AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
The Tampa Bay Rays struck for seven runs in the eighth inning to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-3 on Saturday and record their 10th win in 12 games.
Jason Bartlett and Ben Zobrist both delivered two-run singles for the Rays, who trailed 3-2 before the eighth inning.
The American League East division leaders also got runs in the eighth off an RBI single by B.J. Upton, a bases-loaded walk and a hit batsman, again with the bases full.
“We kept grinding, kept grinding, kept grinding and eventually we got all those runs,” Rays manager Joe Maddon told reporters. “[We had] some really good at-bats when it was really critical.”
The Rays (13-5), off to their best start, turned the game in their favor after Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston lifted starter Rickey Romero, who had allowed just six hits and two runs, after the seventh inning.
The Rays quickly torched loser Scott Downs (0-2) for three runs and got four more off Casey Janssen.
“[The] bullpen just couldn’t get an out tonight,” Gaston said. “Downs has pitched great for us and just kind of struggled tonight. That’s going to happen once in a while, so we just have to bounce back tomorrow and hope that we get into the eighth inning with a lead again and see what happens.”
Five Tampa Bay pitchers combined to hold Toronto to six hits, allowing only a double in the final two-and-a-third innings, with Dan Wheeler (1-0), who pitched to one batter in the eighth, credited with the win.
Toronto struck first on Lyle Overbay’s solo homer in the fifth inning.
John Jaso’s two-run homer, his first in the Major Leagues, in the bottom of the inning put Tampa Bay on top, before another Toronto home run, this one a two-run blast by Adam Lind.
Toronto loaded the bases in the seventh, but Randy Choate came on to strike out Fred Lewis and end the threat.
YANKEES 7, ANGELS 1
In Anaheim, California, Andy Pettitte pitched eight sharp innings to steer New York over Los Angeles.
Pettitte (3-0) struck out eight and walked none. He gave up his only run on Torii Hunter’s sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.
Robinson Cano had four hits, while Nick Swisher and No. 9 hitter Francisco Cervelli each drove in two runs for New York.
Angels starter Joel Pineiro (2-2) worked six innings and allowed six runs, two more than he gave up in 20-and-a-third innings over his first three starts.
Saturday’s other results:
• Indians 6, Athletics 1
• Twins 9, Royals 7, 12 innings
• Tigers 8, Rangers 4
• White Sox 5, Mariners 4
• Red Sox 7, Orioles 6
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco pitcher Barry Zito struck out 10 batters over eight crisp innings to steer the Giants to a 2-0 win over the St Louis Cardinals in the National League on Saturday.
Zito (3-0) outpitched Adam Wainwright (3-1) to come out on top in an impressive pitchers’ duel, earning his first career victory against the Cardinals after previously going 0-4.
Pinch-hitter Andres Torres singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as San Francisco inflicted St Louis’ first series defeat of the season.
DODGERS 4, NATIONALS 3, 13 INNS
In Washington, Russell Martin lined a two-out single in the 13th inning to drive in the winning run for Los Angeles against Washington.
Nationals reliever Miguel Batista (0-2) entered in the 11th inning and had retired the first two batters in the 13th before Rafal Furcal singled, stole second, then scored on Martin’s full-count hit to center.
Carlos Monasterios (1-0), Los Angeles’ seventh pitcher, threw the final two-and-two-third innings. In the 13th, he had allowed runners at second and third with one out, but Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake, who earlier had hit two homers, threw out Ivan Rodriguez at home plate to end the game.
Saturday’s other results:
• Marlins 4, Rockies 1, 1st game
• Rockies 8, Marlins 1, 2nd game
• Phillies 3, Diamondbacks 2
• Padres 5, Reds 0
• Mets 3, Braves 1
• Cubs 5, Brewers 1
• Astros 5, Pirates 2
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