John Lackey held the Dodgers to three hits for 8 2-3 innings and Francisco Rodriguez retired James Loney with the bases loaded for the final out as the Angels avoided a sweep with a 1-0 win over the Dodgers on Sunday.
On Saturday night, Jered Weaver and reliever Jose Arredondo did not allow a hit but the Angels lost to the Dodgers 1-0 on an unearned run. Weaver took the loss in the unofficial no-hitter.
Mike Napoli’s RBI single off Derek Lowe (5-8) in the second inning on Sunday was all the offense the Angels needed.
PHOTO: AP
Rodriguez, who came in with two outs in the ninth and runners on first and second, walked Jeff Kent to load the bases, then got Loney on a routine grounder to second to earn his major league-leading 32nd save.
Tigers 4, Rockies 3
At Detroit, Dane Sardinha hit a two-run triple for his first major league hit to rally the Tigers to a win over woeful Colorado, giving Detroit a three-game sweep.
Detroit, which won its fifth straight and 15th in its last 18, has a winning record for the first time this season.
Troy Tulowitzki homered for Colorado, which lost its seventh straight.
Kenny Rogers (6-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings.
Twins 5, Brewers 0
At Minneapolis, Kevin Slowey breezed through his fourth straight dominant start, beating Ben Sheets and Milwaukee with a three-hit shutout.
Delmon Young’s two-run homer and Carlos Gomez’s RBI triple highlighted an impressive revival by the Twins against the previously surging Sheets (9-2), hours after their 10-game winning streak ended.
Slowey (5-6) retired the first 10 batters he faced and struck out eight in his first career shutout, second complete game.
Marlins 4, Diamondbacks 3
At Miami, Jorge Cantu hit a game-ending RBI single, Hanley Ramirez hit a tying home run and the Marlins came back to beat Arizona.
Ramirez’s 18th home run of the season tied it at 3 in the ninth.
Jeremy Hermida then doubled, and took third on a wild pitch by closer Brandon Lyon to set up Cantu’s single.
It was the third blown save in 19 chances for Lyon (2-2).
Mets 3, Yankees 1
At New York, Oliver Perez pitched another gem against the Yankees, Carlos Delgado homered again and the Mets won this year’s Subway Series.
Billy Wagner closed out the Mets’ fourth win in the six-game rivalry. It was just the second time since interleague play started in 1997 that they’ve taken the season series.
Perez (6-5) limited the Yankees to one run and three hits in seven sharp innings. Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 18th save in 23 chances.
Astros 3, Red Sox 2
At Houston, Mark Loretta had a pinch-hit, RBI single in the eighth inning off Hideki Okajima as the Astros took two of three from the Red Sox.
Loretta, who played for Boston in 2006, batted for Doug Brocail (4-3), who earned a victory in relief for the second straight night.
Jose Valverde worked the ninth for his 21st save.
Boston’s Josh Beckett, who was born and raised in nearby Spring, Texas, gave up two runs and eight hits, but took his third no-decision in six starts.
Manny Ramirez it in the seventh with a solo homer off Houston’s Oscar Villareal, before Okajima (1-3) gave up a run in relief for the second time in three nights.
Cardinals 9, Royals 6
At Kansas City, Missouri, Jason LaRue drove in four runs with a home run and a triple and Albert Pujols also homered, leading the Cardinals over Kansas City.
Every Cardinal batter had a hit except Adam Kennedy, who scored twice and drove in a run.
Bannister (7-7), who had been 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA in five daytime home starts, lasted 4 2-3 innings and gave up seven runs and nine hits.
Rookie Chris Perez (2-0) got the victory after relieving starter Braden Looper, who had a 5-3 lead when he was lifted with one out in the fourth and the bases loaded. Perez went 1 1-3 innings and gave up two hits and one run on Mark Teahen’s RBI single.
Mariners 9, Padres 2
At San Diego, Ichiro Suzuki went 5-for-5, Adrian Beltre and Jeff Clement homered and the Mariners beat Jake Peavy and the punchless Padres for a three-game sweep.
The three-game winning streak matches the Mariners’ season high.
Although Seattle still has the worst record in the major leagues at 31-50, the Padres (32-51) are closing fast.
The Padres have lost a season-high eight straight games and 13 of 15, all against the AL. The Padres finished interleague play 3-15, worst in the majors.
Erik Bedard (5-4) won for the first time in five starts and improved to 3-0 lifetime against the Padres.
Reds 9, Indians 5
At Cleveland, Bronson Arroyo bounced back from the worst start of his career and Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer to help Cincinnati beat Cleveland for the fifth time in six games this season.
Arroyo (5-7) struck out six and gave up two runs over six innings.
The Indians went 6-12 against NL teams and have lost eight of their last 12 overall. Monday, they go to Chicago to open an eight-game trip — all against AL Central opponents.
Edwin Encarnacion’s two-run homer capped the Reds’ five-run fifth off Aaron Laffey (4-5).
Ben Francisco hit his sixth home run, a two-run shot off Jeremy Affeldt with two out in the bottom of the ninth.
Rays 4, Pirates 3
At Pittsburgh, backup catcher Shawn Riggans homered and drove in two runs and Tampa Bay completed a remarkable first-half turnaround, beating Pittsburgh behind Andy Sonnanstine’s seven effective innings.
Sonnanstine (9-3) limited the Pirates to two runs, one earned, and is 6-0 after a Rays loss. Tampa Bay was a 4-3, 13-inning loser on Saturday night.
The Rays are 49-32, the most victories midway through a season by a team that had the majors’ worst record the season before, according to Stats, Inc.
Riggans and Willy Aybar hit solo home runs, the only runs allowed by Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny in six innings, and Riggans’ run-scoring single highlighted a go-ahead two-run eighth inning.
In other games, it was:
• Blue Jays 1, Braves 0
• Nationals 3, Orioles 2, 12 innings
• Giants 11, Athletics 1
• Rangers 5, Phillies 1
• White Sox 5, Cubs 1
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