AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
The Tampa Bay Rays tightened their grip on second place in the American League East with a nail-biting 3-2 victory over division foes the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday.
PHOTO: EPA
Jeff Niemann tossed six innings and allowed just one run, while closer Rafael Soriano got out of a ninth inning jam to help the Rays surge a game-and-a-half clear of the Red Sox as both teams seek to reel in the leading New York Yankees.
Soriano allowed a two-out RBI triple to Eric Patterson in the ninth as the Red Sox (49-35) pulled within one run, but the right-hander got the final out for his 23rd save of the year.
In-form Carl Crawford belted a solo home run in the eighth inning to give Tampa Bay (50-33) a 3-1 advantage after John Jaso recorded a go-ahead RBI in the fifth to break a 1-1 tie.
Crawford entered the night having recorded 15 hits in his last 35 at-bats and his blast ensured the Rays their fourth straight win and second in a row against Boston.
“We’re looking more like we did earlier in the season,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “I think we’re getting the proverbial mojo back.”
The Red Sox have been stricken with injuries and are without All-Stars Dustin Pedroia, Victor Martinez and Clay Buchholz.
Adding to their woes, slugger Kevin Youkilis had to leave the game in the fourth inning with an ankle problem.
“I was out in the field and it just felt like I had a cramp in my ankle, which is the most strange thing ever,” Youkilis said. “Somehow I irritated it and my whole entire ankle locked up.”
Outfielder Daniel Nava led the way with two hits and an RBI for Boston. Young starter Felix Doubront made just the second start of his career and took the loss after allowing two runs in five-and-two-thirds innings.
YANKEES 6, ATHLETICS 1
In Oakland, New York’s Alex Rodriguez hit his 21st career grand slam and added a solo shot for his 597th home run, helping beat Oakland.
Rodriguez connected with the bases loaded in the third inning to tie Manny Ramirez for the second most slams, then went deep again in the sixth off Trevor Cahill (8-3) to lead the Yankees to their fourth straight win.
A-Rod has 21 home runs at the Coliseum, the most by a visiting player.
New York starter C.C. Sabathia (11-3) won his seventh straight, allowing only one run in seven-and-two-thirds innings.
TIGERS 7, ORIOLES 5, 11 INNINGS
In Detroit, Johnny Damon followed his 2,500th career hit with a game-winning homer in the 11th inning to lift Detroit over Baltimore.
Austin Jackson led off the inning with a single off David Hernandez (3-7) and Damon followed with a long homer to right. Damon singled in the third inning for his 2,500th hit.
Detroit’s Ryan Perry (2-4) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief.
The Tigers trailed 4-1 going into the eighth, but Miguel Cabrera led off with a triple and scored on Brennan Boesch’s single. Brandon Inge’s one-out triple scored Boesch to make it 4-3.
In other AL play, it was:
• White Sox 4, Angels 1
• Twins 7, Blue Jays 6
• Rangers 12, Indians 1
• Royals 3, Mariners 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
New York’s ace pitcher Johan Santana hit his first major league homer, while pitching a shutout as the Mets blanked the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 in the National League on Tuesday.
Santana, a .166 lifetime hitter, steamed around the bases after capping a tenacious 12-pitch at-bat with his first homer in 182 career at-bats.
From the mound, Santana (6-5) struck out five in his seventh career shutout and first since 2008. He’d won only one of his previous seven starts.
NATIONALS 6, PADRES 5
In Washington, Ryan Zimmerman’s second homer of the game, leading off the bottom of the ninth, gave Washington victory over San Diego.
Zimmerman hit a fastball from Luke Gregerson (2-4) over the wall in center. He had earlier homered in the fourth.
Ian Desmond also connected, giving the Nationals their fourth three-homer game of the season.
Matt Capps (3-3) worked the ninth for his third victory in six days. Washington claimed its 10th victory in its last at-bat.
In other NL play, it was:
• Dodgers 7, Marlins 3
• Braves 6, Phillies 3, 11 innings
• Rockies 12, Cardinals 9
• Giants 6, Brewers 1
• Cubs 6, Diamondbacks 4
• Astros 6, Pirates 2
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