American LeaguePedro Martinez allowed three hits over eight innings and Kevin Millar drove in two runs as the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles 5-0 Wednesday.
"It was an uphill struggle the whole way," Baltimore manager Mike Hargrove said. "Once we got behind 3-0, we knew that we were going to have play near perfect baseball the way just to have a chance."
Boston remained 3 1/2 games behind New York in the American League East.
Martinez (12-4) struck out nine and walked two in lowering his league-leading ERA to 2.36.
"He had command of his pitches all day long. He was just outstanding," Boston manager Grady Little
Martinez outpitched Jason Johnson (10-7), who performed well after yielding three first-inning runs. Johnson is 0-2 since in six starts since beating Boston on Aug. 10.
Yankees 15, Tigers 5
In New York, Jorge Posada hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs as New York overcame four errors to rout Detroit.
Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui homered and drove in three runs, and Nick Johnson also homered, but made three of the Yankees' defensive miscues. New York won its fourth straight.
Andy Pettitte (18-8) labored through six innings, allowing four runs -- two earned -- and struck out seven.
Posada, 3-for-4 with a walk, hit his sixth career grand slam off Brian Schmack in the eighth inning. The Tigers made three errors in the inning.
Detroit finished with four errors, including three by first baseman Carlos Pena, and lost its fifth straight.
Gary Knotts (3-6) took the loss for Detroit. At 37-107, the Tigers need six wins in their final 18 games to avoid matching the post-1900 record of 120 losses in a season set by the 1962 New York Mets.
Blue Jays 6, Devil Rays 5
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Vernon Wells and Carlos Delgado hit back-to-back homers in the seventh inning, and Wells drove in three runs as Toronto beat Tampa Bay.
Wells' two-run homer in the seventh put the Blue Jays ahead 5-3. It was his first homer since Aug. 20 and his 31st of the season. Delgado followed with his 35th homer -- his first since Aug. 27 -- to make it 6-3. Delgado leads the AL with 125 RBIs.
Mark Hendrickson (9-9) gave up three runs -- all in the first inning -- and six hits over six innings. Aquilino Lopez threw two scoreless innings for his 10th save.
Aubrey Huff hit his 30th homer and drove in three runs for Tampa Bay. The Devil Rays lost for just fourth time in 14 games against Toronto.
The Blue Jays got within 3-2 on Eric Hinske's two-homer in the third. That shot ended an 11-inning scoreless streak by Jorge Sosa (5-10).
Royals 9, Indians 7
In Kansas City, Missouri, Brent Mayne's two-run double highlighted a five-run fifth inning as Kansas City snapped a four-game home losing streak with a win over Cleveland.
Kris Wilson (6-3) earned the win with one inning of relief work. Jeremy Affeldt worked 2 1-3 perfect innings for his fourth save.
Josh Bard hit a three-run homer, and Alex Escobar and Jody Gerut had three hits each for the Indians, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Jose Santiago (1-3) failed to retire any of the three batters he faced.
Twins 4, White Sox 1
In Chicago, Shannon Stewart drove in a pair of runs and Johan Santana won his fourth straight decision as Minnesota pulled within one game of the AL Central lead by beating Chicago.
RSS