mlb roundup Saturday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox 8, Twins 7

MINNEAPOLIS — Jim Thome drove in four runs for the Chicago White Sox, countering two home runs by ex-teammate Joe Crede. Bobby Jenks picked up his 20th save, but nearly blew it when Jose Morales hit a two-run single with one out in the ninth after Crede’s sharp grounder shot through Gordon Beckham’s legs for an error to put runners at second and third. Denard Span grounded into a double play to end the game. Crede hit a three-run shot in the fifth inning and a solo homer in the seventh against Gavin Floyd (7-6), giving him four home runs in eight games against the White Sox this season.

Angels 14, Yankees 8

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Napoli hit a go-ahead two-run double off Andy Pettitte during a seven-run fifth inning and added a solo homer in the seventh, leading the Los Angeles Angels to their second straight come-from-behind victory over New York. Alex Rodriguez homered twice for the Yankees, increasing his career total to 570 and putting him in 10th place on the all-time list.

Orioles 4, Blue Jays 3

BALTIMORE — Melvin Mora ended a 50-game homerless drought with an opposite-field drive in the 12th inning. Mora had gone 189 at-bats without a homer since May 7 before connecting with one out against Jesse Carlson (1-4). The liner barely made it into the right-field bleachers. The homer drought was the longest of his career. Luke Scott also homered for Baltimore to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games. Mark Hendrickson (5-4) worked the 12th for the Orioles, who improved to 6-0 after being shut out.

Athletics 7, Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rajai Davis and Adam Kennedy each hit two-run homers in the seventh inning, and Dallas Braden gave up two runs over six innings. Davis hit his two-run homer off Matt Garza (6-7) before Kennedy added another two-run shot on the only pitch Randy Choate threw to put Oakland ahead 4-2. Braden (7-7), reinstated from the bereavement list before the game to pitch for the first time since July 1, allowed five hits, two walks and struck out six. The left-hander is just 3-2 despite allowing two earned runs or less in each of his last eight starts.

Red Sox 15, Royals 9

BOSTON — John Smoltz got his first win for Boston and Kevin Youkilis hit two home runs to lift the Red Sox. Smoltz (1-2) struck out seven over five innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out four batters in a row over the second and third inning capped off by called third strikes that painted the corner on Miguel Olivo and Tony Pena. Coming off shoulder surgery that cut his 2008 season to six appearances, the 42-year-old Smoltz didn’t make his first start until June 25 against Washington. He struggled with an 0-2 record and 6.60 ERA in three previous appearances. Gil Meche (4-9) left with two outs in the fourth inning with back spasms after he had allowed seven runs — five earned.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Mets 4, Reds 0

NEW YORK — Jeff Francoeur had a two-run single in his Mets debut and Johan Santana pitched seven sharp innings, leading New York over Cincinnati. Omir Santos had three hits for New York, which scored all its runs in the first two innings. Leadoff hitter Angel Pagan scored twice and swiped two bases in his second game back after being sidelined with a strained groin. Santana (10-7) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked one, taking advantage of some rare run support. New York had scored seven runs in the left-hander’s previous four starts. While the Mets were all smiles, the Reds had a rough night. Johnny Cueto (8-6) turned in another shaky start, and right fielder Jay Bruce broke his right wrist trying to make a sliding catch.

Cubs 5, Cardinals 2

CHICAGO — Ted Lilly allowed four hits and a run in eight strong innings to earn his 100th career win, and Chicago beat St. Louis. Lilly (9-6), the Cubs’ lone selection to the All-Star game, walked one and struck out four in a 103-pitch outing and left with a 5-1 lead. The veteran left-hander was staked to an early 3-0 lead with Jeff Baker hitting a two-run, bases-loaded single off Brad Thompson (2-6) in the first. St. Louis got a run in the ninth off reliever Carlos Marmol and had the tying run at the plate before closer Kevin Gregg struck out pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker for his 16th save in 19 chances.

Brewers 6, Dodgers 3

MILWAUKEE — J.J. Hardy hit a two-out, two-run double in the eighth, and Trevor Hoffman and the Milwaukee bullpen held on this time to beat Los Angeles. Mike Burns (2-2) struck out a career-high seven and drove in a run to win for the second time in his career, and Frank Catalanotto homered for the Brewers. Rafael Furcal and Andre Ethier hit back-to-back shots for the Dodgers (55-32), who are 5-3 on their nine-game trip and will have the best mark in the majors at the All-Star break regardless of what happens today. Manny Ramirez went 1 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to five games a night after tying Yankees great Mickey Mantle on the career home run list at 536. Dodgers starter Jeff Weaver (5-3) allowed four straight hits to start the fourth.

Nationals 13, Astros 2

HOUSTON — Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn homered in consecutive at-bats and Washington set season highs for hits and runs.Washington’s 21 hits were the team’s most since the franchise relocated from Montreal in 2005. The Nationals last scored 13 runs against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 22, 2008. Rookie Craig Stammen (2-4) gave up nine hits in Washington’s fourth complete game of the season. Willingham added a two-run homer and an RBI double and Alberto Gonzalez had a pair of RBI singles for the Nationals. Houston starter Mike Hampton (5-6) gave up nine hits in 32‚Ñ3 innings, his shortest outing of the season.

Braves 4, Rockies 3

DENVER — Jair Jurrjens pitched six strong innings and singled twice to drive in a run and score a run, leading the Atlanta Braves past the Colorado Rockies. Jurrjens (7-7) won for just the second time in his last eight starts with the help of his bat and arm. He had taken five losses in that span, including four in which he received two or fewer runs in offensive support. Rafael Soriano, the last of five Braves pitchers, allowed a bloop single to Seth Smith to start the ninth inning but then struck out the side for his 12th save in 13 opportunities.

Associated Press