AMERICAN LEAGUE
Los Angeles’ Albert Pujols hit two home runs to power the Angels to a 6-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday, further tightening the top of the American League West division.
Los Angeles moved within three games of Texas atop the AL West, with two games to go in this key series. Angels starter Jered Weaver (14-1) gave up two runs in 6-1/3 innings. He became the eighth AL pitcher since 1921 to win at least six games without a loss in July.
Photo: AFP
Texas starter Derek Holland (7-6) took the loss. Earlier in the day, the Rangers acquired Chicago Cubs ace Ryan Dempster in a deal shortly before the trade deadline.
ORIOLES 11, YANKEES 5
In New York, Chris Davis hit a go-ahead grand slam in a seven-run second inning as Baltimore rallied from five runs down to beat New York.
Yankees starter Ivan Nova (10-5) allowed a career-worst nine runs in five innings. New York tied a season-worst skid with four straight losses and made history. According to STATS LLC, the Yankees have not led by five or more after the first inning and then trailed after the second since at least 1918.
Baltimore’s Chris Tillman (4-1) was charged with four earned runs, but took the win.
RAYS 8, ATHLETICS 0
In Oakland, James Shields (9-7) pitched his seventh career shutout to guide Tampa Bay to a comfortable win over Oakland.
B.J. Upton drove in two runs for the Rays, who got hits from six different players to break out of its prolonged offensive slump.
They scored two runs in the second and three in the fifth off A’s starter Tommy Milone (9-8).
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Red Sox 4, Tigers 1, 5 innings
‧ White Sox 4, Twins 3
‧ Mariners 7, Blue Jays 2
‧ Royals 8, Indians 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt homered in the first inning for the second straight game and Miguel Montero added a three-run shot as the Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-2 in the National League on Tuesday.
Goldschmidt, whose three-run homer on Monday ignited a 7-2 victory, drove Chris Capuano’s pitch into the lower seats in the left field corner after a two-out walk to Jason Kubel.
Arizona rookie Wade Miley (12-6) pitched eight dominant innings, allowing one run, striking out seven and walking one.
Capuano (10-7) allowed five runs in six innings.
Arizona tacked on three runs in the ninth to shore up the result.
PHILLIES 8, CUBS 0
In Washington, Cliff Lee showed his value to the team amidst swirling trade rumors, pitching seven scoreless innings to steer Philadelphia past Washington.
On the same day the Phillies traded outfielders Shane Victorino to Los Angeles and Hunter Pence to San Francisco, one of the Phillies’ other former All-Stars involved in trade rumors — Lee — excelled.
Lee (2-6) allowed one walk and struck out seven for the Phillies.
He also performed with the bat, hitting a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning. Lee stole second, his second career steal, before scoring on Jimmy Rollins’ fourth career inside-the-park home run.
Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg (11-5) allowed a season-worst six earned runs.
REDS 7, PADRES 6
In Cincinnati, Ryan Ludwick drove in four runs with a homer and a single, helping Cincinnati edge San Diego.
The NL Central leaders blew a six-run lead before rallying for their 18th victory in 21 games.
Brandon Phillips hit a tiebreaking solo shot in the seventh inning, off the final pitch by Jason Marquis (4-6), who had won his previous three starts.
Reds reliever Sean Marshall (4-3) got the win with two perfect innings.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Braves 7, Marlins 1
‧ Giants 4, Mets 1
‧ Pirates 5, Cubs 0
‧ Cardinals 11, Rockies 6
‧ Brewers 10, Astros 1
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