AROUND THE HORN | Saturday’s other games
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees 4, White Sox 0
NEW YORK
Hiroki Kuroda tied a career high by striking out 11 and the Yankees backed him with three home runs, ending Chicago’s four-game winning streak. A day after outfielder Dewayne Wise was perfect in his pro pitching debut during a mop-up role, he was perfect at the plate. He had three hits and homered, with Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano also connecting. Kuroda (8-7) pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and walked one in the matchup of AL division leaders.
Blue Jays 11, Angels 2
TORONTO
Yunel Escobar homered during a seven-run burst in the second inning and Brett Lawrie later added a three-run shot, leading the Blue Jays. Lawrie also doubled and singled. He drove in three runs and scored three before leaving after the seventh. The Angels lost consecutive games for the first time since June 3-4. Los Angeles rookie Mike Trout, who came in leading the AL with a .342 average, was held hitless for the first time in 12 games. He finished 0 for 4, dropping his average to .336.
Twins 7, Royals 2, 1st game
Twins 5, Royals 1, 2nd game
MINNEAPOLIS
Joe Mauer homered, rookie Cole De Vries threw six strong innings and the Twins swept a day-night doubleheader. Josh Willingham and Chris Parmelee also homered for the Twins, who finished June with a 14-13 record — their first winning month in almost a year. The Twins took the opener 7-2 as Scott Diamond pitched eight solid innings and Trevor Plouffe homered.
Rangers 7, Athletics 2
ARLINGTON, TEXAS
Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer to cap a big fifth inning, Martin Perez won his first career start and the Rangers extended their winning streak to five games. Hamilton drove in four runs to help Texas (50-29) become the first team in baseball to reach 50 victories. The Rangers have won 17 of 21 games since June 8. Oakland committed two errors in the fifth that led to five unearned runs, including a miscue from shortstop Brandon Hicks right before Hamilton came up to bat.
Tigers 6, Rays 2
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.
Rick Porcello allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Austin Jackson hit a three-run homer and the Tigers won. Porcello (6-5) struck out four in winning for the third time in four starts. Jackson put the Tigers up 4-0 with his eighth homer in the eighth off Joel Peralta, who returned after serving an eight-game suspension for having pine tar on his glove.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves 7, Nationals 5
ATLANTA
Mike Minor won for just the second time in 12 starts and the Braves overcame 104-degree heat to beat Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals. Strasburg (9-3) left after just three innings because of weather-related issues. He didn’t return to begin the fourth, tying for the shortest outing of his 33-start career. Braves officials reported no major health problems among the announced crowd of 26,491. The team credited eight free water stations at Turner Field with helping fans cool off. Strasburg allowed two hits, three runs and four walks, and struck out four to reach 122, most in the majors.
Cubs 3, Astros 2
CHICAGO
Anthony Rizzo hit his first homer with the Cubs, a two-run go-ahead shot in the fifth inning, and Chicago beat the Houston Astros for its fourth win in five games. Matt Garza (4-6) struggled but got the victory by working 51/3 innings. Five Cubs relievers combined to allow one hit and no runs over the final 32/3 innings with Carlos Marmol pitching the ninth for his seventh save in nine chances. Astros lefty J.A. Happ (6-8) allowed five hits, four walks and three runs in six innings. But he’s winless in his past 11 road decisions dating to May 3, 2011.
Reds 2, Giants 1
SAN FRANCISCO
Giants nemesis Mat Latos pitched a two-hitter to win his career-best seventh straight decision, beating San Francisco for the second time in as many outings this season. Latos (7-2) struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter for the fourth time in his 115-pitch gem and second straight complete game. The hard-throwing right-hander tossed seven scoreless innings against the Giants on April 24. He threw the first back-to-back complete games for the Reds since Aaron Harang in September 2006. Miguel Cairo added an RBI single after replacing the injured Joey Votto as the Reds won back-to-back road games following a four-game skid away from Cincinnati.
Marlins 3, Phillies 2
MIAMI
Giancarlo Stanton homered and drove in two runs, Mark Buehrle pitched seven strong innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies for their third straight win. Jose Reyes had two hits, stole two bases and scored twice for Miami. The Marlins’ winning streak is their longest since sweeping a three-game series from Washington on May 28-30. Hunter Pence homered and had three hits for the Phillies.
Mets 5, Dodgers 0
LOS ANGELES
Johan Santana scattered three hits over eight innings, Ike Davis hit a three-run homer, and the Mets handed the Dodgers their season-worst seventh straight loss. In his fifth start since pitching the first no-hitter in Mets history on June 1 against St. Louis, Santana (6-4) did not give up a hit between Dee Gordon’s leadoff single in the first inning and Scott Van Slyke’s leadoff single in the eighth. Tony Gwynn Jr. singled two batters later and both runners advanced on Adam Kennedy’s groundout. But Gordon grounded out to third.
Padres 8, Rockies 4
DENVER
Yasmani Grandal and Alexi Amarista each homered twice, leading Edinson Volquez and the Padres. Grandal, called up from Triple-A before the game, made his first big league start memorable by homering for his first two hits in the majors.
Brewers 10, Diamondbacks 2
MILWAUKEE
Ryan Braun homered twice and Cody Ransom added a three-run homer to lead the Brewers. Braun’s two home runs gave him the National League lead with 22 for the season. Carlos Gomez also hit a home run as the Brewers had 13 hits and scored the most runs since May 20 when Milwaukee beat Minnesota 16-4.
Associated Press