AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AND SEATTLE
PHOTO: AP
Brandon Inge hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Detroit Tigers a 1-0 win in a tight pitching duel against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
The Tigers third baseman drove a 2-1 pitch to left field off reliever Roman Colon to support pitcher Jarrod Washburn, who delivered his finest performance in three starts since being acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners on July 31.
PHOTO: AP
“Now I feel more like a part of this team,” Washburn told reporters. “It’s a great feeling, because the Tigers didn’t trade for the guy who went out and pitched like I did my first two starts. I always knew Detroit was a great baseball town, but tonight I felt a part of it.”
Washburn tossed eight scoreless innings to match the effort of Kansas City ace Zack Greinke, who shut out Detroit over seven innings while striking out six batters.
Left-hander Washburn had allowed 11 runs in two previous starts with his new team but surrendered just three hits to help the American League Central-leading Tigers (61-54).
Curtis Granderson was 2-for-3 for the Tigers and was the only player to record multiple hits.
The Royals, last place in the AL Central, had runners on first and third in the eighth but could not capitalize, leaving them 45-70 for the year.
The 25-year-old Greinke, an early favorite for the AL Cy Young award before losing four straight decisions, remained the struggling Royals’ bright light, tossing 106 pitches before handing the ball to Colon, who took the loss.
“That was a thrilling game I’ll tell you — unless you come to see offense,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. “You had everything — great pitching, great defense and a home run at the end, which everyone likes. It was a really clean game.”
YANKEES 4, MARINERS 2
Mark Teixeira’s homer in the top of the ninth put the New York Yankees ahead to stay in their win over the Seattle Mariners.
Teixeira’s solo shot was his second game-deciding homer of the week and 30th homer of the season.
It broke a 2-2 tie that had stood since the fifth inning, and an RBI single by Nick Swisher capped the scoring.
The Yankees rolled on without a resting Alex Rodriguez, making it 11 wins in 12 games and retaining a six-and-a-half game buffer atop the AL East.
In other AL action, it was:
• Red Sox 8, Rangers 4
• Orioles 16, Angels 6
• Blue Jays 5, Rays 2
• White Sox 8, A’s 7, 10 inns
• Twins 11, Indians 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MIAMI
Florida’s Josh Johnson struck out a career-best 11 batters as the Marlins edged the Colorado Rockies 6-5 on Friday in a key National League game.
Florida won for the seventh time in eight games and climbed within two games of the Rockies, who lead the NL wild card race.
Johnson did not give up a hit until there were two outs in the seventh. He allowed just one run.
The Marlins had 10 hits, extending their streak of double-figure hit games to a club-record 11.
PHILLIES 3, BRAVES 2
In Atlanta, Georgia, Ryan Howard started off the ninth inning with a homer to lift Philadelphia to a narrow and important win over pursuing Atlanta.
The Phillies won their fourth straight game, ending the Braves’ run of five in a row while extending its lead over Atlanta in the NL East to six games. Howard won it with his 28th homer of the season, breaking a 2-2 tie.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, DODGERS 1
In Phoenix, Arizona, Dan Haren had his best outing in a month, ceding only three hits as Arizona overcame Los Angeles.
After giving up 10 runs in his past two starts, Haren held Los Angeles to one in eight innings, striking out eight, walking two and also getting an RBI single.
METS 3, GIANTS 0
In New York, Bobby Parnell pitched six crisp innings in his second major league start, guiding the home team past San Francisco.
Parnell struck out seven, including four straight overlapping his final two innings.
In other NL action, it was:
• Cardinals 9, Padres 2
• Brewers 11, Astros 2
• Cubs 17, Pirates 2
• Nationals 2, Reds 0
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