AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Sean Rodriguez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4 on Saturday to stay only a game off the lead in the American League.
Evan Longoria hit a home run and Ben Zobrist and Willy Aybar also drove in runs for the Rays, who ended a four-game losing streak to the A’s.
Mark Ellis had two hits and drove in two runs for Oakland, which had a four-game winning streak end.
Rays reliever Randy Choate (3-3) pitched a perfect seventh for the win, while Rafael Soriano worked the ninth for his 36th save.
Oakland’s Craig Breslow (4-4) took the loss after giving up Rodriguez’s homer.
YANKEES 9, MARINERS 5
In New York, Eduardo Nunez drove in the go-ahead run with his first career hit in the seventh inning and New York went on to beat Seattle.
Nunez got the start in place of Alex Rodriguez, who was placed on the disabled list with a lingering left calf injury. Not that it has mattered much this season — the Yankees improved to 11-0 when he doesn’t play, according to STATS LLC.
New York’s bullpen patched together six stellar innings, with Boone Logan (1-0) taking the win.
Seattle starter Jason Vargas (9-6) took the loss.
TIGERS 5, INDIANS 2
In Detroit, Michigan, Max Scherzer pitched Detroit to victory over Cleveland.
Scherzer (9-9) had failed to notch a single win in nine previous starts against AL Central opponents, but broke through on Saturday, recording his fifth straight start of allowing two or fewer runs. He gave up one earned run in seven innings, striking out eight.
Don Kelly homered and Austin Jackson doubled, singled and scored twice for the Tigers.
Indians rookie starter Josh Tomlin (1-3) allowed five runs in six innings.
In other AL play, it was:
• Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4, 11 innings
• Angels 9, Twins 3
• Royals 6, White Sox 5, 11 innings
• White Sox 7, Royals 6, 10 innings
• Orioles 8, Rangers 6
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ST LOUIS, MISSOURI
Chris Carpenter outperformed Tim Lincecum in a clash of ace pitchers, helping the St Louis Cardinals snap a five-game losing streak and beat the San Francisco Giants 5-1 in the National League on Saturday.
Carpenter (14-4) allowed one run in seven-and-one-third innings, striking out four and helping the Cardinals hand Lincecum the first four-game losing skid of his career.
Lincecum (11-8) began the day with a 5-0 mark and a 1.54 ERA in five lifetime starts against the Cardinals. But he was tagged for four runs in five-and-a-third innings.
In his past four starts, Lincecum has allowed 18 runs in 19-and-a-third innings.
Cardinals newcomer Pedro Feliz drove in two runs.
DODGERS 8, REDS 5
In Los Angeles, Ryan Theriot, Andre Ethier, Jay Gibbons and Matt Kemp all homered in a span of just five batters to lift Los Angeles over Cincinnati.
The purple patch came against Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in his first start after serving a seven-game suspension.
The Dodgers snapped the Reds’ seven-game winning streak and welcomed back Manny Ramirez to the lineup.
Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley (10-7) allowed three runs over five-and-two-thirds innings and struck out seven.
CUBS 5, BRAVES 4
In Chicago, Aramis Ramirez had three hits and two RBIs to help Chicago down Atlanta.
Tom Gorzelanny pitched seven strong innings for the Cubs, who were clinging on at the end.
Reliever Sean Marshall entered with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning, but the score 5-1 in his favor. After a strike out, a, Brooks Conrad’s long fly off the center-field ivy brought in two runners. David Ross was held at third, but was waved in when shortstop Starlin Castro dropped the relay throw, making it 5-4.
Cubs closer Carlos Marmol pitched a scoreless ninth for his 22nd save in 27 opportunities.
METS 5, PIRATES 1, 5 INNINGS
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, David Wright hit a three-run homer as New York beat Pittsburgh in a game ended in the top of the sixth because of rain.
Wright’s home run off James McDonald (2-3) in fifth inning landed in the Mets’ bullpen in center field and pushed the lead to 5-1.
New York pitcher Jonathon Niese (8-5) won for the first time in five starts, helping the Mets to their first road series win against an NL team this season.
The Pirates lost their fifth in a row.
In other NL play, it was:
• Nationals 8, Phillies 1
• Brewers 6, Padres 5
• Marlins 6, Astros 3
• Diamondbacks 3, Rockies 1
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Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was
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