AMERICAN LEAGUE
All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander produced eight impressive innings for Detroit in a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday that maintained their perfect season record against their division rivals.
Verlander struck out nine batters and allowed one run for his 13th win of the season as the Tigers improved to 10-0 against the Twins since last season, with six of those coming this year.
Photo: AFP
The win gave the Tigers (52-46) a half-game lead in the American League Central over the idle Cleveland Indians.
Verlander was particularly pleased by how he handled nemesis power-hitter Jim Thome, who struck out three times.
“He kind of goes hand-in-hand with me as a pitcher. Early in my career, he really had my number,” Verlander told reporters. “It seems like over the years, I’ve been able to cut down those mistakes to less and less, and therefore allow less and less damage.”
Detroit put the home team in a hole in the middle innings as Brennan Boesch launched a two-run homer in the fifth and Jhonny Peralta added his second RBI of the night in the sixth as the Tigers scored twice to take a 5-0 lead.
Peralta added a solo home run blast in the eighth to finish the game three-for-four and earn praise from his manager.
“We got some timely hits, Jhonny Peralta had a very good night,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. “Big hits we got and it was just a good win for us.”
Losing pitcher Carl Pavano (6-7) lasted six innings and surrendered five runs as the Twins again experimented with regular catcher Joe Mauer at first base.
Minnesota (46-52) got on the scoreboard with a run in the sixth and tacked on one in the ninth against Detroit reliever Phil Coke.
ANGELS 1, RANGERS 0
In Anaheim, California, Los Angeles’ Jered Weaver won a riveting pitching duel against Texas’ C.J. Wilson as the Angels beat the Rangers to move within three games of the American League West leaders.
Weaver (13-4) went seven-plus scoreless innings and struck out six to win his seventh straight decision and reduce his major league-best ERA to 1.81.
Weaver departed after giving up a single leading off the eighth, on his 122nd pitch. Scott Downs retired the next three batters and rookie Jordan Walden got three outs in the ninth for his 23rd save.
The only run came courtesy of an error by Rangers center fielder Endy Chavez.
Wilson (10-4) took the loss despite holding the Angels to just two hits over eight innings, striking out eight and walking one.
RAYS 2, YANKEES 1
In St Petersburg, Florida, James Shields outpitched C.C. Sabathia to steer Tampa Bay past New York to tighten the American League East division race.
The loss dropped New York two games behind first-placed Boston in the East. The third-placed Rays salvaged a split in the four-game series and moved within 5-1/2 games of the Yankees.
Shields (9-8) struck out six over 7-2/3 innings, allowing only one runner past first until the eighth, when he gave up two doubles.
Sabathia (14-5) lost for the first time in six weeks, ending a streak of victories in seven consecutive starts.
Evan Longoria homered and had two of Tampa Bay’s five hits. Sam Fuld drove the second run with a fifth-inning triple.
Rays closer Kyle Farnsworth worked the ninth, earning his 19th save.
BLUE JAYS 7, MARINERS 5
In Toronto, the hosts handed Seattle a 12th straight loss.
Rajai Davis hit a tiebreaking double in the bottom of the eighth, responding to a Miguel Olivo Grand Slam in the top of the inning which had brought the Mariners level.
Seattle reliever David Pauley (5-4) got two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth, before Mike McCoy doubled to left and Yunel Escobar walked. Davis followed with a double to right, scoring both runners.
Blue Jays reliever Jon Rauch (4-3) worked 1-2/3 innings for the victory.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Arizona’s Ian Kennedy pitched seven scoreless innings to earn his 11th victory and steer the Diamondbacks to a 4-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, splitting the four-game series between the National League contenders.
Kennedy (11-3) struck out five in his third straight win.
Arizona got home runs from Justin Upton, Miguel Montero and Kelly Johnson, who notched his team-leading 17th.
Brewers starter Zach Greinke (7-4) struck out seven with no walks in seven innings, allowing only five hits, but two of them were solo shots by Upton and Montero in the fourth inning.
BRAVES 9, ROCKIES 6
In Denver, Colorado, Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman each homered and had two hits to help Atlanta down Colorado, splitting the series.
Brooks Conrad homered and Nate McLouth had two hits apiece for Atlanta, while starting pitcher Tommy Hanson (11-5) had a shaky start, but he took the win, giving up seven hits and striking out seven in six innings.
Thursday’s other results:
‧ Cardinals 6, Mets 2
‧ Padres 5, Marlins 3
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