AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Seattle Mariners rallied to a 5-3 victory on Monday, preventing the Los Angeles Angels from closing ground in the American League West.
Mike Carp launched a go-ahead two-run homer to break a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning to give the Mariners (57-76) a win against an Angels team trying to climb into the playoffs.
Photo: AFP
“The last month is going to hinge on getting enough offense to absorb one pitch that’s not in the zone,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We didn’t do that tonight.”
Los Angeles (72-62), who lost two of three during a recent series against first-place Texas, fell 3.5 games behind the Rangers with their latest loss.
Seattle, meanwhile, ended a three-game losing streak on the strength of Carp’s massive blow.
“This is definitely the longest [homer] I’ve hit here. It definitely felt better than all the ones so far,” Carp told reporters. “I wanted to move the runner over, obviously, that was my job and I did more than that, which is good.”
The Angels climbed out of a 2-0 deficit against Seattle with three runs in the fourth inning.
Mark Trumbo tied the game with a two-run homer and Erick Aybar had a run-scoring double to give the visitors a 3-2 edge.
Los Angeles starter Joel Pineiro tossed six innings and allowed three runs, but it was losing reliever Hisanori Takahashi who the Mariners rallied against in the eighth.
Dustin Ackley opened the eighth with a double to set up Carp’s big blast and finished three-for-three at the plate. He also added an RBI triple in the fifth to tie the game 3-3.
Japan’s Ichiro Suzuki went two-for-four with two runs scored to extend his hitting streak to 12 games for the Mariners.
Seattle’s Blake Beavan kept his team in the game by pitching seven quality innings.
Reliever Tom Wilhelmsen pitched the eighth to earn the win, while Brandon League closed out the ninth to earn his 32nd save of the season.
Yankees 3, Orioles 2
In Baltimore, Maryland, New York’s Freddy Garcia returned from injury to pitch six strong innings and guide the Yankees to a win over the Baltimore Orioles, splitting their four-game series.
After being sidelined for three weeks with a cut right index finger, Garcia (11-7) picked up where he left off and he was helped by a Nick Swisher homer and a Mark Teixeira RBI double as the Yankees moved to within 1-1/2 games of Boston in the East Division.
It was New York’s second straight win without third baseman Alex Rodriguez and shortstop Derek Jeter. Rodriguez will join the team in Boston on Tuesday after getting a scan on his sore left thumb in New York, while Jeter rested a bruised right knee, but was available “in case of an emergency,” manager Joe Girardi said.
New York closer Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth to earn his 34th save.
Orioles starter Alfredo Simon (4-7) gave up three runs in seven innings.
Royals 9, Tigers 5
In Detroit, Michigan, Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar hit back-to-back homers as Kansas City beat Detroit.
Alex Gordon also homered and Johnny Giavotella added a bases-loaded double for the Royals.
Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar (9-10) ended a four-start winless streak, giving up eight hits in seven innings.
Tigers starter Max Scherzer (13-8) allowed seven runs in three-plus innings. Both his losses this month were to the Royals.
Monday’s other results:
‧ Blue Jays 7, Rays 3
‧ Indians 2, Athletics 1
‧ White Sox 3, Twins 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, CINCINNATI, Ohio
Philadelphia’s Shane Victorino rediscovered how to hit at just the right time, getting a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning that powered the Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Cincinatti Reds in the National League on Monday.
Victorino snapped an 0-for-11 slump with his homer off Reds pitcher Homer Bailey (7-6).
Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels made a solid return from injury, holding the Reds to two hits in six innings, while reliever Antonio Bastardo (6-0) struck out all three batters in his one inning of relief to take the win.
Ryan Madson gave up a hit in the ninth, before finishing it off for his 24th save in 26 chances.
Diamondbacks 5, Rockies 1
In Phoenix, Arizona, the Diamondbacks notched their seventh straight win, beating Colorado.
Diamondbacks starter Daniel Hudson (14-9) threw seven shutout innings and added an RBI double with the bat.
Ryan Roberts homered for Arizona, who have won 10 straight home games and have allowed two runs or fewer in each game of their seven-game winning streak — one shy of the franchise record.
Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Montero and John McDonald all drove in a run during Arizona’s four-run sixth inning against Rockies starter Alex White (1-1).
Dodgers 4, Padres 1
In Los Angeles, Andre Ethier had three hits and an RBI to lift Los Angeles over San Diego.
Ethier was back to his best after sitting out a game with a sore knee and James Loney hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers.
Los Angeles starter Clayton Kershaw (17-5) won for the ninth time in his past 10 starts, allowing one run and striking out five. He became the first Dodger to win 17 games since Park Chan-ho in 2000.
Padres starter Mat Latos (6-13) gave up four runs in six innings.
Monday’s other results:
‧ Cubs 7, Giants 0
‧ Mets 2, Marlins 1, 1st game
‧ Mets 5, Marlins 1, 2nd game
‧ Astros 7, Pirates 4
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