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AMERICAN LEAGUE: Eckstein takes Blue Jays over Tigers

David Eckstein hit a three-run homer, supplying some of the power Toronto might miss without Frank Thomas, as the Blue Jays beat the Detroit Tigers 5-3 in the American League on Sunday.

A.J. Burnett (2-1) issued a season-high six walks in five innings but still managed to win for the first time in four starts. He allowed three runs and four hits.

Toronto released Thomas before the game, one day after the slumping designated hitter became angry for being taken out of the lineup.

The move leaves the Blue Jays on the hook for the remainder of the US$18 million, two-year contract the 39-year-old Thomas signed in November 2006.

Thomas’ replacement, Rod Barajas, went 0-for-3.

Twins 2, Indians 1, 10 innings

At Minneapolis, Justin Morneau singled home Brendan Harris in the 10th, lifting Minnesota to the win.

Morneau is hitting a pedestrian .269 this season, but is 9-for-15 (.600) with 12 RBIs with runners in scoring position.

Rafael Perez (0-1) took the loss in relief of an impressive start from Paul Byrd, and defending AL Central champion Cleveland has lost 12 of its last 16.

Harris had three hits and a home run and Scott Baker allowed one run and five hits in seven innings for the Twins, who took two of three from the Indians despite scoring only five runs in the series.

Red Sox 6, Rangers 5

At Boston, Sean Casey’s bases-loaded walk capped a four-run eighth inning and Boston overcame a 5-0 deficit.

Ian Kinsler led off the game with a home run for Texas. Milton Bradley had a three-run homer off Tim Wakefield (2-0) in the sixth, a shot that hit an advertising sign above the Monster seats in left field and made it 5-0.

Boston closed to 5-2 in the seventh against starter Kevin Millwood on RBI singles by David Ortiz and J.D. Drew.

Yankees 7, Orioles 1

At Baltimore, Alex Rodriguez hit a RBI double and scored before leaving with a thigh injury, and New York ended a three-game losing streak.

Andy Pettitte (3-1) pitched seven scoreless innings, Johnny Damon homered and Derek Jeter had a three-run double as the Yankees avoided their first three-game sweep in Baltimore since 2005. New York dodged its first four-game skid since last July.

White Sox 6, Rays 0

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Jim Thome hit career homer No. 512 and John Danks struck out eight in seven innings for Chicago.

Thome also tied a career high with four hits. His homer tied him with Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for 19th place on the all-time MLB list.

Danks (2-1) allowed three singles and has not given up a run in two straight starts, totaling 14 2-3 innings. It’s the first time he has won back-to-back starts since last July.

Edwin Jackson (2-2) gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings for Tampa Bay.



In other games, it was:

• Mariners 4, Angels 2

• Athletics 7, Royals 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE

AP, ATLANTA

Jair Jurrjens pitched three-hit ball for seven innings, Mark Teixeira homered and the Atlanta Braves beat Los Angeles 6-1 in the National League on Sunday for their first sweep of the Dodgers in eight years.

The Braves gave up only three runs in defeating the Dodgers three times.

Jurrjens (2-2) struck out a career-high eight. Russell Martin homered in the fourth inning for the Dodgers’ only run.

Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda (1-2) gave up seven hits with four walks in six innings but allowed only two runs.

Atlanta’s Chipper Jones extended his hitting streak to 12 games but he hurt his right quadricep sliding into second base and didn’t return.

Reds 4, Brewers 3, 10 innings

At Cincinnati, Edwin Encarnacion and Paul Bako hit consecutive homers off Eric Gagne in the 10th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. followed with a run-scoring single that gave Cincinnati the victory.

Encarnacion helped Milwaukee pull ahead 3-1 in the top of the 10th with his sixth fielding error.

Jared Burton (1-1) let in a run with a wild pitch, and J.J. Hardy singled home another.

Gagne (1-1) gave up Encarnacion’s second solo homer of the game and Bako’s first homer of the season to open the bottom half.

Marlins 6, Nationals 1

At Miami, Scott Olsen allowed only three hits in seven innings and Hanley Ramirez hit two home runs for Florida.

Olsen (3-0) gave up one run, won his third start in a row and lowered his ERA to 2.60.

Washington’s Odalis Perez pitched six innings but remained winless despite allowing only one run, which was unearned.

Ramirez homered near the 434-foot sign in center field on the first pitch from reliever Luis Ayala (0-1) to start the seventh, breaking a 1-1 tie.

Cubs 13, Pirates 6

At Chicago, Aramis Ramirez tied a career-high with four hits, including a two-run homer, and Chicago beat Pittsburgh to complete its second three-game sweep of them this season.

Ryan Theriot added four hits, scored three runs and drove in two in Chicago’s ninth straight win against the Pirates, matching the Cubs’ longest win streak against them since Sept. 5, 1938 to May 13, 1939.

Ryan Dempster (3-0) allowed five hits, walked two, struck out three and hit a batter in his shortest outing of the year for Chicago.

Zach Duke (0-1) allowed five runs and eight hits in four innings for Pittsburgh.



In other games, it was:

• Astros 6, Colorado 4

• Giants 8, Cardinals 2

• Padres 9, Diamondbacks 4

• Phillies 5, Mets 4