The New York Yankees dropped into last place in the American League's East Division on Thursday as the surprising Tampa Bay Rays downed the Bronx Bombers 5-2.
Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir sparkled in his first start since agreeing to a lucrative contract extension, allowing just three singles in six scoreless innings.
Kazmir (2-1) allowed three singles in six scoreless innings, and Akinori Iwamura and Shawn Riggans homered off Ian Kennedy for the Rays.
PHOTO: AP
Tampa Bay, which joined Major League Baseball in 1998, has been alone atop the East standings for three consecutive days for the first time. The Rays have captured six of seven series in building the best record in the AL.
The Yankees have lost six of nine.
White Sox 4, Angels 3
In Anaheim, California, Jim Thome hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning as Chicago edged Los Angeles.
Catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s RBI double capped a three-run second inning against Angels pitcher and former teammate Jon Garland.
Royals 8, Tigers 4
In Kansas City, Missouri, the home side completed another three-game sweep of Detroit.
Jose Guillen homered and drove in three runs for the Royals, while Gil Meche pitched seven solid innings.
Indians 4, Athletics 2
In Cleveland, the Indians downed Oakland despite seeing its streak of innings without conceding a run ended at 44 1-3.
Blue Jays 3, Twins 2, 11 innings
In Minneapolis, pinch-hitter Joe Inglett sliced a two-out, bases-loaded single through the infield in the 11th inning, giving Toronto a three-game sweep of Minnesota.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Backed by Stephen Drew’s career-high four hits, Brandon Webb became a nine-game winner when the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Colorado Rockies 8-5 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep.
Webb (9-0) has won his first nine starts, the most since San Diego’s Andy Hawkins won his first 10 in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Webb has won 11 straight starts dating to last September.
Brandon Lyon pitched out of a base-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth for his 12th save in 14 chances, and his 11th in a row.
Arizona manager Bob Melvin lifted Webb with one out in the eighth after Holliday singled to make it 5-3. He threw 111 pitches and allowed three runs on six hits.
Colorado’s Aaron Cook (6-2) was almost as hot as Webb, but lasted only five innings in his shortest outing of the season. He allowed a season-high five runs on 10 hits and four walks.
Mets 1, Nationals 0
At New York, Willie Harris’ diving catch in the ninth saved the Nationals, who got a fantastic pitching performance from Jason Bergmann.
Washington won an unlikely duel between Bergmann and Mike Pelfrey, who carried a no-hit bid into the seventh. Harris’ bunt set up Felipe Lopez’s sacrifice fly in the eighth, helping the Nationals take three of four at Shea Stadium.
Pelfrey (2-4) held Washington hitless until Boone’s leadoff single in the seventh. He allowed one run and three hits in seven-and-two-third innings, the longest outing of his career.
In other games it was:
• Dodgers 7, Brewers 2
• Pirates 11, Cardinals 5
• Cubs 4, Padres 0
• Astros 8, Giants 7
• Phillies 5, Braves 0
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