Major League baseball roundup

May 21, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 3

BOSTON — David Ortiz broke a career-high 149 at-bat homerless drought in a six-run fifth inning, Brad Penny pitched his best game of the season for Boston. Jason Varitek, Jason Bay and Mike Lowell also homered in the fifth off rookie left-hander Brett Cecil (2-1), but Ortiz’s shot just to the left of straightaway center drew the loudest roar from fans who waited a long time since his last homer Sept. 22.

Yankees 11, Orioles 4

NEW YORK — Nick Swisher hit the first of three consecutive homers that sent Phil Hughes and New York to its eighth straight victory. Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera also hit solo shots to right field in the second inning against starter Jeremy Guthrie (3-4) — all with two strikes. Cano had three hits and three RBIs, and Mark Teixeira hit a run-scoring double off the center-field fence for the Yankees, on their longest winning streak since taking eight in a row last July. New York broke it open with a six-run eighth that included Derek Jeter’s two-run double off the top of the right-field wall.

Tigers 5, Rangers 3

DETROIT — Justin Verlander allowed three hits in six innings and Detroit, despite hitting into a triple play, won its fifth straight.

Athletics 7, Rays 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brett Anderson pitched into the seventh inning to pick up his first major league win, and Orlando Cabrera has two RBIs. Anderson (1-4) gave up four runs — two earned — and four hits over six-plus innings. The victory came in his seventh career start, all coming this season.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Marlins 8, Diamondbacks 6

MIAMI — Dan Uggla homered and drove in four runs to help the Florida Marlins beat Arizona 8-6 on Wednesday night in the first game of a doubleheader overshadowed by the death of the wife of Diamondbacks pitcher Scott Schoeneweis. Jorge Cantu, Cody Ross and Wes Helms also drove in runs for the Marlins in their second victory in their last nine games. Florida starter Chris Volstad (3-3) struck out a career-high nine in six innings and won for the first time since April 14.

Reds 5, Phillies 1

CINCINNATI — Aaron Harang limited the NL’s highest-scoring lineup to a solo homer, and Brandon Phillips drove in three runs to help Cincinnati end Philadelphia’s winning streak at five games.

Braves 12, Rockies 4

ATLANTA — Yunel Escobar hit a three-run homer in a nine-run fourth inning and Atlanta routed Colorado for the second straight night.

Cardinals 2, Cubs 1

ST. LOUIS — Chris Carpenter returned to St. Louis’ rotation with five scoreless innings, and Chris Duncan snapped a 1-for-21 slump with two hits and an RBI.

Astros 6, Brewers 4

HOUSTON — Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings, Miguel Tejada and Hunter Pence both had two RBIs, and Houston ended Milwaukee’s winning streak at six. Lance Berkman had an RBI double, and Rodriguez drove in his first run of the season as the Astros — caught batting out of order in the first inning — handed Milwaukee only its third loss in 16 games. Rodriguez (5-2) allowed six hits and struck out five to win his fourth straight decision.

Associated Press