Baseball roundup \ Friday’s games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 2, Indians 1, 12 innings

CLEVELAND — Miguel Olivo homered with one out in the 12th inning after David DeJesus saved the game for Kansas City with two accurate throws. Olivo, who drove in the Royals’ first run with a fourth-inning groundout, hit an 0-2 pitch from Jose Veras (4-3) into the bleachers in left field for his 19th home run of the season as Kansas City won its fifth straight game. Jamey Wright (2-5) pitched two innings for the win. Joakim Soria pitched the 12th for his 25th save in 28 opportunities. DeJesus, the left fielder, threw out runners at the plate in the ninth and 11th inning. Both runners were trying to score from second base on singles by Jhonny Peralta. Royals ace Zack Greinke held the Indians to one run in seven innings, but ended up with his eighth no-decision of the season, the first Kansas City has won. He has received 29 runs in his combined 15 starts of losses and no-decisions.

Blue Jays 6, Tigers 4

DETROIT — Aaron Hill had four hits and the Toronto Blue Jays extended the Detroit Tigers’ slump. The AL Central leaders have lost four straight to Kansas City and Toronto after a six-game winning streak. The Blue Jays won for just the third time in their last 13 road games. Brian Tallet (7-9) picked up his second straight win, allowing three runs and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out seven, matching a season high. Three relievers finished, with Jason Frasor pitching the ninth for his ninth save.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Astros 9, Pirates 1

HOUSTON — Carlos Lee hit a three-run homer and Lance Berkman added a solo shot. Kaz Matsui drove in two runs and Bud Norris struck out seven in six innings for the Astros, who’ve won 11 of their last 15 home games. Norris (5-3) allowed six hits and won for the second straight time after three consecutive losses. Andy LaRoche hit a solo homer for the Pirates, who’ve lost 12 straight road games and 13 of 14 overall. Lee’s 24th homer capped a six-run seventh for Houston.

Phillies 4, Mets 2

PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels pitched 62‚Ñ3 effective innings and a new-look bullpen got the last seven outs for Philadelphia. Jimmy Rollins and Pedro Feliz had RBI singles and Shane Victorino hit a career-high three doubles for the NL East-leading Phillies, who entered with a five-game lead over Florida. Hamels (9-9) allowed one run and seven hits, striking out six. Last year’s World Series and NLCS MVP, Hamels has pitched well in his last three starts after an up-and-down season. Chan Ho Park retired David Wright with the tying run on second in the seventh. Brett Myers needed just six pitches to get through an easy eighth. Ryan Madson finished for his seventh save in 12 chances after giving up one run.

Braves 1, Cardinals 0

ST. LOUIS — Jair Jurrjens worked eight scoreless innings, overcoming another light offensive showing behind him in the Braves’ victory over the Cardinals. Albert Pujols had a forgettable game for St. Louis, committing two fielding errors at first base while going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and no balls out of the infield against the 23-year-old right-hander. The NL Central leaders lost for the first time in 17 games on a day when the second-place Cubs also won, shaving their formidable lead to 101‚Ñ2 games. Jurrjens (11-10) allowed six hits while striking out seven with one walk, matching his career best for innings and helping end Joel Pineiro’s eight-game winning streak dating to July 3. The Cardinals were 3 for 10 with runners in scoring position against Jurrjens, yet came up empty.

Cubs 6, Reds 4

CHICAGO — Geovany Soto homered for the first time since July 10, and the Cubs beat the Reds for their first four-game winning streak in nearly two months. Aramis Ramirez rebounded from a poor trip to go 3 for 3 with three RBIs for the Cubs. Chicago had not won four in a row since taking five straight from Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Houston from July 22-27.

Nationals 5, Marlins 3

MIAMI — Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman homered and the Washington Nationals won in Miami for the first time this year.Pinch-hitter Mike Morse broke a tie in the sixth inning with a two-out, two-run double for the Nationals, who had lost their six previous games at Florida this year. Mike MacDougal got the final five outs, completing a five-hitter for his 15th save in 16 chances.

Associated Press