AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
PHOTO: AFP
Ken Griffey Jr’s game-winning, pinch-hit single in the ninth inning capped Seattle’s three-run rally off American League saves leader Kevin Gregg and gave the Mariners a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
Seattle ended a five-game losing streak and Griffey’s teammates mobbed him between first and second base. Nine days ago the Mariners rallied to his defense following a report he was unavailable to pinch-hit in an earlier loss because he was sleeping in the clubhouse.
It was the first game-ending hit of Seattle’s disappointing season.
Josh Bard tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
RAYS 8, YANKEES 6
At New York, Carlos Pena homered twice and Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton also connected as Tampa Bay won its sixth straight game.
A day after tagging A.J. Burnett, the majors’ best team came out swinging against Andy Pettitte (5-1).
Jason Bartlett led off with a double, Carl Crawford followed with an RBI single and then Zobrist homered. Just like that, it was 3-0.
TIGERS 5, ATHLETICS 2
At Oakland, California, Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez both drove in two runs for Detroit, and Jeremy Bonderman won for the first time in over a month.
Tyson Ross lasted four innings in his second start, allowing three runs and seven hits. Ross was an emergency starter for Oakland when Justin Duchscherer was unable to start last Saturday.
He’s given up seven runs over 10-and-two-thirds innings after allowing six in his first 16.
ROYALS 9, INDIANS 3
At Cleveland, Ohio, Luke Hochevar pitched a complete game and Alberto Callaspo hit a three-run homer as Kansas City beat Cleveland.
Hochevar (4-2) gave up four hits to go the distance for the third time in his career. He had no trouble with the Indians, who were without the top two hitters in their lineup — Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore, both out with injuries. Hochevar, who had lost his last three starts to Cleveland, gave up two first-inning singles and then retired 15 of 16 before Choo Shin-soo’s double in the sixth.
Callaspo connected for his seventh homer in the third off Mitch Talbot (5-3), and Jose Guillen later added his ninth homer this season.
Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who dropped their fourth straight and fell below the Royals into last place in the AL Central.
In other AL play, it was:
• Red Sox 6, Twins 2
• Rangers 13, Orioles 7
• Angels 6, White Sox 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Brooks Conrad hit a pinch-hit grand slam to cap a seven-run ninth inning that gave the Atlanta Braves a stunning 10-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
The Braves fell behind 8-0 against rookie Mike Leake and were still down 9-3 heading to the ninth. Four straight hits, including Nate McLouth’s two-run single, gave the Braves hope. A walk to David Ross loaded the bases with no outs, bringing the potential tying run to the plate.
Martin Prado hit a grounder to third that looked like a double play, but Miguel Cairo could not get the ball out of his glove — Cincinnati’s fourth error.
DIAMONDBACKS 8, GIANTS 7
At Phoenix, Arizona, Conor Jackson scored the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch with two outs in the eighth inning as Arizona completed a two-game sweep of San Francisco.
Mark Reynolds hit his 100th career home run and had three RBIs, and Stephen Drew drove in two runs for the Diamondbacks.
Reynolds was at-bat when Jeremy Affeldt (2-3) bounced a pitch well short of the plate, allowing the winning run to score.
DODGERS 4, PADRES 1
At Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw pitched seven-and-one-third gritty innings to win his third straight start and Garret Anderson delivered the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly for Los Angeles.
Kershaw (4-2) allowed a run and seven hits, struck out seven and walked two. He has given up no more than two runs in seven of his last eight starts.
Ronald Belisario struck out both batters he faced and Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save in 10 attempts.
Manny Ramirez was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting lineup on Thursday night for the second straight game because of a sore little toe on his left foot. The injury occurred while the slugging left fielder was swinging his leg back and forth in the trainer’s room, trying to get loose before Wednesday night’s 10-5 loss to San Diego, and accidentally made contact with a table.
METS 10, NATIONALS 7
At Washington, David Wright hit a three-run double and had four RBIs for New York, and Raul Valdes filled in admirably for injured starter John Maine for five innings.
In other NL play, it was:
• Cardinals 4, Marlins 2
• Phillies 5, Cubs 4
• Brewers 4, Pirates 3
• Rockies 4, Astros 0
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