AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, BOSTON AND NEW YORK
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Boston Red Sox scored eight runs in a wild third inning to crush the slumping Tampa Bay Rays 9-1 in a rain-shortened American League game on Saturday.
Boston starting pitcher Josh Beckett (15-6) had not won a game in a month but held the Rays to four hits and a run over five-plus innings.
“It’s nice,” the right-hander told reporters. “That’s what I feel like I should do every time I start. Obviously, that’s not going to happen. You’ve just got to keep grinding each day, and things end up working out.”
He struck out four and walked one to end a string of five games without a victory. He was 0-2 with a 7.76 earned run average during the streak.
Red Sox shortstop Alex Gonzalez played a key role in the win with a three-run double in the decisive third inning.
Officials called off the game in the top of the sixth, making it an official contest after the teams were rained out on Friday, as last year’s American League champions were forced to absorb a ninth consecutive loss.
Rain delayed the game by more than two hours at the start, then interrupted it for almost another hour in the sixth.
Boston’s win, its third straight, pushed the Red Sox three games ahead of the Texas Rangers in the race for the league’s wildcard playoff spot.
Rays starter and loser Wade Davis (0-1) was tagged for six hits and charged with all eight runs in the third inning, with the Red Sox sending 12 batters to the plate to face Davis and reliever Dale Thayer.
“It’s crucial to get runs early, especially in a game like this when you know you’re going to get rain,” said Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury, who had an RBI single off Thayer.
The Rays, in third place in the AL East 18 games behind New York and Boston, last won on Sept. 2, when they defeated Boston 8-5.
The two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday to make up for Friday’s rain out.
ORIOLES 7, YANKEES 3
At New York, Brian Roberts hit a grand slam in a six-run second inning and tied a franchise record with his 51st double as Baltimore beat up A.J. Burnett and New York.
Brian Matusz (5-2) won his third straight start, and the Yankees lost consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 16 and Aug. 17 at Seattle and Oakland.
Burnett (11-9) was hit hard for the third time in five starts and appeared far from ready to start Game 2 or 3 of the postseason next month. He allowed six runs and seven hits in seven innings, is 1-5 in his last nine starts, and has a 7.67 ERA in his last five outings while giving up eight homers.
A day after surpassing Lou Gehrig for the Yankees career hits lead, Derek Jeter was 1 for 5 to leave his total at 2,724.
In other AL action, it was:
• Athletics 4, Twins 2
• White Sox 4, Angels 3, 10 inns
• Blue Jays 8, Tigers 6
• Indians 13, Royals 6
• Mariners 8, Rangers 3, 8.5 inns
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, CHICAGO
Pinch-hitter Drew Sutton lined a two-out, two-run double off Carlos Marmol in the ninth inning as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 after squandering a five-run lead in the National League on Saturday.
Marmol (2-3), the Cubs closer, walked two straight batters with two outs before Sutton lined a ball into the right field corner to break the 5-5 tie.
METS 10, PHILLIES 9
At Philadelphia, David Wright hit a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning off new Phillies closer Ryan Madson to rally New York over the hosts.
Wright homered twice for the first time this season and matched a career high with six RBIs.
BRAVES 7, CARDINALS 6
At St Louis, Missouri, Brian McCann hit a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning as Atlanta held on to beat St Louis for their second consecutive loss.
In other NL action, it was:
• Dodgers 9, Giants 1
• Astros 4, Pirates 2
• Brewers 9, Diamondbacks 2
• Marlins 11, Nationals 3
• Padres 3, Rockies 2, 10 inns
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