AMERICAN LEAGUE
AGENCIES, MIAMI, FLORIDA
The surprising Tampa Bay Rays extended their lead at the top of the American League East with a 5-4 win over the World Series champions Boston Red Sox on Monday.
The win in the opener of a three-game series lifted Tampa (50-32) to the best record in Major League Baseball as well as snapping a six-game losing streak to the Red Sox.
Tampa finished 30 games behind the Red Sox last season but six wins in their past seven games has given the Rays a one-and-a-half game division lead, a sharp contrast to their 66-win season last year.
“We’re playing solid baseball now and this is the only year that matters,” Tampa manager Joe Maddon told reporters. “There was great atmosphere tonight, it shows how far we’ve come as a team.”
James Shields pitched six-and-one-third solid innings for the win, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Five relievers combined to hang on for the win, with J.P. Howell coming on in the ninth inning to get the last out and stop a two-run Boston rally.
Shields was one of eight players suspended for his part in a June 5 melee at Fenway Park that featured a bench-clearing brawl after he struck Boston’s Coco Crisp in the leg with a pitch in a 7-1 Boston win.
“We’re professionals, they’re professionals and all that business is in the past,” Maddon said of the incident.
B.J. Upton and Gabe Gross both homered for the Rays, who triumphed despite managing just six hits.
Justin Masterson (4-2) allowed four runs on five hits in six innings to take the loss.
J.D. Drew hit his 16th homer of the season and 12th this month, and Mike Lowell had three hits for the Red Sox.
RANGERS 2, YANKEES 1
At New York, Scott Feldman and a reshuffled Texas bullpen shut down New York on four hits.
The win moved Texas to 43-41, the first time since Sept. 22, 2006, the Rangers have been two games over .500.
Rangers relievers threw three-and-one-third perfect innings, never letting a ball out of the infield. C.J. Wilson closed for his 18th save in 20 chances.
Josh Hamilton looped an RBI single and recently promoted rookie Chris Davis delivered another key hit for Texas off Mike Mussina (10-6).
Alex Rodriguez hit his 534th home run for the Yankees, tying Jimmie Foxx for 14th place on the career list.
ROYALS 6, ORIOLES 5, 11 INNINGS
At Baltimore, Miguel Olivo homered off George Sherrill with two outs in the ninth to force extra innings, and Jose Guillen singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th for Kansas City.
The Royals rallied from a four-run deficit to win their sixth straight on the road, the team’s longest run since 1999.
The victory also ended Kansas City’s seven-game losing streak at Camden Yards.
In other AL games it was:
Tigers 5, Twins 4
White Sox 9, Indians 7
Athletics 6, Angels 1
Blue Jays 2, Mariners 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
Kyle Lohse allowed an unearned run in seven innings for his seventh straight win and Albert Pujols had two hits and two RBIs in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 7-1 victory over New York on Monday.
Chris Duncan added a two-run homer, his first since May 16, for the Cardinals and Aaron Miles had three hits while extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
John Maine (8-6) lasted four innings to match his season low for the Mets, who have lost three of four.
Mark Mulder got the last three outs, making the first relief appearance of his career in his debut this year. He missed most of the previous two seasons with a shoulder injury. He allowed two hits with a strikeout.
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