AMERICAN LEAGUE
Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira launched more long home runs as the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-1 on Tuesday for their seventh win in a row.
Rodriguez homered for the fourth straight game, connecting for a two-run shot in the first inning. It was the 558th of his career, putting him five behind Reggie “Mr October” Jackson for 11th place on the all-time list. Before the game, A-Rod and Jackson visited in the clubhouse.
Ahead 2-1 in the seventh, the Yankees broke it open with a seven-run burst. Teixeira highlighted it with his fourth homer in four games.
The Yankees last won seven straight in September.
RED SOX 2, BLUE JAYS 1
At Boston, David Ortiz went hitless in his return to the Boston lineup as Boston got its offense from the bottom of the order to help Tim Wakefield beat the AL East-leading Blue Jays.
No. 8 hitter Jeff Bailey singled in a run and No. 9 hitter George Kottaras drove in the other with a sacrifice fly as Wakefield (5-2) held Toronto to one run on five hits over eight innings. The knuckleballer gave up a solo homer to former teammate Kevin Millar, but no other Blue Jays made it as far as third base.
ATHLETICS 4, RAYS 1, 11 INNINGS
At St Petersburg, Florida, Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer during a four-run 11th inning to help Oakland beat Tampa Bay.
Holliday hit his fifth homer of the season on a two-out, 3-2 pitch from Joe Nelson. Adam Kennedy later added an RBI double.
Santiago Casilla (1-1) pitched a scoreless 10th inning for the win, which stopped Oakland’s four-game losing streak. Willy Aybar hit a solo homer for Tampa Bay in the bottom of the 11th.
In Tuesday’s other games it was:
• Tigers 4, Rangers 0
• Royals 6, Indians 5
• White Sox 6, Twins 2
• Angels 6, Mariners 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, CINCINNATI, OHIO
Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard hit a solo homer, and left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels stayed unbeaten against the Cincinnati Reds as the Philadelphia Phillies had a 4-3 victory on Tuesday.
The National League East leaders matched their best winning streak of the season with five straight thanks to a solid performance by Hamels (2-2), who allowed five hits in six innings, including solo homers by Jay Bruce and Jerry Hairston Jr.
Hamels improved to 4-0 in five career starts against Cincinnati, allowing five earned runs in 36 innings. Brad Lidge escaped a threat in the ninth for his eighth save.
In Tuesday’s other games it was:
• Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 3
• Braves 8, Rockies 1
• Cardinals 3, Cubs 0
• Pirates 8, Nationals 5, 10 innings
• Brewers 4, Astros 2
• Padres 2, Giants 1
• Dodgers 5, Mets 3
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