mlb roundup | Thursday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Orioles 3, Rays 2, 14 innings

BALTIMORE

The Baltimore Orioles have too much else going on to be overly excited about ending their miserable run of 14 consecutive losing seasons. Manny Machado blooped an RBI single that eluded left fielder Matt Joyce’s desperate dive with two outs in the 14th inning, and Baltimore beat Tampa Bay to complete a three-game sweep and remain atop the AL East. With their 81st victory — and 13th in a row in extra innings — the Orioles are assured no worse than a .500 record for the first time since 1997. “There’s a bigger goal in mind,” manager Buck Showalter said. “That wasn’t the goal from Day One this spring. Really, Day One of the offseason. It’s watching other teams for years and saying, ‘We want to do what they’re doing. We’d like to get a chair at the dance, you know?”’ It’s been an incredible season for the Orioles, who finished in the cellar in each of the previous four years. Baltimore (81-62) remained in a first-place tie with the New York Yankees After briefly celebrating a victory that capped a 5-2 homestand against the Yankees and Rays, the Orioles packed in the clubhouse for a trip to Oakland. The Rays fell four games back in the division by virtue of yet another one-run defeat punctuated by a lack of offensive punch.

Angels 6, Athletics 0

ANAHEIM, CALIF.

Jered Weaver (17-4) allowed two hits in seven innings and struck out nine in his first start since skipping a turn in the rotation because of biceps tendinitis. Torii Hunter homered and added an RBI single in a six-run seventh as Los Angeles avoided a four-game sweep and remained 31/2 games back for the AL’s second wild-card berth. The loss snapped Oakland’s 12-game road winning streak, two shy of the franchise record set by the Philadelphia Athletics in May 1931. The A’s have been shut out a big league-high 16 times. Brett Anderson (4-1) gave up five runs and nine hits in 62/3 innings. A’s rookie Yoenis Cespedes left midway through the fifth because of a sprained right wrist.

Twins 4, Royals 3, 10 innings

MINNEAPOLIS

Denard Span had a game-ending RBI double in the 10th inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied for a victory. Trailing 3-1, the Twins capitalized on a bases-loaded walk by Royals closer Greg Holland in the eighth and Trevor Plouffe’s homer in the ninth to tie it. Alexi Casilla led off 10th with a double to right-center off Francisley Bueno (1-1) that fell just beyond the glove of diving center fielder Lorenzo Cain, who injured his leg on the play and had to leave the game. Span then hit a double over the head of right fielder Eric Hosmer for the win.

Yankees 2, Red Sox 0

BOSTON

Derek Jeter shook off an injury to tie Willie Mays for 10th place on the career hits list, backing Phil Hughes and helping the Yankees to maintain a share of the AL East lead. New York won consecutive games for the first time in a month. Hughes (15-12) gave up five hits in 71/3 innings, struck out seven and walked one. Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 38th save. Jeter started at designated hitter after leaving Wednesday night’s 5-4 win when he pulled up lame lunging for first base trying to avoid a double-play grounder in the eighth. Andruw Jones hit a fourth-inning sacrifice fly off Felix Doubront (10-9).

Blue Jays 8, Mariners 3

TORONTO

Edwin Encarnacion hit his 40th home run, Adam Lind also connected and Toronto sent Felix Hernandez to his third straight loss. Encarnacion hit a three-run drive into the second deck in left in a five-run fourth as the Blue Jays avoided a three-game sweep. Lind hit a two-run shot in the first. Hernandez (13-8) allowed a season-high seven runs and 10 hits in four innings. He has a 9.00 ERA in his last three outings, losing three consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 12-24 last year.

Associated Press