Just when the slumping New York Yankees got Alex Rodriguez back, Derek Jeter went down with an injury that nearly led to a brawl with Baltimore.
Adam Jones hit a three-run double during Baltimore’s seven-run first inning against Mike Mussina (6-4), and the Orioles routed New York 12-2 on Tuesday in a testy game that included a late homer by A-Rod in his return from the disabled list.
The Orioles took advantage of a two-out throwing error by Jeter in the first to build a big cushion for Daniel Cabrera (5-1), who handed the Yankees (20-25) their fourth straight loss and sixth in seven games.
Angels 3, Blue Jays 1
At Toronto, John Lackey won for the first time since Sept. 28, pitching seven strong innings to help the Angels get a rare victory in Toronto.
Making his second start of the year after returning from a strained triceps, Lackey (1-0) gave up a leadoff homer to Toronto’s Brad Wilkerson in the first, then blanked the Blue Jays the rest of the way.
Francisco Rodriguez loaded the bases with three straight walks in the ninth, but held on to record his major-league leading 18th save.
Tigers 12, Mariners 8
At Detroit, Justin Verlander struck out a season-high seven and Edgar Renteria hit one of Detroit’s four homers and matched a career high with five RBIs in the Tigers’ victory over Seattle.
Verlander (2-7) gave up one run, four hits and walked one over six innings, earning his first win in nearly a month.
Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen also homered for the Tigers, who had lost six of seven.
Red Sox 2, Royals 1
At Boston, rookie Justin Masterson pitched 6 1-3 strong innings one day after Jon Lester’s no-hitter against Kansas City and Boston silenced the Royals bats again.
The 23-year-old Masterson (1-0) allowed one run on three hits in his second major league start. Jonathan Papelbon ended a bases-loaded threat in the eighth by striking out Billy Butler and pitched a perfect ninth — with two more strikeouts — for his 13th save in 15 opportunities.
Gil Meche (3-6) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings and retired 16 of his last 18 batters after Boston took a 2-0 lead in the second.
White Sox 4, Indians 1
At Chicago, Jose Contreras outpitched C.C. Sabathia, and Jim Thome and Carlos Quentin hit solo homers to lift Chicago over Cleveland.
Quentin went deep in the first, hitting his American League-leading 12th homer and his second in as many games. Thome connected on the first pitch of the second inning, and Contreras (5-3) kept the AL’s weakest offense in check while leading AL Central leader Chicago to its ninth win in 12 games.
The Indians dropped their fourth straight after a weekend sweep by Cincinnati, and Sabathia (3-6) was a tough-luck loser after winning his previous two starts.
Twins 11, Rangers 4
At Minneapolis, Glen Perkins pitched six scoreless innings for his first major league win and Minnesota beat Texas.
The Rangers lost their third in a row after Minnesota roughed up Texas starter Doug Mathis (1-1) for nine runs in 2 1-3 innings.
Mathis made his first major league start since the Rangers purchased his contract from Triple-A Oklahoma on May 11 to replace the injured Kevin Millwood.
Alexi Casilla, Mike Lamb, and Delmon Young each had two RBIs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MIAMI
Dan Uggla hit his 14th home run and Kevin Gregg escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning to help the Florida Marlins take the opening game in a series between division leaders, beating Arizona 3-2 on Tuesday.
The game was the Marlins’ first against an opponent that has a winning record since May 1, and the widespread assumption is the team with baseball’s smallest payroll will fold as the schedule becomes more difficult.
But Florida did lots of little things right against National League West leader Arizona, which began the week with the best record in the majors. Jeremy Hermida and Luis Gonzalez had two-out RBIs, the worst defense in the majors was errorless and Gregg came to the rescue to protect the one-run lead.
Braves 6, Mets 1, 1st game
Braves 6, Mets 2, 2nd game
At Atlanta, Tom Glavine retired his last 17 batters during his first post-New York appearance against the Mets and led the Atlanta Braves to another home win in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Then it was Jorge Campillo’s turn in the nightcap, and he was even better than Glavine with six scoreless innings for his first major league win.
Glavine (2-1) allowed only three hits and a walk — all in the first. The 42-year-old left-hander left after six innings, and Will Ohman, Blaine Boyer and Manny Acosta finished for the Braves.
After the first, the Mets didn’t have another runner until Jose Reyes singled off Boyer with two outs in the eighth. New York, coming off a two-game sweep of the Yankees, managed just six hits.
Brian McCann homered and drove in three runs for the Braves, who handed John Maine (5-3) his first loss in nearly a month.
The long day ended with a scary play. While turning a double play at second base, Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar struck Ryan Church in the head with his right knee. Church was face down on the field for several minutes before staggering off, while Escobar had to be helped to the Braves dugout.
Phillies 1, Nationals 0
At Washington, Greg Dobbs’ RBI pinch-hit single in the ninth inning gave Philadelphia the victory over Washington.
Dobbs picked up the game-winning RBI as a pinch hitter for reliever Tom Gordon. Dobbs has 10 pinch hits and nine RBIs in 22 at-bats this season.
Gordon (4-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth. Brad Lidge pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 11 chances. Lidge walked two, but got Felipe Lopez to ground out with runners on first and third to end the game.
The hit also ended the 12-inning scoreless streak of Washington reliever Jon Rauch (2-1).
Brewers 7, Pirates 2
At Pittsburgh, Manny Parra pitched 5 2-3 scoreless innings, and Mike Cameron and Corey Hart homered to help Milwaukee trounce Pittsburgh and snap a five-game losing streak.
Parra (2-2) won for the first time since beating San Francisco on April 5, his first start of the season. The 25-year-old left-hander allowed only four hits and a walk, and struck out six.
Cameron, who entered in a 7-for-46 slump, had three hits and a walk. His two-run home run into the left-fielder corner in the seventh, his fifth of the season, gave Milwaukee a 4-0 lead and chased Pirates starter Paul Maholm (2-5). Hart’s third homer, a solo shot, came in the ninth.
Giants 6, Rockies 5
At Denver, Tim Lincecum pitched six effective innings, Rich Aurilia had three hits, including a solo homer, and San Francisco snapped a season-high six-game skid.
Lincecum (6-1) gave up three runs and scattered five hits while striking out six. He also walked four. The 23-year-old entered the game with the NL’s best road ERA (0.39). The right-hander improved to 4-0 this season when pitching after a San Francisco loss.
In other games, it was:
• Astros 4, Cubs 2
• Padres 3, Cardinals 2
• Dodgers 4, Reds 1
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