AMERICAN LEAGUE
Chris Davis homered and later drove in the tiebreaking run with an eighth-inning single as the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-4 in Sunday’s clash of the American League West’s top teams.
The Rangers loaded the bases to start the eighth after Rich Thompson (1-2) failed to retire any of the three batters he faced. Davis then singled to right off Hisanori Takahashi. Adrian Beltre also homered for the defending AL champions, who moved within a half-game of the Angels for the division lead.
Davis’ homer in the fourth put Texas up 4-1. It was only his second homer of the season.
Mark Lowe (1-0) got out the only batter he faced to claim the win, before Neftali Feliz pitched the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances.
ORIOLES 9, RAYS 3
In St Petersburg, Florida, J.J Hardy hit a grand slam to power Baltimore to victory over Tampa Bay.
The Orioles loaded the bases when Rays pitcher Rob Delaney issued three straight walks — only one intentional — in the sixth. Hardy then put Baltimore up 8-2 when he hit his third career grand slam, off Cesar Ramos.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Red Sox 7, Yankees 5
‧ White Sox 4, Athletics 3
‧ Blue Jays 11, Twins 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Ryan Braun homered, tripled and drove in four runs to lead leading a shaky Zack Greinke and the Milwaukee Brewers over the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Casey McGehee and Jonathan Lucroy also homered as the Brewers beat Pittsburgh for the ninth straight time at Miller Park. Greinke (2-1) was flawless for the first four innings. He gave up five runs in the fifth as the Pirates pulled to 6-5, and left after the inning.
BRAVES 3, PHILLIES 2
In Atlanta, Georgia, Dan Uggla hit a tiebreaking home run off Roy Halladay in the eighth inning to cap a productive afternoon in which Atlanta’s second baseman had two hits and a walk. Freddie Freeman drove in two runs for Atlanta, Jonny Venters (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth and Craig Kimbrel recorded the final three outs.
Pinch-hitter Ben Francisco led off the ninth with a walk, and he moved to second with two outs on a wild pitch. Kimbrel ended the game on Rollins’ soft fly ball to left field. John Mayberry had a two-run homer for Philadelphia.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Mets 7, Astros 4
‧ Reds 9, Cardinals 7
‧ Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 1
‧ Padres 8, Rockies 2
‧ Nationals 8, Marlins 4
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