MLB roundup \ Saturday’s games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 16, Yankees 11

BOSTON — Jason Varitek hit a grand slam, Mike Lowell drove in six runs and the Boston Red Sox earned their biggest comeback victory against the Yankees since 1968. Boston was trailing 6-0 before its offense got untracked with five runs in the fourth inning. Lowell hit a three-run homer in the seventh to put the Red Sox ahead for good.

Athletics 5, Rays 2

OAKLAND, Calif. — Jason Giambi hit the first homer of his second stint with Oakland, Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run double and the Athletics ended a five-game skid.

White Sox 10, Blue Jays 2

CHICAGO — Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth grand slam and drove in a career-high five RBIs, and Jermaine Dye added a two-run homer for the White Sox.

Rangers 6, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE — Ian Kinsler homered twice and the Rangers led off the first three innings with home runs against Mark Hendrickson.

Tigers 9, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gerald Laird and Curtis Granderson hit two-run homers and Magglio Ordonez a solo shot for the Tigers.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cardinals 8, Cubs 2

ST. LOUIS — Albert Pujols hit his second grand slam of the season and surpassed 1,000 career RBIs, giving the surging Cardinals their ninth straight home win. The Cardinals have won 10 of their 12 home games this season and are 13-5 overall, good for first place in the NL Central.

Braves 10, Reds 2

CINCINNATI — Yunel Escobar drove in a career-high four runs and finished a triple short of the cycle, leading Atlanta to the victory. Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer and also drove in four runs as the Braves jumped on Bronson Arroyo for six runs in the first two innings and handed the right-hander his first loss in four starts this season.

Mets 8, Nationals 2

NEW YORK — Mike Pelfrey gave the Mets a healthy and effective start, Ryan Church drove in three runs and New York took advantage of sloppy play by the stumbling Nationals. Still struggling to get the big hit, New York scored four unearned runs off Daniel Cabrera to build an early cushion for Pelfrey, who missed his previous turn in the rotation due to forearm tendinitis.

Associated Press