AMERICAN LEAGUE
PHOTO: AFP
REUTERS AND AP, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
The New York Yankees head into the All-Star break with the best record in Major League Baseball (56-32) after cruising to an 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Yankees starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia (12-3) allowed one run over seven innings to pick up the win, his eighth consecutive victory. He is one of eight Yankees selected to go to the All-Star Game.
“He just finished off what he started on Tuesday. Outstanding starting pitching,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi told reporters.
New York’s Mark Teixeira had four hits with one RBI and two runs scored. Marcus Thames drove in two runs, as did Derek Jeter.
The Mariners did themselves no favors with a pair of errors in the first inning that led to two runs, and a wild pitch in the third allowing the Yankees to extend their lead to 3-0.
Two more wild pitches in the fourth inning marked the end for Mariners starter Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-9), who allowed six runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout.
“It’s tough,” Rowland-Smith said. “Like I said, with that lineup, you can’t give them that many chances. They’re going to capitalize on them and that’s what they did.”
Robinson Cano led off the fifth inning with a double off Mariners’ reliever Brian Sweeney and two batters later Thames launched a two-run home run to complete the Yankees’ scoring.
The Mariners scored a run in the sixth inning on three consecutive singles off Sabathia, and added another in the bottom of the ninth with a solo home run by Casey Kotchman off reliever Dustin Moseley.
TWINS 6, TIGERS 3
In Detroit, Michigan, Michael Cuddyer drove in a pair of runs to help Minnesota down Detroit and end a run of four defeats.
Twins starter Carl Pavano (10-6) pitched into the eighth inning, improving to 5-0 in his past seven starts. He allowed three runs, walked one and struck out six.
Tigers pitcher Andrew Oliver dropped to 0-3 in four career starts, after giving up four runs and four walks in four-and-two-thirds innings.
RED SOX 3, BLUE JAYS 2
In Toronto, Darnell McDonald and David Ortiz hit back-to-back home runs to power the Boston Red Sox to a win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League on Sunday.
Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (6-3) won for the first time in more than a month, allowing two runs in six-plus innings, walking none and striking out five.
The Red Sox lost All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre in the sixth with a strained left hamstring.
Aaron Hill connected for Blue Jays, who lead the major leagues with 136 homers.
Marco Scutaro ended Toronto starter Jesse Litsch’s no-hit bid in the sixth with a two-out double. Litsch (0-4) then gave up homers to McDonald and Ortiz.
In other AL play, it was:
• Athletics 5, Angels 2
• White Sox 15, Royals 5
• Rays 6, Indians 5, 10 innings
• Orioles 4, Rangers 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
Johan Santana went seven innings in another spotless start, playing the key role in the New York Mets’ 3-0 shutout of the Atlanta Braves in the National League on Sunday.
Santana (7-5) was coming off a three-hit shutout of Cincinnati on Tuesday. He outpitched Braves starter Derek Lowe (9-8), who lasted only five-and-one-third innings.
New York rookie Ike Davis hit a long home run, while Alex Cora and pinch-hitter Josh Thole delivered RBI singles with two outs, and Angel Pagan had three of New York’s 13 hits.
The Mets lead the majors in shutouts, with 13.
DODGERS 7, CUBS 0
In Los Angeles, Vicente Padilla pitched eight scoreless innings to steer Los Angeles to a comfortable win over Chicago.
Padilla (4-2) struck out six and walked one in his longest outing of the season, improving to 3-0 with a 1.25 ERA in his past three starts.
James Loney hit a three-run homer off Carlos Silva before the Cubs pitcher was ejected in the second inning of baseball’s last game before the All-Star break.
The Dodgers and are tied with Colorado for second in the NL West, two games behind surprising San Diego. The sluggish Cubs finished the first half nine-and-a-half games off NL Central-leading Cincinnati.
GIANTS 6, NATIONALS 2
In Washington, Travis Ishikawa drove in three runs as San Francisco downed Washington.
Buster Posey had two RBIs for San Francisco, while Madison Bumgarner (2-2) allowed just one run in six-plus innings, walked none and struck out six.
Washington’s Livan Hernandez (6-5) struggled through five innings, yielding five runs and five hits.
PADRES 9, ROCKIES 7
In Denver, Colorado, pitcher Matt Belisle’s bases-loaded throwing error led to two unearned runs in the eighth inning, giving San Diego victory over Colorado.
Everth Cabrera hit his first homer of the season in the ninth for San Diego.
Scott Hairston matched a career high with four hits in helping the NL West-leading Padres gain a two-game cushion over second-place Colorado, which had won six straight.
Heath Bell got the five outs for his 24th save in 27 chances.
Belisle (4-4) ended up with the loss, while San Diego reliever Luke Gregerson (3-5) earned the win.
PHILLIES 1, REDS 0, 11 INNINGS
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cole Hamels held Cincinnati scoreless into the eighth inning as Philadelphia completed a four-game sweep of the NL Central-leading Reds.
Hamels (7-7) didn’t allow a run for the first time in 18 starts this season. J.C. Romero fanned the only batter he faced in the ninth, and Brad Lidge got the final two outs for his sixth save.
In other NL play, it was:
• Cardinals 4, Astros 2
• Marlins 2, Diamondbacks 0
• Pirates 6, Brewers 5
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