AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas’ Yu Darvish pitched 7-2/3 strong innings to steer the Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday.
Darvish (6-1) struck out seven. After giving up his only run in the first, Darvish settled down and retired 11 of the last 15 batters he faced. He lowered his ERA to 2.60.
Photo: Reuters
Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer for the Rangers.
Oakland rookie pitcher Tommy Milone (5-3) gave up four runs in seven innings.
RAYS 2, RED SOX 1
In St Petersburg, Florida, Jeremy Hellickson pitched six solid innings to guide Tampa Bay to victory and end Boston’s five-game winning streak.
Hellickson (4-0) allowed one run and struck out six en route to winning a career-best sixth consecutive decision, dating to last season.
Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for the save.
Luke Scott had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly for Tampa Bay.
Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz (4-2) gave up six hits over five-plus innings.
BLUE JAYS 8, YANKEES 1
In Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer and J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive in Toronto’s win over New York.
Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson added solo home runs as the Blue Jays tagged Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda (3-5) for seven runs, matching a career-worst.
Blue Jays starter Kyle Drabek (3-4) snapped a four-start losing streak, notching five strikeouts.
ORIOLES 4, ROYALS 3, 15 INNINGS
In Kansas City, Missouri, Adam Jones homered in the 15th inning, lifting Baltimore to a marathon victory over Kansas City.
Jones was hitless in six at-bats before connecting for his team-leading 12th home run of the season — nine of which have either tied a game or put the Orioles ahead. With one out, he sent a pitch from Nate Adcock (0-1), the fifth Kansas City pitcher, far over the left-field wall.
The Orioles improved to 5-0 in extra-inning road games.
Baltimore’s Kevin Gregg (1-1) pitched two hitless innings for the win. Jim Johnson earned the save.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Indians 9, Mariners 3
‧ Angels 7, White Sox 2
‧ Twins 11, Tigers 7
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, Georgia
Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer and possibly saved two runs with a diving catch as the Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 8-4 on Wednesday, adding another win to their impressive record this month.
Miami are 12-3 this month after a slow start last month. The Marlins moved three games over .500 for the first time this season.
The Marlins led 6-1 off struggling Braves pitcher Mike Minor (2-3) before Atlanta scored three runs off Mark Buehrle (3-4) in the sixth.
Stanton’s homer, which drove in Austin Kearns after his second double, pushed the lead to 8-4 in the seventh.
Kearns and Emilio Bonifacio each had two hits and drove in two runs. Omar Infante had two hits and scored two runs.
Minor (2-3) gave up six runs in 4-2/3 innings, the fourth straight start he has allowed six or more runs.
NATIONALS 7, PIRATES 4
In Washington, Adam LaRoche broke open a tight game with a homer and a three-run double to bring up his 1,000th career hit and power Washington past Pittsburgh.
LaRoche, with his 999th hit, and Xavier Nady hit consecutive homers off Erik Bedard (2-5) in the sixth.
Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez (5-1) struck out 10 batters in seven innings, taking over the National League’s strikeout lead with 60, ahead of teammate Stephen Strasburg.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Cardinals 4, Giants 1
‧ Reds 6, Mets 3
‧ Padres 4, Dodgers 2
‧ Phillies 9, Cubs 2
‧ Astros 8, Brewers 3
‧ Rockies 6, Diamondbacks 1
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