American LeaguePedro Martinez allowed four hits in seven innings Friday, pitching the Red Sox to their longest winning streak in nine years as Boston blanked the Texas Rangers 2-0 for its 10th consecutive win.
Manny Ramirez and Bill Mueller both homered as Boston within 2 1/2 games of the New York Yankees in the American League East.
The Red Sox, who have won 16 of their past 17 games and 22 of 26, have not been this close to first place since before June 12. The Yankees lost to Baltimore 3-1.
"I expected it," Martinez said of Boston's spectacular surge. "I thought we had the talent all the way to have a run like this one."
Boston, which trailed by 10 1/2 games on June 16, is on its longest winning streak since winning 12 in a row from Aug. 3-14, 1995.
Martinez (15-5) pitched shutout ball for the second time in five starts, striking out nine, walking one and leaving after matching his season high with 117 pitches. Keith Foulke worked the ninth for his 27th save in 32 opportunities.
``I felt pretty good command of every pitch I had,'' he said. ``I'm in good shape. I feel at the tippy top part of my game.''
John Wasdin (2-3) allowed two runs and four hits in 6 1-3 innings for Texas, which fell seven games behind Boston in the wild-card race.
Orioles 3, Yankees 1
In New York, Rodrigo Lopez outpitched Kevin Brown as Baltimore downed New York.
Miguel Tejada got his major league-leading 122nd run batted in as the Orioles won their fifth straight game following a 12-game losing streak.
Derek Jeter homered in the first inning for the Yankees, who lost for the first time since Tuesday's record-setting 22-0 defeat against Cleveland. New York's division lead has not been this small since before games of June 12.
Lopez (11-8) allowed six hits and struck out seven in a season-high 7 1-3 innings. He entered with a 13.50 earned run average in three appearances against the Yankees this season.
Jorge Julio struck out Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada in succession in the ninth for his 20th save in 23 chances.
Angels 10, Indians 5
In Cleveland, Troy Glaus homered for the first time since May 11, and Garret Anderson and Bengie Molina also hit home runs to help Anaheim beat Cleveland and snap a three-game losing streak.
Glaus homered on the first pitch of the sixth inning to give Anaheim a 6-0 lead. He was playing in his fifth game since missing three months because of surgery on his right shoulder.
Anderson homered in the fifth and went 3-for-4 with three RBIs for the Angels, who won for the 11th time in 15 games. Cleveland has lost 14 of 18.
Anaheim remained four games behind first-place Oakland in the AL West and 4 1/2 games behind Boston in the wild-card race.
Kelvim Escobar (9-9) pitched 6 2-3 innings, giving up four runs and eight hits to improve to 4-1 in his last six starts. He walked four and struck out two.
Twins 2, Royals 0
In Minneapolis, Johan Santana pitched a no-hitter through six and finished with seven shutout innings to win his ninth straight start as Minnesota blanked Kansas City.
Desi Relaford lined a clean single to left leading off the seventh to end Santana's bid.
Santana (16-6) gave up one hit and one walk, striking out 11 and throwing 106 pitches. J.C. Romero worked the eighth inning to extend his club-record scoreless streak to 32 1-3 innings, and Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save in 41 chances to finish the two-hitter.
RSS