AMERICAN LEAGUE
Mike Napoli hit a grand slam and drove in five runs, while Will Middlebrooks busted out of a slump with a three-run homer as the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a doubleheader sweep by beating the Oakland Athletics 9-6 on Monday.
The Red Sox, swept by Kansas City on Sunday, scored three runs in the fourth and five in the fifth. Napoli’s fourth career slam keyed the five-run fifth and helped end Oakland’s eight-game winning streak against Boston.
Photo: AFP
The Athletics dropped their season-high fourth straight.
Felix Doubront (2-0) allowed three runs on three hits, walking five. He also threw two wild pitches and struck out eight in 6-2/3 innings.
A.J. Griffin (2-1) was tagged for a career-worst nine runs — seven earned — and eight hits in four-plus innings.
RANGERS 7, ANGELS 6
In Anaheim, California, A.J. Pierzynski hit a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the ninth inning as Texas rallied from a late three-run deficit for a 7-6 win over the Angels.
Mitch Moreland had three hits and drove in a run for the Rangers, who also got three hits from Elvis Andrus in their fourth consecutive victory, snapping the Angels’ three-game winning streak.
Chris Iannetta doubled in the go-ahead run and Luis Jimenez got his first career RBIs on a two-run single while the Angels took a 6-3 lead in the sixth inning, but Texas tied it with three runs in the seventh.
Pierzynski then hit his fourth homer of the season to right off Angels closer Ernesto Frieri (0-1).
Tanner Scheppers (2-0) pitched two innings of one-hit relief for the Rangers, while Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his sixth save.
Josh Hamilton had four hits against his former team after getting bumped out of the cleanup spot.
In other play, it was:
‧ Orioles 2, Blue Jays 1
‧ Rays 5, Yankees 1
‧ Indians 3, White Sox 2
‧ Mariners 7, Astros 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP and Reuters, WASHINGTON
Yadier Molina drove in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning, backing Shelby Miller’s strong start on Monday as the St Louis Cardinals returned to the site of their Game 5 National League Division Series victory last season with a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals.
The other big hit for St Louis was Allen Craig’s two-run double in the third.
Miller (3-1) struck out eight in 6-2/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits.
All the Cardinals’ runs came against Dan Haren (1-3), who gave up three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.
Edward Mujica pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save. The Cardinals have alternated wins and losses over their past nine games.
GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 4
In San Francisco, Brandon Belt hit a game-winning single in the ninth inning after Buster Posey tied the score with a two-run homer in the eighth, as San Francisco rallied to beat Arizona for their seventh straight victory at home.
Posey’s drive to straightaway center was his second homer of the year, both in the past two days.
Belt’s first career game-ending hit came against Tony Sipp (1-1), who allowed a leadoff single to Andres Torres.
Brandon Crawford sacrificed him to second.
Jose Mijares struck out two in the ninth before yielding Cliff Pennington’s double.
Sergio Romo (1-1) relieved in a double switch as Belt entered at first base. Romo retired pinch-hitter Eric Hinske on a first-pitch grounder.
Diamondbacks pitcher Wade Miley hit his first career home run, while Eric Chavez also connected.
In other play, it was:
‧ Phillies 3, Pirates 2
‧ Reds 5, Cubs 4, 13 innings
‧ Brewers 7, Padres 1
The opener of a three-game series between Atlanta and Colorado was postponed because of snow. The game was scheduled to be made up yesterday.
INTERLEAGUE
The game between Miami and Minnesota was postponed due to inclement weather.
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