AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
Max Scherzer struck out 14 in five-and-two-thirds shutout innings hours after he was recalled from the minors, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics 10-2 on Sunday.
Scherzer (2-4) allowed two hits, walked four and hit a batter in his first game with Detroit since he was sent to Triple-A Toledo following an awful start. The right-hander fell just two strikeouts short of Mickey Lolich’s team record despite being taken out in the sixth inning.
Scherzer was acquired from Arizona over the winter and went 1-4 with a 7.29 ERA in his first eight starts with the Tigers. He was only called back up because Armando Galarraga, Sunday’s scheduled starter, pitched in relief on Friday and wasn’t available.
Miguel Cabrera had four hits, including his 14th homer, and four RBIs for the Tigers, who finished with 15 hits. Joel Zumaya pitched two scoreless innings for his first save.
Daric Barton hit a two-run homer for Oakland. Dallas Braden (4-5) allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings.
YANKEES 7, INDIANS 3
At New York, Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer in New York’s five-run seventh, leading the Yankees to the victory.
Hours after the Indians learned they would be without star center fielder Grady Sizemore for at least six to eight weeks and possibly longer, they were reminded that their problems are more extensive.
Alex Rodriguez was 0 for 3 a day after hitting Cleveland pitcher David Huff in the head with a line drive. Huff showed no symptoms of a concussion before the game, smiling and joking around in the dugout.
Derek Jeter hit a two-run single off Justin Masterson with two out in the seventh to cut Cleveland’s lead to 3-2. Tony Sipp (0-1) came on and gave up a double to Curtis Granderson before Teixeira’s eighth homer.
ANGELS 9, MARINERS 7
At Anaheim, California, Howie Kendrick hit his second home run of the game with two outs and two on in the ninth inning, giving the Angels the win a day after Kendry Morales broke his leg celebrating a winning grand slam for Los Angeles.
Manager Mike Scioscia met with his team before the game to change the club’s policy on home plate celebrations, and it was put to the test in short order. Kendrick had a clear path and touched home without a jump as his jubilant teammates ran on the field and kept a safe distance from the foul line before mobbing him.
Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homer in the first for Los Angeles.
Fernando Rodney (4-0) pitched a hitless ninth for the victory.
Eliezer Alfonzo had three hits, including his first homer of the season, and drove in four for Seattle. Closer David Aardsma (0-3) got the loss.
In other AL play, it was:
• Twins 6, Rangers 3
• Blue Jays 6, Orioles 1
• Red Sox 8, Royals 1
• White Sox 8, Rays 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, CHICAGO
Albert Pujols hit three long home runs and Adam Wainwright pitched seven impressive innings, leading the St Louis Cardinals to a 9-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Pujols connected in the first, fifth and ninth innings for his fourth career three-homer game. He has four homers in four games after hitting one in 28.
The Cardinals, who begin a three-game series against the NL Central-leading Reds yesterday, won their first series at Wrigley Field since taking two of three from the Cubs between April 20 and April 22, 2007.
Wainwright (7-3) allowed one run and seven hits, struck out eight and walked two.
Matt Holliday had four hits for St Louis and David Freese finished with three, including a two-run homer.
Geovany Soto homered in the seventh for the Cubs, who split a six-game homestand. Ryan Dempster (3-5) allowed six runs and nine hits in six-and-two-thirds innings.
MARLINS 1, PHILLIES 0
At Miami, Florida, Ronny Paulino drove in the only run to lift the Marlins to the victory.
Paulino’s sixth-inning single drove in Hanley Ramirez and made a winner of Anibal Sanchez (5-2), who gave up three hits and struck out seven in six-and-two-thirds innings. Leo Nunez pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save in 12 tries as Florida ended a four-game losing streak.
DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3
At Denver, Colorado, Clayton Kershaw struck out nine in five innings and Xavier Paul hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth for the Dodgers.
Kershaw (5-3) allowed two runs and four hits, but struggled at times with his control while matching his season high for strikeouts. He walked four, had a wild pitch and hit the first batter he faced.
In other NL play, it was:
• Braves 5, Pirates 2
• Padres 3, Nationals 2, 11 innings
• Giants 6, D’backs 5, 10 innings
• Astros 2, Reds 0, 10 innings
• Mets 10, Brewers 4
• Marlins 1, Phillies 0
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