Jon Lester pitched eight scoreless innings as the Boston Red Sox stopped the American League West-leading Texas Rangers 3-1 on Saturday.
On a steamy night, Lester (13-7) was sharp, striking out five and walking none.
Texas’ Josh Hamilton homered with one out in the ninth and went 2-for-4, raising his major league-high average to .364.
Rangers starter Colby Lewis (9-9) lost his fourth consecutive decision despite striking out nine and allowing just one run over six-and-two-third innings.
Yankees 8, Royals 3
In Kansas City, Alex Rodriguez hit three home runs in a game for the fourth time in his career, putting on a late power show that led New York past Kansas City.
Rodriguez drove in five runs, taking over the major league RBIs lead with 97. He picked on three different pitchers for his deep drives.
After striking out on three pitches from Sean O’Sullivan in his previous at-bat, Rodriguez led off the sixth inning with a 412-foot shot against the Royals starter.
Rodriguez added a two-run drive off Kanekoa Texeira in the seventh that carried 419 feet and put the Yankees on top 6-3.
A-Rod connected in the ninth against Greg Holland for the most impressive drive, a 439-foot shot that landed in the water fountains in left field.
Rodriguez has 21 home runs this season and 604 lifetime. It was the 56th multi-homer game of his 16-year career.
Tigers 3, White Sox 2
In Chicago, Alex Avila hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off substitute closer J.J. Putz, lifting Detroit over Chicago.
It was only Avila’s fifth homer of the year. He platoons at catcher and is batting .214.
The White Sox have gone from leading the AL Central by a game and-a-half to trailing Minnesota by two.
Putz (5-4), working the ninth inning as Bobby Jenks sat out with back spasms, opened by giving up a single. After a strikeout, Avila hit Putz’s next pitch over the left-field wall.
Tigers’ reliever Phil Coke (7-2) got the final out of the eighth inning and pitched a scoreless ninth, lowering his ERA to 1.46 over his past 30 outings.
In other AL play, it was;
Twins 2, Athletics 0
Angels 7, Blue Jays 2
Rays 7, Orioles 3
Mariners 9, Indians 3
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
Juan Uribe hit an RBI single in the 11th inning as the San Francisco Giants rallied for a rare win against the San Diego Padres, edging their National League West rivals 3-2 on Saturday.
The Giants won for just the second time in 10 meetings against San Diego and moved within two-and-a-half games of the Padres for first place in the NL West division.
Buster Posey led off the 11th against San Diego pitcher Tim Stauffer (3-2) with a groundball double up the middle. After Pablo Sandoval was intentionally walked, Uribe blooped a single to right and Posey easily scored.
Giants reliever Santiago Casilla (4-2) escaped a first-and-third, one-out jam in the 11th by striking out one and forcing a line out to earn the win.
Dodgers 2, Braves 1
In Atlanta, Ted Lilly threw six scoreless innings for his third straight win as Los Angeles held on for a narrow win over Atlanta.
Lilly (6-8) left the game with a 1-0 lead.
Dodgers closer Kuo Hong-chih pitched a perfect ninth in his first opportunity since Jonathan Broxton was removed from the closer’s role on Friday.
Diamondbacks 9, Nationals 2
In Washington, Miguel Montero hit two of Arizona’s four home runs in the victory over Washington.
Montero started things by launching a two-run shot in the second off Jason Marquis (0-5). Gerardo Parra added his third home run with two outs to make it 3-0. Kelly Johnson hit his 18th in the fourth.
Montero led off the sixth with his second home run.
Ian Kennedy (7-9) pitched seven strong innings and singled twice for the Diamondbacks. In his longest start for nine weeks, he allowed two runs, walked only one and struck out seven. His two hits were a career high and he scored a run.
In other NL play, it was:
Phillies 4, Mets 0
Reds 5, Marlins 4
Brewers 5, Rockies 4
Cubs 3, Cardinals 2
Astros 3, Pirates 2
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