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Coco Crisp hits Red Sox to victory

Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants, top, tags Luis Rodriguez of the San Diego Padres by sitting on him during their game in San Diego, California, on Sunday. PHOTO: AP

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Jon Lester held Toronto to four hits over eight innings and Coco Crisp drove in two runs to lead the Boston Red Sox over Roy Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Sunday.

The Red Sox moved within one game of American League East-leading Tampa Bay, who lost to New York 8-4. Boston and the Rays were scheduled to begin a three-game series yesterday in St. Petersburg, where the Red Sox are 0-6 so far this season.

Lester (15-5), who has not lost since the Blue Jays scored seven off him on Aug. 23, struck out six for his second straight victory.

He has allowed just two earned runs in 19-and-a-third innings over his last three starts, winning two.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 38th save.

WHITE SOX 4, TIGERS 2

WHITE SOX 11, TIGERS 7

In Chicago, DeWayne Wise hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning as Chicago completed a doubleheader sweep after the bullpen blew a seven-run lead.

Jim Thome hit his 539th homer and Brian Anderson went deep against Kenny Rogers, but the relievers imploded after John Danks pitched six scoreless innings.

Matt Thornton (5-3) got five outs for the win. Bobby Seay (1-2) took the loss for Detroit.

In the opener Javier Vazquez (12-13) took a shutout into the eighth and Alexei Ramirez homered.

Juan Uribe singled in Ken Griffey Jr in the fifth inning and Ramirez made it 2-0 in the seventh with his 17th homer, sending the White Sox to just their second win in six games. DeWayne Wise added an RBI double and Jermaine Dye drove him in with a single that made it 4-0 and chased Justin Verlander (10-16).

YANKEES 8, RAYS 4

In New York, Derek Jeter collected three hits for the third straight game, Alex Rodriguez belted a grand slam and New York beat Tampa Bay to win the weekend series against the American League East leaders.

Jeter moved into a tie with Lou Gehrig for most career hits at Yankee Stadium and Jason Giambi hit a two-run homer for New York.

Mariano Rivera entered with two on in the ninth and struck out Erick Aybar for his 35th save in 36 opportunities. The All-Star closer also moved into a tie with Lee Smith for second on the career list with 478 saves.

Other results on Sunday:

• Orioles 7, Twins 3

• Angels 4, Mariners 3

• Royals 13, Indians 3

• Athletics 7, Rangers 4



NATIONAL LEAGUE

AP, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

Carlos Zambrano pitched the first no-hitter for the Chicago Cubs in 36 years, returning from a recent bout of rotator cuff soreness to shut down the Houston Astros 5-0 on Sunday in a National League game relocated because of Hurricane Ike.

Zambrano stopped a Houston team that had not played since Thursday. The storm forced baseball to move two games from Texas to Miller Park, home of the Brewers, and the Astros flew hours before they took the field.

Zambrano (14-5) struck out a season-high 10 and walked one in the Cubs’ first no-hitter since Milt Pappas pitched one against San Diego in 1972.

The Cubs took a seven-and-a-half game lead in the National League Central over the fading Brewers, who were swept in a day-night doubleheader by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Astros fell two games behind the Phillies and Brewers.

Zambrano also made an offensive contribution in the Cubs’ four-run third inning, singling and then chugging home from first on Lee’s double. The Cubs chased Randy Wolf (10-12) in the third, his shortest outing of the season.

Other results on Sunday:

• Phillies 7, Brewers 3

• Phillies 6, Brewers 1

• Braves 7, Mets 4

• Rockies 1, Dodgers 0, 10 inns

• Reds 2, Diamondbacks 1, 10 inns

• Marlins 8, Nationals 7

• Pirates 7, Cardinals 2

• Giants 8, Padres 6, 10 inns