AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Texas offense made it an easy day for starting pitcher Yu Darvish as the Rangers crushed the Toronto Blue Jays 12-6 on Sunday.
The American League-leading Rangers (30-18) surged for seven runs in the second inning and grabbed a 9-1 advantage by the third to take the pressure off their Japanese ace.
Photo: Reuters
Darvish, who was coming off a sloppy performance against Seattle last week, allowed three runs over five innings to push his record to 7-2.
The rookie was not at his best, walking three batters and allowing a home run, but he did not need to be as he ground through a performance in 33°C heat.
On Saturday, Texas slugger Josh Hamilton needed IV fluids to get through in similar conditions, though he still managed to blast a walk-off game-winning homer in the 13th inning.
He finished hit-less on Sunday, but his teammates rose to the occasion.
Ian Kinsler led the charge with four RBIs, Mike Napoli went 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored and the Rangers crushed losing Toronto starter Kyle Drabek for nine runs over three innings.
J.P. Arencibia hit two home runs and the Blue Jays (24-24) scored three runs in the final two innings, but still lost their fifth successive game as they went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
RAYS 4, RED SOX 3
In Boston, Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning off Boston closer Alfredo Aceves as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied past the Red Sox on Sunday, a day after losing in the final inning.
Will Rhymes went 3 for 3 with three singles and an RBI for the Rays, who lost on Saturday night on a pinch-hit, two-run homer by Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the ninth off closer Fernando Rodney.
Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run homer for Boston, which was about to move above .500 for the first time this season until Rodriguez hit a drive off Aceves (0-2) over the Green Monster with one out after Ben Zobrist walked.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Yankees 2, Athletics 0
‧ Tigers 4, Twins 3
‧ White Sox 12, Indians 6
‧ Angels 4, Mariners 2
‧ Royals 4, Orioles 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ST LOUIS
Roy Halladay gave up a grand slam to Yadier Molina in an abbreviated two-inning start before leaving with shoulder soreness as the St Louis Cardinals avoided a four-game sweep with an 8-3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.
The Phillies were looking for their first four-game sweep in St Louis in 99 years.
Halladay (4-5) departed with a 3.98 ERA after an outing that matched the second-shortest outing of his career.
The team said the two-time Cy Young pitching award winner was taken out as a precautionary measure and that he will be re-evaluated in the next few days.
PIRATES 10, CUBS 4
At Pittsburgh, the Chicago Cubs lost their 12th straight game as Pedro Alvarez, Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones homered for Pittsburgh.
Erik Bedard (3-5) allowed two hits in six shutout innings. Pittsburgh completed its first three-game sweep at PNC Park since Sept. 17-19, 2010.
The Cubs’ skid is their longest since they started out 0-14 in the 1997 season. Matt Garza (2-3) took the loss.
The lowest-scoring team in baseball, the Pirates set a season high for runs and matched a season best by winning their third consecutive game.
REDS 7, ROCKIES 5
At Cincinnati, Brandon Phillips hit a three-run homer to help Cincinnati outslug Colorado in a game that set a record for Great American Ball Park with nine home runs.
Mat Latos (4-2) allowed five hits — and all of them were solo home runs. Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez hit two of them, and Troy Tulowitzki, Michael Cuddyer and Dexter Fowler also took the Cincinnati starter deep.
Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier homered for Cincinnati, which finished 6-1 on a seven-game homestand during which 29 home runs were hit — also a ballpark best.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Giants 3, Marlins 2
‧ Mets 2, Padres 0
‧ Dodgers 5, Astros 1
‧ Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3
‧ Nationals 7, Braves 2
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