In interleague play, Taiwan’s Chen Wei-yin pitched six innings of three-hit ball, while Chris Davis and Manny Machado homered as the Orioles beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete a doubleheader sweep with a 6-1 win.
The Orioles won the opener 7-5, rallying from a four-run deficit behind Nolan Reimold, who homered and hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning.
Los Angeles have lost six straight, their longest skid since a seven-game slide in June last year.
Photo: AFP
Chen (1-2) allowed one run, walked four and struck out two to end a six-game losing streak dating back to Aug. 19 last year.
Tommy Hunter pitched the final three innings for his first career save.
Davis hit a solo homer in the second inning and the 20-year-old Machado made it 6-1 with a three-run drive off Josh Beckett (0-3) in the sixth.
In the opener, a makeup of Friday’s rainout, Los Angeles took a 4-0 lead in the second inning, but South Korean left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin could not hold the advantage.
With the score tied at 5-5 in the eighth, Davis hit a one-out double off Paco Rodriguez (0-1) and Ronald Belisario walked J.J. Hardy on four pitches. After a passed ball and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Reimold sliced an opposite-field liner down the right field line.
Darren O’Day (2-0) got two outs in the eighth and Jim Johnson worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save.
In Boston, after honoring the victims and the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings, the Red Sox kept on with their best start in 11 years by beating the Kansas City Royals 4-3 on Saturday as David Ortiz played his first game since last summer and Daniel Nava hit a three-run homer off Kelvin Herrera (1-2) in the eighth inning.
The Red Sox wore white home jerseys with “Boston” on the front instead of the customary “Red Sox.” The shirts will be auctioned off for a fund to support victims of the bombing.
Kansas City players and staff wore a “B Strong” patch on the front of their jerseys. Neil Diamond sang Red Sox favorite Sweet Caroline before the bottom of the eighth.
Following the emotional pregame ceremony, the Red Sox won their sixth straight game — four since Monday’s bombings at the marathon finish line.
Clay Buchholz (4-0) allowed eight hits in eight innings.
YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 3, 11 INNINGS
In Toronto, Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup had a two-run throwing error in the 11th inning as the Yankees beat Toronto for their ninth win in 11 games.
Shawn Kelley (1-0) got two outs in the 10th for the win and Mariano Rivera finished for his fifth save.
Vernon Wells and Francisco Cervelli singled off Loup (1-1) to begin the 11th, and Ichiro Suzuki followed with a bunt to the third base side of the mound that Loup and third basemen Brett Lawrie both charged. Loup fielded it and wheeled to throw to third. However, with Lawrie out of position as he retreated back to the bag, the ball sailed into foul territory and down the left field line, allowing both runners to score.
ANGELS 10, TIGERS 0
In Anaheim, California, Mike Trout capped a nine-run first inning against Rick Porcello with his first career grand slam, Garrett Richards pitched two-hit ball over seven innings and the Angels routed the Tigers. Richards (1-0) struck out eight and walked none. Prince Fielder’s leadoff single in the second and Miguel Cabrera’s leadoff double in the seventh were the only hits off the right-hander.
Porcello (0-2) faced 11 batters, threw 47 pitches and got only two outson a double-play grounder by Chris Iannetta.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Twins 2, White Sox 1, 10 inns
‧ Rays 1, Athletics 0
‧ Indians 19, Astros 6
‧ Rangers 5, Mariners 0
In New York, Bryce Harper launched two long home runs, including a tiebreaking drive in the eighth inning, and also doubled on Saturday to lead the Washington Nationals over the New York Mets 7-6.
Adam LaRoche and Ian Desmond homered for the Nationals on Bark in the Park day at Citi Field. Fans paid US$35 for tickets in the second deck in right field, and brought their dogs for US$10.
After the game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was being placed on the 15-day disabled list because of persistent tightness in his left hamstring.
Harper hit a two-run homer to right-center in the third. He then hit the first pitch from Josh Edgin (0-1) in the eighth even farther and harder to right-center for his seventh home run.
Tyler Clippard (1-0) got four outs for the win and Rafael Soriano closed for his sixth save.
GIANTS 2, PADRES 0
In San Francisco, Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer and Tim Lincecum struck out a season-best eight batters. Lincecum (2-0) pitched 6-2/3 scoreless innings, providing a steady presence on the mound after he had allowed four or more runs in a single inning in two of his previous three starts this year.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 3
‧ Reds 3, Marlins 2, 13 inns
‧ Cardinals 5, Phillies 0
‧ Pirates 3, Braves 1
‧ Brewers 5, Cubs 1
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