AMERICAN LEAGUE
Kevin Jepsen got Alex Rodriguez to pop out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning as the Los Angeles Angels took advantage of New York’s base-running follies to beat the Yankees 10-8 on Sunday.
With seemingly no lead safe recently at Yankee Stadium, Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer off Ernesto Frieri to make it 10-7 in the ninth.
Photo: AFP
After a walk to Nick Swisher, Scott Downs relieved with a 1-0 count to Raul Ibanez. Ibanez knocked the glove off Downs and reached for an infield single. Andruw Jones struck out, Russell Martin had a fielder’s choice and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases.
Downs then walked Curtis Granderson to make it 10-8, before Jepsen came on and retired Rodriguez for his first save since 2009, helping the Angels avoid their first three-game sweep in New York since 1995.
Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar hit consecutive home runs off Ivan Nova (10-4) in the first inning for Los Angeles.
The American League rivals combined for eight homers on an ideal day for the long ball.
RED SOX 7, RAYS 3
In St Petersburg, Florida, Josh Beckett pitched six effective innings and Will Middlebrooks had a key two-run single to lead Boston past Tampa Bay.
Beckett (5-7) allowed three runs — all in the first — and eight hits. The right-hander struck out seven and walked two, while stopping a personal six-start winless streak.
Boston went ahead 6-3 in the fifth when Daniel Nava homered and Middlebrooks singled in a pair of runs against James Shields (8-6), who has allowed double-digits hits in four consecutive starts.
TIGERS 4, ORIOLES 0
In Baltimore, Maryland, Justin Verlander returned to form after his uncharacteristic start in the All-Star game, allowing three hits in eight innings to carry Detroit over Baltimore.
Verlander (10-5) struck out eight and walked two in his first appearance since yielding five runs in one inning for the American League in an 8-0 loss on Tuesday last week.
Jose Valverde worked the ninth to complete the four-hitter.
Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera homered for the Tigers, who took two of three from the Orioles.
Detroit have won seven of eight overall.
Sunday’s other results:
‧ White Sox 2, Royals 1
‧ Athletics 9, Twins 4
‧ Rangers 4, Mariners 0
‧ Blue Jays 3, Indians 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MIAMI
Stephen Strasburg pitched six scoreless innings and drove in a run for the Washington Nationals in a 4-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Sunday.
Strasburg (10-4) allowed six hits and struck out seven.
Steve Lombardozzi, Michael Morse and Danny Espinosa also drove in a run for the Nationals.
The Marlins were one-for-13 with runners in scoring position as they were shut out for the ninth time this season.
Nationals reliever Tyler Clippard loaded the bases in the ninth with no outs, but retired the next three batters. Omar Infante flew out to Bryce Harper in foul territory to end the game as Harper collided with second baseman Lombardozzi.
Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco (8-7) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Morse led off with a single to left. Strasburg and Lombardozzi followed with two-out RBI singles.
REDS 4, CARDINALS 2
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Scott Rolen hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the eighth inning, sending Cincinnati to a victory and a three-game sweep of St Louis.
The Reds’ sixth straight win matched their best surge of the season, moving them to a season-high 12 games over .500 and a game ahead of Pittsburgh for the National League Central lead. St Louis fell four-and-a-half games back.
Rolen’s two-out single off Mitchell Boggs snapped a 2-2 tie and provided a satisfying moment for the 37-year-old third baseman, limited by a bad shoulder and back.
Jake Westbrook (7-8) set up the rally with a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter.
BRAVES 6, METS 1
In Atlanta, Georgia, Ben Sheets pitched six scoreless innings in his first game in two years as Atlanta beat New York for their season-high seventh straight victory.
Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer in a six-run fifth inning, while Sheets (1-0) allowed two hits and one walk with five strikeouts in his first start since July 19, 2010.
The Mets have lost four straight and seven of 10.
BREWERS 4, PIRATES 1
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Yovani Gallardo struck out a career-high 14 batters in seven innings as Milwaukee used a four-run sixth to beat Pittsburgh.
Gallardo (8-6) gave up four hits, including Andrew McCutchen’s homer in the fourth.
McCutchen, who had three of the Pirates’ five hits, hit his 21st homer and fifth in the past four games.
John Axford pitched the ninth for his 16th save.
Sunday’s other results:
‧ Cubs 3, Diamondbacks 1
‧ Phillies 5, Rockies 1
‧ Giants 3, Astros 2
‧ Padres 7, Dodgers 2
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