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Boston knocks socks off Chicago

AMERICAN LEAGUE

The Boston Red Sox eased to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park on Saturday, the home team aided by a second consecutive four-for-four batting effort from in-form second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

Pedroia, who was last season’s American League Rookie of the Year, became the first Red Sox player to achieve the feat since Wade Boggs in 1989.

“Sometimes you go through times in the year where you’re not very good, and then you go through times where you are good,” Pedroia told reporters. “The last couple of days I got on base every time. It’s just one of those things.”

Pedroia led a Boston (79-56) offense that provided first-time starter Michael Bowden plenty of support.

The 21-year-old pitcher allowed two runs over five solid innings just one day after the Red Sox placed key right-hander Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list because of an injured throwing elbow.

“I don’t care what your age is, getting runs is good,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “But he did a good job after we got the runs.”

Jason Bay started off the scoring with a two-run double in the first inning, where the Red Sox put up three runs.

They added two more in the second, getting to Chicago starter Mark Buehrle, who allowed 11 hits and seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings.

Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Kotsay both had three hits apiece for Boston, which recorded 15 hits in total.

Second baseman Alexei Ramirez was two-for-four with an RBI double for the White Sox (76-59), who have lost three straight and remain locked in a tight race with the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central division.

RAYS 10, ORIOLES 9

Rocco Baldelli drilled a ninth-inning double down the third-base line to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a dramatic 10-9 over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

The surprising Rays (83-51) have won four straight as they continue to maintain command of the American League East division.

“It’s the best baseball story of the year,” Rays pitcher J.P. Howell told reporters. “And it’s going to keep going.”

The latest victory was far from easy, however, as Tampa Bay were required to rally from a 7-3 deficit in the top of the fifth.

First baseman Carlos Pena delivered a two-run double during a three-run sixth and Baldelli was hit by a pitch that forced in a run in the seventh.

The designated-hitter was making just his seventh start of the year, after being diagnosed with a rare DNA disorder in spring training that sidelined him for most of the year. He finished two-for-three with two RBIs including the game-winner.

“What he’s done to come back and to win a ball game like that is just huge for him, huge for us and huge for the city,” Tampa Bay starter Andy Sonnanstine said.

The Orioles’ Nick Markakis had a huge day, going four-for-five with a solo home run in the top of the ninth that tied the game at 9-9.

Despite allowing the homer, reliever Dan Wheeler (3-5) was credited with the win after pitching the top of the ninth.

Sonnanstine was rocked for five runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Jay Payton’s two-run homer in the first gave Baltimore a 2-0 lead and the Orioles (63-72) tacked on three more in the third with Aubrey Huff’s three-run shot, his 30th of the year.



In other AL games, it was:

• Blue Jays 7, Yankees 6

• Mariners 4, Indians 3, (10)

• Kansas City 13, Detroit 3

• LA Angels 4, Texas 3

• Oakland 3, Minnesota 2

In NL games, it was:

• Philadelphia 5, Chicago Cubs 2

• Houston 8, St Louis 5

• Milwaukee 11, Pittsburgh 3

• Florida 4, New York Mets 3

• Washington 9, Atlanta 8, (10)

• Cincinnati 7, San Francisco 6

• LA Dodgers 6, Arizona 2

• San Diego 9, Colorado 4
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