AMERICAN LEAGUE
Willy Aybar broke an eighth-inning tie with a two-run double for the Tampa Bay Rays as they rallied past the Los Angeles Angels 4-2 in the American League on Tuesday.
Angels starter Ervin Santana took a no-hit bid into the sixth and left with a 2-1 lead after seven innings.
PHOTO: AP
The Rays loaded the bases in the eighth with no outs against Scot Shields (5-4) on two walks and an error. Carlos Pena drew a one-out walk from Darren Oliver, forcing in the tying run before Aybar singled.
James Shields (11-7) allowed two runs and nine hits in eight innings.
Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels hit a solo homer in the second, giving him six homers and 20 RBIs in his last 16 games. Garret Anderson made it 2-0 in the fourth with an RBI double that extended his hitting streak to 22 games.
PHOTO: AP
RED SOX 7, ORIOLES 2
In Baltimore, Maryland, Daisuke Matsuzaka won his fourth straight start despite struggling through five innings as Boston got homers from Jason Varitek and Kevin Youkilis.
Matsuzaka (15-2) gave up two runs, six hits and five walks. He stranded nine runners, five in scoring position.
Varitek’s second homer in two games put Boston up 3-0 in the second. He added an RBI double in the fifth after Youkilis hit his 24th homer with a man on. Youkilis added an RBI single in the eighth to cap a three-hit, three-RBI night.
Baltimore’s Daniel Cabrera (8-8) allowed six runs and nine hits in four-and-a-third innings and is 2-11 with a 7.13 ERA in 16 career starts against Boston.
BLUE JAYS 2, YANKEES 1
In Toronto, New York center fielder Johnny Damon allowed two balls to glance off his glove, including an eighth-inning drive by Marco Scutaro that became the go-ahead double for Toronto.
A.J. Burnett (16-9) allowed one run and five hits in eight innings and has won seven straight home starts. He struck out a season-high 13 and earned a win in his sixth straight start.
With the score 1-1 in the eighth, Joe Inglett hit a two-out single to center off Jose Veras (3-2). Scutaro followed with a deep drive to center. Damon settled under the ball on the warning track, but it ticked off his glove and the wall, allowing Inglett to score.
Damon, who was playing center for just the 10th time this season, dropped Alex Rios’ fly ball in the first and was charged with a two-base error.
Tuesday’s other results:
• Indians 9, Royals 4
• White Sox 5, Mariners 0
• Twins 13, Athletics 2
• Tigers 11, Rangers 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
Carlos Delgado hit a go-ahead double off the left-center fence as the New York Mets broke loose in the eighth inning to rally past the Atlanta Braves 7-3 in the National League on Tuesday.
Damion Easley delivered a two-run single with the bases loaded and Ramon Castro added an RBI double to cap a five-run eighth against Atlanta’s bullpen.
A night after their six-game winning streak was snapped in Pittsburgh, the Mets won for the 10th time in 13 games and maintained their one-and-a-half game National League East lead over Philadelphia.
PHILLIES 5, NATIONALS 4
In Philadelphia, Jayson Werth hit a tie-breaking solo homer off Steven Shell (0-1), sending Washington to their 11th straight loss. It is the longest skid for the franchise since the Montreal Expos dropped 11 in a row in June and July 1991.
Brad Lidge finished for his 31st save in as many chances. Lidge has 34 consecutive saves, dating to last season with Houston.
Jimmy Rollins got a mixed reaction from the crowd in his first home game since calling Philadelphia fans “frontrunners” last week in a television interview. The reigning National League MVP heard boos and cheers each time he came to bat and went 0-for-4.
ASTROS 5, BREWERS 2
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Geoff Blum hit a tie-breaking three-run homer in the sixth inning as Houston downed Milwaukee.
Blum was hitless in nine at-bats before he hit a 1-2 pitch from Ben Sheets (11-7) for his career-high 12th home run, giving the Astros their 10th win in 13 games. Houston are 14-5 this month.
Brian Moehler (9-4) extended his winning streak to five games by allowing one earned run and nine hits in five-and-a-third innings. He was 0-3 in his last eight starts against the Brewers, including 0-2 this season.
Four relievers combined to shut down Milwaukee the rest of the way, including Jose Valverde, who pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.
Tuesday’s other results:
• Cubs 5, Reds 0
• Pirates 4, Cardinals 1
• Diamondbacks 7, Padres 6
• Rockies 8, Dodgers 3
• Marlins 6, Giants 0
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