Derek Jeter hit a solo homer and Tanyon Sturtze pitched five strong innings in a spot start, leading the New York Yankees to a 4-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
Sturtze (4-2), moved into the rotation Tuesday because Javier Vazquez has pink eye, started poorly but recovered enough to give the Yankees a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
PHOTO: AFP
The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits in the first, but held the Rangers scoreless from there. He allowed only five hits overall in his first start since bruising his right pinkie in the Yankees' bench-clearing brawl with Boston three weeks ago.
Paul Quantrill, Tom Gordon and Mariano Rivera combined to pitch four hitless innings to preserve the five-hitter, with Rivera getting three outs for his 39th save.
Tigers 11, Athletics 3
In Oakland, California Dmitri Young hit a three-run homer and Wilfredo Ledezma made the early lead stand up, giving Detroit a win over the Athletics.
Omar Infante drove in three runs and Rondell White homered as the Tigers ended a three-game losing streak. Ivan Rodriguez was the only Detroit starter who did not get a hit.
Ledezma (2-0) pitched 5 2-3 innings to earn his first win as a starter this season. His other victory came in relief on July 25.
Eric Chavez, Scott Hatteberg and Bobby Kielty drove in runs for the Athletics, who had their three-game winning streak stopped.
Mark Redman (8-9) lasted four innings, his second-shortest outing of the season. He was tagged for six runs and seven hits.
Indians 3, Blue Jays 2
In Cleveland, C.C. Sabathia pitched seven strong innings and rookie Grady Sizemore drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, leading the Indians over Toronto.
Matt Lawton homered for the Indians, who have won three in a row and improved to 15-3 at home in one-run games.
Sabathia (9-6) gave up two runs and five hits, struck out five and walked two to give Cleveland its seventh win in eight games.
Bob Howry pitched the eighth, and Bob Wickman got three outs for his sixth save in seven chances.
Toronto lost for the seventh time in eight games and dropped to 1-2 under interim manager John Gibbons.
Kevin Frederick (0-1) took the loss.
Red Sox 14, Devil Rays 4
In Boston, Kevin Millar had four hits and four RBIs in the first five innings, and the Red Sox beat Tampa Bay.
Boston scored five runs in both the second and third innings for a 13-1 lead and cruised to its fourth win in five games. Tampa Bay lost for the 11th time in 12 road games.
Derek Lowe (10-10) allowed nine hits with four strikeouts and one walk. The Red Sox have scored nine runs or more in nine of his wins and matched their season high of 14 runs.
Making his first career appearance against Boston, Dewon Brazelton (4-4) had the worst outing of his 13 starts this season, allowing eight runs.
Jason Varitek also drove in four runs with two doubles for Boston, while Johnny Damon reached base in each of the first four innings with two singles, a double, a walk and two RBIs.
Other results: Royals 4, White Sox 2; Angels 4, Orioles 2; Mariners 4, Twins 3
National League: St Louis 1 Florida 0; Montreal 7 Arizona 3; Los Angeles 11 Cincinnati 1; Chicago Cubs 5 San Diego 1; Atlanta 10 Milwaukee 3; Pittsburgh 8 San Francisco 6; Philadelphia 15 Colorado 4; Houston 5 NY Mets 4.
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