AROUND THE HORN | Friday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

White Sox 14, Yankees 7

NEW YORK

A.J. Pierzynski homered twice, Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez also connected and the White Sox pounded the Yankees so hard that New York brought in outfielder Dewayne Wise to pitch. A night after the White Sox rallied to win at Yankee Stadium on Dayan Viciedo’s three-run homer in the ninth, they made it a short and sour major league debut for Yankees starter Adam Warren. By the end, the Yankees brought in Wise for his pro pitching debut. Throwing a 79 mph fastball, he retired Konerko and Alex Rios in order to close a four-run ninth inning.

Rays 4, Tigers 2

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.

Tampa Bay’s Desmond Jennings homered twice and David Price outpitched Justin Verlander to become the AL’s first 11-game winner. The Rays beat the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner for the second time this season, ending a four-game losing streak. Price (11-4) allowed two runs and five hits before leaving the game because of what the Rays described as lower back tightness after seven innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Price has won three straight decisions.

Blue Jays 7, Angels 5

TORONTO

Adam Lind hit two home runs and Yunel Escobar had a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning for Toronto. Promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas last Monday after spending more than a month in the minors, Lind hit a three-run homer off Ervin Santana in the third inning, then added a solo drive off Hisanori Takahashi in the seventh. His fourth and fifth homers of the season ended a drought dating to May 9 at Oakland, giving Lind his first multihomer game this season and the eighth of his career. Escobar went 3 for 4 with two RBIs as the Blue Jays snapped a three-game losing streak and halted Los Angeles’ winning streak at four games.

Royals 4, Twins 3

MINNEAPOLIS

Luis Mendoza allowed one run over a career-high eight innings and Salvador Perez homered as Kansas City won its fourth straight. Yuniesky Betancourt, Billy Butler and Eric Hosmer added RBIs for the Royals (35-39), who are four games under .500 for the first time since April 16. Jonathan Broxton allowed two runs in the ninth, but earned his 20th save. Joe Mauer had two hits and an RBI double in the ninth that cut Kansas City’s lead to 4-2. Josh Willingham followed with an RBI groundout. Mendoza (3-4) retired the final 13 batters he faced and 18 of the final 20. He struck out five in his first win since May 13, and first as a starter since April 26.

Rangers 4, Athletics 3

ARLINGTON, TEXAS

Craig Gentry’s bases-loaded triple in the eighth capped a four-run rally and Matt Harrison pitched eight strong innings to win his 11th game, lifting the Texas Rangers past the Oakland Athletics. Gentry, who entered in the seventh, lifted a fly ball to deep left off Oakland reliever Ryan Cook that gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead. Yoenis Cespedes appeared to misjudge Gentry’s ball as he took a few steps in at first before it flew over his head. Oakland reliever Grant Balfour (1-2) issued a bases-loaded walk to Nelson Cruz with two outs in the eighth before he was replaced by Cook.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Rockies 10, Padres 2

DENVER

Jeff Francis pitched six scoreless innings, and Rex Brothers bailed out newly recalled Tyler Chatwood before the Rockies broke out. Michael Cuddyer and Wilin Rosario each hit two-run homers in the eighth inning to help secure the win for Francis. Francis (1-1) became the first Rockies starter to earn a win since June 4, the last time the Rockies won consecutive games. The Rockies have won four of the five games started by Francis, who has allowed three runs in 16 innings in his past three starts.

Nationals 5, Braves 4

ATLANTA

Michael Morse had four hits, including the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning after Washington had blown a four-run lead. Andrelton Simmons’ two-run homer off Ross Detwiler capped Atlanta’s four-run seventh inning which erased the Nationals’ 4-0 lead. Morse had a quick answer by hitting right-hander Chad Durbin’s first pitch over the wall in right field leading off the eighth. The Nationals, who swept a three-game series in Atlanta on May 25-27, are 5-1 against the Braves this season. NL East-leading Washington is 41/2 games ahead of Atlanta.

Marlins 6, Phillies 2

MIAMI

Josh Johnson pitched six strong innings to help the Marlins win consecutive games for the first time in nearly a month and keep Cliff Lee winless. Justin Ruggiano tied a career high with three hits and drove in two runs for Miami, which last won consecutive games June 2-3 at Philadelphia. The Marlins were 4-17 since. Johnson (5-5) allowed one run and struck out six, improving to 5-2 with a 2.91 ERA in his last 10 starts. Lee (0-5) allowed six runs in 42/3 innings, falling to 0-2 with a 7.30 ERA in his last four starts. Hunter Pence homered for the Phillies, who played for the first time at the new Marlins Park.

Cubs 4, Astros 0

CHICAGO

Paul Maholm pitched into the ninth inning to earn his first win in seven weeks and the Cubs hit three homers in a victory. Maholm (5-6) allowed four hits over 81/3 innings in his 200th major league start, earning his first win since he tossed seven shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over Atlanta on May 9. The left-hander was 0-4 with a 6.43 ERA in his previous eight outings.

Associated Press