James Shields worked into the eighth inning to outpitch CC Sabathia, prolong Alex Rodriguez’s quest for his 600th homer and help Tampa Bay beat the New York Yankees 3-0 on Sunday.
Carl Crawford and Kelly Shoppach drove in runs for the Rays, who took two of three games during a matchup between the teams with the top two records in baseball.
The Yankees intended for Rodriguez to take a day off. However, with Shields (10-9) sailing along with a three-run lead in the seventh, manager Joe Girardi inserted the slugger as a pinch-hitter with a runner on and two outs.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Rodriguez took a third called strike. He remained in the game at third base, but didn’t get to the plate again.
Shields walked one and struck out 11 while limiting the World Series champions to four hits over seven-and-one-third innings.
Rays reliever Chad Qualls, acquired on Saturday from Arizona, got Lance Berkman to hit into a double play to end the eighth. Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth, finishing the five-hitter for his 30th save in 32 opportunities.
Sabathia (13-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in six-and-two-third innings, losing his second consecutive start after winning nine straight decisions.
Angels 4, Rangers 1
In Anaheim, Jered Weaver outpitched Cliff Lee with seven sharp innings in a matchup of the AL’s strikeout and ERA leaders as Los Angeles beat Texas to win two of three in their weekend series.
The Rangers’ lead in the AL West was shaved to eight games by the three-time defending division champions, who avoided falling at least 10 games out of first place for the first time since the end of the 2003 season.
Weaver (10-7) allowed an unearned run on four hits and struck out seven to increase his league-best total to 162. The right-hander, making his fourth start against the Rangers this season, was coming off a pair of hard-luck losses — one of which came at Texas when Lee beat him 3-2.
Brian Fuentes got three outs for his 20th save in 24 attempts.
Lee (9-4) went the distance for the seventh time this season, allowing nine hits over eight innings. The 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner, who has pitched at least eight innings in each of his last nine starts, is 1-2 with a 2.91 ERA in five outings with the Rangers after joining them in a trade from Seattle on July 9.
Overall, Lee’s ERA is a league-best 2.51.
Indians 5, Blue Jays 4
In Toronto, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run homer and Jason Donald added a solo shot as Cleveland beat Toronto for the sixth time in seven games.
Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 32nd home run for the Blue Jays. Aaron Hill and Yunel Escobar also had solo shots for Toronto, which leads the majors with 161 homers.
The Blue Jays have gone deep in 13 consecutive games, hitting 31 during that span.
In other AL play, it was:
Twins 4, Mariners 0
Red Sox 4, Tigers 3
White Sox 4, Athletics 1
Royals 5, Orioles 4
AP, CINCINNATI, Ohio
Brandon Phillips hit a tying triple with two out in the fifth inning and scored the tiebreaking run on shortstop Alex Gonzalez’ error, helping the Cincinnati Reds beat the Atlanta Braves 2-1 on Sunday in the finale of the weekend series.
Ramon Hernandez was on first when Phillips lifted a fly ball down the right-field line that eluded a diving Jason Heyward and bounced into the corner.
Orlando Cabrera followed with a routine grounder to Gonzalez, but the former Reds infielder dropped the ball and Phillips scored while Cabrera easily beat the throw to first.
The NL East-leading Braves wasted a solid outing by Tommy Hanson (8-8), who allowed an earned run and five hits in seven-and-one-third innings.
Edinson Volquez (2-1) pitched five innings for the Reds and Francisco Cordero got three outs for his 29th save.
Phillies 6, Nationals 4, 11 innings
In Washington, Placido Polanco and Jayson Werth each drove in a run in the 11th inning, helping Philadelphia avoid the sweep.
Wilson Valdez led off the 11th with a bunt single against Collin Balester (0-1) and was sacrificed to second by pinch-hitter Roy Oswalt, the ace pitcher acquired on Thursday in a trade with Houston.
Valdez went to third on a fly ball by Jimmy Rollins and scored on Polanco’s third hit, a single to center.
Werth followed with an RBI double.
Diamondbacks 14, Mets 1
In New York, Adam LaRoche hit a pair of three-run homers and Daniel Hudson made a memorable debut for Arizona.
Stephen Drew and John Hester added back-to-back homers as the Diamondbacks wrapped up a dominating season series against New York.
Hudson (1-0) allowed one run and three hits in eight innings in his sixth career start.
LaRoche had his sixth career multihomer game, both shots coming off Jon Niese (7-5).
LaRoche also set a career high with six RBIs.
In other NL play, it was:
Padres 5, Marlins 4
Cardinals 9, Pirates 1
Rockies 8, Cubs 7
Astros 5, Brewers 2
Giants 2, Dodgers 0
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