AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Sean Rodriguez and B.J. Upton hit three-run homers as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 on Tuesday.
The Rays won for the 10th time in 11 games and the victory moved them into first place in the American League East.
Rodriguez homered in the first inning. Upton put the Rays ahead 6-3 with his tiebreaking drive in the seventh.
Jeff Niemann (10-3) allowed three runs and eight hits over seven innings as Tampa Bay moved one game ahead of the New York Yankees, who lost to Toronto.
Rafael Soriano allowed an RBI single to Joe Mauer in the ninth, before recording his 31st save.
Mauer was back in the starting lineup and went 3-for-4 with three RBIs as the designated hitter. The reigning American League MVP, dealing with tendinitis in his right shoulder, sat out two straight games after receiving a cortisone shot in the shoulder on Saturday.
It has not been determined when Mauer will play behind the plate.
After pinch-hitters John Jaso and Matt Joyce drew one-out walks from Matt Guerrier (1-6) in the seventh, Upton hit his ninth homer of the season into the left-field seats.
BLUE JAYS 8, YANKEES 2
In New York, Ricky Romero baffled the suddenly slumping New York Yankees for the second time this season as the free-swinging Toronto Blue Jays belted four more home runs for the victory.
Alex Rodriguez failed to hit home run No. 600 for the 12th consecutive game, extending the longest stretch before reaching the milestone of the six players to have done it. New York’s third baseman went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
The Yankees have lost three straight for the first time since June 16 to June 19.
Romero (9-7) allowed just two hits — a two-run homer by Mark Teixeira in the first and an infield single by Marcus Thames in the fifth. He retired the final 15 batters.
Toronto’s Travis Snider and Jose Bautista hit two-run homers, while Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill also went deep for the major league’s top home-run hitting team. Bautista’s homer was his ninth since the All-Star break and his 33rd of the year, by far the most in the majors.
Dustin Moseley (1-1) took the loss.
WHITE SOX 12, TIGERS 2, 1ST GAME
TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 1, 2ND GAME
In Detroit, Michigan, Jeremy Bonderman allowed one run in six-and-two-third innings for his first win in two months and Johnny Damon drove in two runs as the Detroit Tigers earned a split of a day-night doubleheader with Chicago.
Chicago won the first game as Juan Pierre homered for the first time in almost two years. Alex Rios and Dayan Viciedo also connected for the White Sox in the opener.
Mark Buehrle (10-8) pitched into the eighth inning, allowing two runs and seven hits. It’s the 10th straight season he has won at least 10 games.
Pierre also doubled, drove in two runs and stole his league-leading 40th base, the 499th of his career. Pierre’s previous home run was on Sept. 15, 2008. He lined a shot from Rick Porcello over the right-field fence to lead off the fifth.
Porcello (4-10) was tagged for seven runs and eight hits in four-and-a-third innings and was chased as the White Sox took a 7-1 lead in the fifth.
In the second game, Bonderman (6-6) allowed five hits, walking one and striking out five. His last win came on June 3. Robbie Weinhardt and Ryan Perry finished the game.
Carlos Torres (0-1), recalled from Triple-A Charlotte before the first game, was the loser for Chicago, giving up five runs and nine hits in six innings, with five walks and four strikeouts.
Tuesday’s other results:
• Orioles 6, Angels 3
• Red Sox 3, Indians 1
• Royals 3, Athletics 2
• Mariners 3, Rangers 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MIAMI
Roy Halladay made a triumphant return to the scene of his perfect game, allowing one run in seven innings as Philadelphia beat Florida 6-1 on Tuesday.
Halladay (13-8) threw the second perfect game in Phillies history on his last visit to Miami on May 29. This time, the Marlins managed five hits against the right-hander, who struck out nine and lowered his ERA to 2.17.
Halladay hit a two-run single in the fourth. He improved to 3-1 in four starts against Florida this year with an ERA of 1.13.
Ben Francisco and Carlos Ruiz homered on consecutive pitches in the second inning. Francisco finished with three of the Phillies’ 13 hits and Ruiz had four.
Dan Uggla hit the 24th homer of his career leading off the second inning for the Florida Marlins.
Florida’s Sean West (0-1), making his first start of the season, went five innings and allowed five runs, four earned.
DODGERS 2, PADRES 1
In Los Angeles, Ted Lilly outpitched Mat Latos with seven superb innings in his first start for the team that drafted him 14 years ago as Los Angeles snapped a six-game losing streak with a victory over San Diego.
Lilly (3-9) allowed two hits, struck out five, walked none and retired his final 20 batters before he was lifted for a pinch-hitter after 87 pitches. The 34-year-old left-hander was obtained on Saturday from the Cubs with infielder Ryan Theriot in a deal that sent second baseman Blake DeWitt and two minor leaguers to Chicago.
The only run off Lilly came with one out in the first when Miguel Tejada hit his eighth homer of the season and his first since joining the Padres last Thursday in a trade with Baltimore.
Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save.
Latos (11-5) allowed two runs and four hits over six innings and struck out six on the way to his first loss since June 4.
DIAMONDBACKS 6, NATIONALS 1
In Phoenix, Arizona, Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning in a victory over Washington, before being forced to leave the game after he was hit in the head by a pitch.
Reynolds was hit near the front of the helmet by a pitch from reliever Collin Balester and had to leave the game. Reynolds remained on the dirt near home plate momentarily after manager Kirk Gibson and training staff rushed out to aid him. He popped back up on his feet, but was removed for a pinch-runner.
Reynolds, who turned 27 on Tuesday, hit a towering drive over the right-center field wall in one of the deepest parts of Chase Field to give Arizona a 4-1 lead against Scott Olsen (3-3).
Joe Saunders (7-10) threw a five-hitter in his second straight start as a Diamondback after being traded from the Los Angeles Angels on July 25.
Tuesday’s other results:
• Mets 3, Braves 2
• Giants 10, Rockies 0
• Astros 18, Cardinals 4
• Pirates 7, Reds 6
• Brewers 4, Cubs 3
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