth inning and the Mariners rallied twice from deficits. Russell Branyan homered and Franklin Gutierrez and Jose Lopez each drove in two runs for the Mariners, who won their third straight. Mike Sweeney added an RBI single in the ninth. Miguel Batista (1-0) pitched two innings in relief of Felix Hernandez. Brandon Morrow recorded three outs for his second save. Jack Cust hit a two-run home run and Landon Powell had a two-run double for the A’s, who lost their second straight. Santiago Casilla (0-1) allowed three runs — two earned — in one-plus innings.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 11, Astros 2

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols hit a grand slam and a three-run homer to match a career high with seven RBIs, leading the Cardinals. It was Pujols’ 24th multihomer game and first since Aug. 16, 2008, against Cincinnati. He matched his career best for RBIs set Aug. 22, 2006, against the New York Mets. Rick Ankiel and Joe Thurston had three hits apiece for the Cardinals, who finished with 19 hits overall. Adam Wainright (1-0) pitched five shutout innings. Roy Oswalt (0-2) had a rare bad outing at Busch Stadium, allowing six runs and nine hits in six innings for the Astros. He had a 1.83 ERA in five previous starts at Busch.

Mets 8, Marlins 4

MIAMI — Livan Hernandez found a way to beat the Florida Marlins: by throwing curves slower than the team bus. Hernandez used his off-speed stuff to take a shutout into the seventh inning, helping the Mets. Florida had been the last undefeated team in the majors, but Hernandez tamed an offense that batted .309 and scored 31 runs as the Marlins won their first four games. Meanwhile, Ricky Nolasco (1-1) endured the poorest outing so far by a Florida starter, allowing four runs in five innings.

Braves 5, Nationals 3

ATLANTA — Kenshin Kawakami pitched six effective innings to win his major league debut, leading the Braves. Kawakami allowed three runs and four hits, walked four and struck out eight. The 33-year-old right-hander is the first Japanese-born player in franchise history. Kelly Johnson went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs one night after he had the game-winning hit in the 10th inning of a 6-5 win over the Nationals. Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar had run-scoring singles for Atlanta. Ryan Zimmerman had a two-run homer for the Nationals, who dropped to 0-5.

Cubs 6, Brewers 5

MILWAUKEE — Alfonso Soriano made up for another poor performance by the Cubs’ bullpen, smacking a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning. The Cubs entered the ninth trailing by a run, and Carlos Villanueva — who is serving as the Brewers’ closer while Trevor Hoffman recovers from a strained oblique muscle — opened the inning by getting Koyie Hill to fly out. But pinch-hitter Reed Johnson singled to bring up Soriano, who clubbed Villanueva’s next pitch into the second deck in left field. Carlos Marmol worked the ninth for Chicago instead of designated closer Kevin Gregg, who blew a save Friday night. Marmol earned his first save of the season.

Associated Press

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