Jon Garland got his 17th win on his fifth try and Paul Konerko homered Sunday, sending the Chicago White Sox to a 2-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers and a sweep of their four-game series.
After losing three straight decisions, Garland (17-8) allowed four hits in his third complete game of the season -- all shutouts. He won for the first time since Aug. 7.
Garland walked one and struck out seven, including Chris Shelton with a runner at third to end the eighth. He outpitched Jeremy Bonderman (14-12), who lost his third consecutive start despite allowing five hits in his fourth complete game this season and the sixth of his Major League Baseball career. He struck out six and walked one.
PHOTO: AP
Red Sox 5, Orioles 1
In Boston, David Wells pitched a complete game in his return from a six-game suspension and John Olerud hit a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning, leading Boston over Baltimore.
Wells (12-6) missed his regular turn after he lost his appeal of the suspension for arguing with umpires on July 2, but came back strong. He allowed seven hits with four strikeouts. For the seventh time in eight games, he issued no walks. And he retired his last 12 batters.
Twins 7, Indians 5
In Minneapolis, Shannon Stewart drove in the go-ahead run with a sixth-inning single and Mike Redmond delivered a three-run double in the seventh, leading Minnesota to its second straight victory over American League Central Division rival Cleveland.
Redmond's hit off the glove of right fielder Casey Blake broke open a game that included four lead changes through the first six innings, the last coming when Stewart's single to right-center scored two runs and put Minnesota ahead 4-3.
Royals 17, Rangers 8
In Kansas City, Missouri, Angel Berroa hit a three-run homer and drove in five runs, matching his career high, and Kansas City beat Texas to avoid a four-game sweep.
The victory was only the sixth in 34 games for the Royals, who own the worst record (44-91) in the majors. Kansas City had 18 hits in its highest-scoring game of the season.
Angels 5, Mariners 3
In Anaheim, California, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and Bartolo Colon earned his American League-leading 18th win despite leaving with a back injury in the sixth inning of Los Angeles' victory over Seattle.
Casey Kotchman hit a three-run homer, a double and a single for the Angels, who had been held to three runs or fewer in eight of their previous 10 games.
Yankees 7, Athletics 3
At Oakland, California, Derek Jeter homered on the first pitch of the game, Mark Bellhorn also connected and Hideki Matsui added an RBI triple, and New York Yankees took an important series from Oakland.
Shawn Chacon (4-2) pitched 6 2-3 effective innings to win for the fourth time in five starts, staked to an early lead thanks to the Yankees' suddenly potent offense.
Jason Giambi and Jorge Posada each hit RBI singles in the third as the Yankees built a quick 4-1 lead against Barry Zito (12-11), then New York added two more in the fourth on three straight hits -- a leadoff double by Jeter, Matsui's triple and an RBI single by Gary Sheffield.
The Yankees moved one game ahead of Oakland in the AL wild-card race and the A's fell a game behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.
Esteban Loaiza struck out 11 and took a shutout into the eighth inning on short rest, and Preston Wilson and Brian Schneider each hit a three-run homer to lead the Washington Nationals past the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1 Sunday.
Loaiza (10-10) gave up a run, four hits and four walks, and matched his Major League Baseball career high for strikeouts. He threw 128 pitches in eight innings.
Cardinals 4, Astros 1
In Houston, Jason Marquis pitched his second straight complete game and Jim Edmonds hit a go-ahead, two-run double as St. Louis kept Houston from taking over the wild-card lead.
Marquis limited Houston to five hits with five strikeouts and no walks in his third career complete game -- all this season.
The Astros remained tied with Florida, a half-game behind wild-card leader Philadelphia. Houston opens a three-game series in Philadelphia on Monday.
Mets 7, Marlins 1
In Miami, Seo Jae pitched seven strong innings, Cliff Floyd hit a two-run homer and New York salvaged the finale of its three-game series against Florida.
Seo (7-1) limited the Marlins to one run and five hits. He improved to 5-0 with a 1.70 ERA since being recalled from the minor s on Aug. 6.
The Mets are last in the NL East but only 2.5 games back in the wild-card race.
Kaz Matsui went 3-for-5 and scored three times, and David Wright and Carlos Beltran each drove in two runs for the Mets, who scored five runs with two outs.
Reds 8, Braves 3, 12 innings
In Atlanta, Jason LaRue's pinch-hit grand slam capped a five-run 12th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. connected before getting injured to help Cincinnati end a five-game losing streak with a victory over Atlanta.
Austin Kearns hit an RBI double in the 12th off Dan Kolb (3-7) to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Griffey hit his 536th homer, tying Mickey Mantle for 12th on the career list. His 35th of the season came in the first inning off Horacio Ramirez.
Brewers 3, Padres 2
In Milwaukee, Brady Clark's suicide squeeze scored pinch-runner Corey Hart in the ninth inning, giving Milwaukee a victory over San Diego.
Wes Helms hit a leadoff single against Akinori Otsuka (1-6). Hart ran for Helms and stole second, then moved to third on Chad Moeller's sacrifice.
After pinch-hitter Rickie Weeks walked, Clark bunted the second pitch. Otsuka attempted a late flip to catcher Miguel Olivo, but Hart scored standing up.
Cubs 2, Pirates 0
In Pittsburgh, Nomar Garciaparra homered, Jerome Williams pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Chicago beat Pittsburgh to complete a three-game sweep.
Williams (5-7), who had lost four of five decisions and got only five outs in his previous start against the Dodgers, walked two and struck out five in 7 1-3 innings.
Ryan Dempster fanned all three batters in the ninth for his 22nd save, finishing the four-hitter.
Giants 3, Diamondbacks 2
In Phoenix, Matt Cain allowed three hits in seven innings for his first win, Randy Winn scored twice and drove in a run, and San Francisco beat Arizona for its fifth straight victory.
Winn, who homered twice in the Giants' 9-4 victory Saturday, was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. San Francisco moved within 5.5 games of first-place San Diego in the NL West.
Rockies 7, Dodgers 6, 10 innings
In Denver, Brad Hawpe drove in the winning run with a one-out single in the 10th inning, and Colorado completed a three-game sweep of Los Angeles.
Cory Sullivan had four hits, including a leadoff double in the 10th against Duaner Sanchez (4-5). Matt Holliday drove in two runs with his 15th homer, and Omar Quintanilla doubled and had two RBIs.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and