AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, CHICAGO
The Chicago White Sox struck early and late to pound the New York Yankees 14-4, twice scoring six runs in an inning, in a key American League game on Saturday.
PHOTO: AP
The White Sox ripped into starter A.J. Burnett for six runs in the second inning and added another six in the eighth to beat the East-leading Yankees for a third successive game.
“Our offense, it’s been kind of a weird year, [an] up-and-down year,” White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told reporters. “When we get cold, we’re really cold, but when we’re hot — that happens when you’ve got the type of lineup we have.”
The win left the White Sox one-and-a-half games behind Detroit in the Central Division, while the Yankees had their lead over Boston in the East reduced to just half a game.
Scott Podsednik and Gordon Beckham both delivered four RBIs for Chicago, who collected 17 hits.
“They’ve been swinging the bats well [in the series] with the exception of the first day,” Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter said. “They’ve been getting a lot of hits, and we haven’t.”
Podsednik had a two-run single in the second, a run-scoring single in the seventh and walked with the bases loaded in the eighth. Beckham doubled home two runs in both the second and the eighth.
Burnett (10-5), who had won five in a row, gave up seven runs — two when he walked Jayson Nix twice with the bases loaded — and 10 hits before leaving in the fifth with the Yankees trailing 7-2.
“It was my job to come in here today and set the tone, and try to stop this little dive we’re in right now,” Burnett said. “I didn’t do that.”
Nix also walked two other times off Yankees relievers.
“To come out today and get this win and put hits together, I feel like we were just running around the bases the whole game,” said Nix, the White Sox shortstop. “It was fun.”
Chicago starter John Danks (9-7) gave up four runs and seven hits, while striking out five and walking four in six innings for the win.
ANGELS 11, TWINS 6
In Minneapolis, Kendry Morales, Maicer Izturis and Juan Rivera each homered in the sixth inning as Los Angeles comfortably overcame Minnesota.
Angels pitcher Joe Saunders worked six innings, giving up four runs, to notch his first win in more than a month and help his team open its lead atop the AL West to four games.
The rout spoiled the Minnesota debut of Orlando Cabrera, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, a day after being traded from Oakland.
In other AL play, it was:
• Mariners 7, Rangers 2
• Red Sox 4, Orioles 0
• Rays 7, Royals 1
• Tigers 4, Indians 3, 12 innings
• Blue Jays 6, Athletics 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Atlanta pitcher Derek Lowe beat his old side, throwing six innings in the Braves’ 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League on Saturday.
In his first game against Los Angeles since joining Atlanta, Lowe gave up just five hits to win his fourth straight decision.
The Braves scores two runs in the sixth to take a 4-3 lead. The tying run came from Adam LaRoche, who had two hits in his return to Atlanta following Friday’s trade from Boston.
GIANTS 2, PHILLIES 0
In San Francisco, Tim Lincecum won his 12th game with eight scoreless innings as San Francisco shut out Philadelphia.
Lincecum struck out eight, increasing his majors-leading season tally to 191. On Monday, he struck out 15 against Pittsburgh.
The Giants have the most shutouts of any team this season, with 14. They also possess the majors-best home park record at 36-16.
CARDINALS 3, ASTROS 1
In St. Louis, Matt Holliday hit two solo homers to continue his fine start to life with St. Louis as they beat Houston.
Holliday connected on the first pitch for each of his homers, hitting a drive to right in the second and a shot to center in the eighth.
He also singled in the fourth and is hitting .606 with 10 RBIs in nine games since he was acquired from Oakland.
Chris Carpenter pitched his second complete game of the season for the Cardinals, striking out five and walking none.
He has won five consecutive decisions. Carpenter also scored the go-ahead run in the seventh.
In other NL play, it was:
• Cubs 9, Marlins 8, 10 innings
• Rockies 6, Reds 2
• Mets 9, Diamondbacks 6
• Padres 4, Brewers 2
• Pirates 11, Nationals 6
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