AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Texas Rangers beat the New York Yankees 7-3 on Wednesday to complete a sixth straight series win to start the season — the first time the Rangers have achieved that feat.
Adrian Beltre hit a long home run and had a pair of RBI singles for the two-time defending American League champion Rangers, who have the best record in the majors.
Texas were ahead to stay after Beltre led off the second against Phil Hughes (1-3) with a 134.4m homer that landed high on the grassy hill beyond center field. Beltre’s first run-scoring single came an inning later, when Texas added three more runs.
Rangers rookie Robbie Ross (4-0) worked 2-2/3 perfect innings in relief to take the win.
ORIOLES 3, BLUE JAYS 0
In Baltimore, Maryland, Jason Hammel pitched seven scoreless innings to guide Baltimore past Toronto.
After limiting Toronto to one run on Tuesday, Baltimore became the first team this season to shut out the Blue Jays.
Hammel (3-0) struck out seven and walked one in lowering his ERA to 1.73 over four starts. He came to Baltimore this season as part of the trade that sent Jeremy Guthrie to Colorado.
Wilson Betemit and Chris Davis homered for the Orioles.
RAYS 3, ANGELS 2
In St Petersburg, Florida, Jeremy Hellickson overcame early struggles to pitch six effective innings and lead Tampa Bay to a tight win over Los Angeles.
Hellickson (3-0) held the Angels hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position through the second. He allowed one run.
Tampa Bays’ Ben Zobrist hit a solo homer off C.J. Wilson (2-2) during a two-run third.
ATHLETICS 5, WHITE SOX 4, 14 INNS
In Oakland, California, Kila Ka’aihue blooped a winning single in the 14th inning soon after Yoenis Cespedes’ tying two-run homer, giving Oakland victory over Chicago.
Cespedes homered off Hector Santiago (0-1) after Chicago had taken the lead in the top half of the inning. Then Ka’aihue came through with the winner, ending a game that lasted three hours, 56 minutes.
A’s reliever Jim Miller (1-0) took his first major league win after being called up to the majors earlier in the day.
Chicago’s Paul Konerko hit his 400th career home run to tie the game at 2-2 in the ninth.
MARINERS 9, TIGERS 1
In Detroit, Michigan, Felix Hernandez allowed only one run in seven innings, allowing Seattle to comfortably beat slumping Detroit.
Hernandez (2-1) did not issue a walk after the first inning.
Alex Liddi hit a two-run homer for the Mariners.
Tigers starter Adam Wilk (0-3) allowed six runs in just two-plus innings as Detroit fell to their fifth loss in six games.
ROYALS 8, INDIANS 2
In Cleveland, Ohio, Kansas City ended a 12-game losing skid by beating Cleveland.
Billy Butler hit two of Kansas City’s four home runs. His two-run blast off Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1) put the Royals ahead in the first. He added a solo homer in the ninth.Kansas City starter Luke Hochevar (2-1) allowed two runs over 6-1/3 innings, recovering from a horrendous home opener start when he gave up seven runs in the first inning.
RED SOX 7, TWINS 6
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Boston’s bullpen barely avoided another big collapse and held on to beat Minnesota.
Alfredo Aceves struck out the last batter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the Red Sox escaped with a win despite having seen their 7-1 lead after five innings sliced to 7-6.
Mike Aviles homered and Dustin Pedroia tripled, doubled and singled for the Red Sox.
Boston starter Clay Buchholz (2-1) had another shaky outing, giving up five runs in 5-1/3 innings, but took the win.
Liam Hendriks (0-1) gave up seven runs in four innings for the Twins, who have lost five straight.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
Atlanta’s Chipper Jones singled home the go-ahead run in the ninth inning, and his final regular season at-bat at Dodger Stadium, to give the Braves a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Dodgers closer Javy Guerra (1-3) gave up five consecutive hits in the ninth. The second one was a liner that ricocheted off his face, but manager Don Mattingly kept him in there and he surrendered RBI singles to Dan Uggla, Jones and Jason Heyward.
Braves reliever Jonny Venters (2-0) struck out the side in the eighth inning to take the win.
Matt Kemp tied a Dodgers franchise record for April with his 10th home run.
NATIONALS 7, PADRES 2
In San Diego, California, Jordan Zimmermann helped Washington set a team record for the longest scoreless innings streak for starting pitchers as the National League East-leading Nationals beat San Diego.
Zimmermann (1-1) held San Diego without a run for four innings to give Washington starters 26 straight scoreless frames.
Orlando Hudson homered for the Nationals, who won their fourth straight and are off to their best 18-game start since coming to Washington in 2005. They have won all six series this year.
Padres rookie Joe Wieland (0-3) took the loss.
CARDINALS 5, CUBS 1
In Chicago, Illinois, Lance Lynn pitched eight strong innings to lead St Louis over Chicago.
Lynn (4-0) held the Cubs to six hits in becoming the first four-game winner in the majors.
David Freese’s two-run homer in the sixth capped a three-run, two-out rally against Cubs starter Chris Volstad (0-3). Freese added an RBI double in the eighth.
PHILLIES 7, DIAMONDBACKS 2
In Phoenix, Arizona, Cole Hamels hit a two-run single to go along with his eight strong innings of pitching, helping Philadelphia down Arizona. Hamels (3-1) gave up a leadoff double in the first, then retired the next 18 batters. He allowed four hits and struck out seven, including his final three hitters.
Diamondbacks starter Trevor Cahill (1-2) gave up four runs in 5-1/3 innings.
REDS 4, GIANTS 2
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Scott Rolen’s homer started a four-run rally in the seventh inning that lifted Cincinnati to victory and extended San Francisco’s miserable record at Great American Ball Park.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Mets 5, Marlins 1
‧ Rockies 2, Pirates 1
‧ Pirates 5, Rockies 1
‧ Astros 7, Brewers 5
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