AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Tampa Bay Rays took advantage of sloppy New York defense to edge the Yankees 3-2 in the American League on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay starter Jeremy Hellickson (9-7) pitched seven strong innings, retiring 13 of 15 batters after giving up a two-run homer in the third. That helped the Rays stay close until they finally broke through against Bartolo Colon (6-6) in the seventh.
Photo: AFP
With two on, New York center fielder Curtis Granderson lost track of a fly ball looking up toward the roof, allowing a single that loaded the bases. It looked as though the Yankees might escape the jam when the next batter, Elliot Johnson, hit a tailor-made, double-play grounder back to the mound, but pitcher Boone Logan failed to collect it, an error that enabled the Rays to tie it 2-2.
A sacrifice fly by former Yankee Johnny Damon drove in the the go-ahead run from third, beating Granderson’s wild throw to home plate.
Rays reliever Joel Peralta worked a perfect ninth for his first save.
TIGERS 8, ATHLETICS 3
In Detroit, Michigan, Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen each hit a two-run homer in Detroit’s six-run fifth inning against Oakland.
The Tigers trailed 3-1 before they grabbed control in the fifth against Guillermo Moscoso (3-5), who allowed six runs in 4-2/3 innings.
After Magglio Ordonez brought Detroit within a run on a sacrifice fly, Cabrera hit his 20th homer of the season, putting the Tigers ahead to stay. It was his 600th career extra-base hit.
Detroit starter Rick Porcello (9-6) allowed three runs in six innings.
Guillen hit his first home run of the season after returning from a left-knee injury.
RANGERS 7, ANGELS 0
In Anaheim, California, Alexi Ogando extended an extraordinary run by Texas pitchers by throwing eight scoreless innings as the Rangers made it 12 straight wins by shutting out Los Angeles.
Winning the opener of a three-game series, Texas increased their American League West lead to a season-best five games over the Angels.
The streak is the second-longest in club history behind a 14-game run in 1991 and it has put the Rangers (56-41) a season-high 15 games over .500. The pitching staff has yielded just two earned runs across the past six games — including four shutouts. Ogando (10-3) won his third straight start, lowering his ERA to 2.72.
Endy Chavez, the No. 9 batter, hit a two-run homer in the eighth. Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre added solo shots in the ninth.
Angels starter Tyler Chatwood (5-6) gave up three runs and four walks in five innings.
Tuesday’s other results:
‧ Orioles 6, Red Sox 2
‧ Twins 2, Indians 1
‧ Blue Jays 6, Mariners 5, 14 inns
‧ Royals 4, White Sox 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
The Milwaukee Brewers stayed right on the tail of surprise package Pittsburgh in the National League Central, beating the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks 11-3 on Tuesday, with Ryan Braun hitting one of three first-inning homers in his return to the lineup.
Braun was back after missing 10 of Milwaukee’s past 13 games with nagging left calf and hamstring injuries.
Corey Hart and Yuniesky Betancourt also homered in the first inning for Milwaukee, who remained one game behind the Pirates.
Betancourt added a two-run homer in the ninth for his first career two-homer game and Rickie Weeks had a solo shot in the third.
Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo (11-6) allowed one earned run over six innings.
The Diamondback have lost five of six. Barry Enright (1-4) took the loss.
GIANTS 5, DODGERS 3
In San Francisco, Brandon Belt hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning in his first game back in the majors, lifting San Francisco over Los Angeles.
Belt, called up from the minors earlier in the day to give slumping first baseman Aubrey Huff a rest, homered in his first at-bat. He was retired in his next two trips to the plate, then lined a bases-loaded double down off Taiwan’s Kuo Hong-chih (0-1).
Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner (5-9) struck out seven in eight innings, yielding four hits. It was the first time in 18 starts at AT&T Park that he had received more than three runs of support.
In addition to bringing up Belt, the Giants acquired second baseman Jeff Keppinger from Houston for two minor league pitchers and placed infielder Miguel Tejada on the disabled list with an abdominal strain.
The Dodgers have lost their past six against San Francisco.
ASTROS 7, NATIONALS 6
In Houston, Texas, Clint Barmes homered and drove in three runs for Houston, who edged Washington.
Michael Bourn added three RBIs for the Astros, while starter J.A. Happ (4-11) picked up his first win in two months, yielding seven hits in 5-2/3 innings. He had been 0-7 with a 6.08 ERA in 10 starts since his previous win.
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (6-8) allowed a season-worst six runs in five innings in his shortest outing of the season.
Houston closer Mark Melancon hit one batter and walked another with two outs in the ninth, before getting a strikeout to earn his eighth save.
ROCKIES 12, BRAVES 3
In Denver, Colorado, Ubaldo Jimenez brushed aside both Atlanta’s powerful bats and incessant trade talk, guiding Colorado to victory.
Jimenez (6-8), who has won five of his past six decisions, allowed two runs in 6-2/3 innings. He left to a standing ovation from fans hoping he stays in purple pinstripes. Jimenez has been mentioned in trade talk, but is signed for the next three years at just under US$18 million.
Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez homered for the Rockies, who won for the first time in six tries against the Braves this month.
Atlanta starter Brandon Beachy (3-2) allowed six earned runs while struggling through 4-2/3 innings.
Tuesday’s other results:
‧ Phillies 4, Cubs 2
‧ Pirates 1, Reds 0
‧ Mets 4, Cardinals 2
‧ Padres 4, Marlins 0
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