AMERICAN LEAGUE
Max Scherzer won his ninth straight decision, and the Tigers beat Kansas City 3-2 to snap the Royals’ six-game winning streak.
Scherzer became the first Tigers starter to begin the season 9-0 since Vern Kennedy in 1938 by pitching seven sharp innings.
Photo: AFP
He limited the Royals to three hits and two runs, while striking out six and walking two.
Aaron Crow (2-2), who was a college teammate of Scherzer’s at Missouri, took the loss after pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.
Crow hit Miguel Cabrera with a pitch to start the eighth. Cabrera advanced to third on Prince Fielder’s single to right on a full count and scored on Victor Martinez’s sacrifice fly to left. That was the first run allowed by the Kansas City bullpen in 21 innings.
INDIANS 5, RANGERS 2
In Arlington, Texas, Corey Kluber allowed one run over eight innings as the Indians beat the Rangers to snap an eight-game losing streak.
The Indians also ended a 12-game road losing streak.
Mark Reynolds had RBI single in the fourth off Derek Holland (5-3) that put Cleveland ahead to stay. Drew Stubbs added a two-run single in the fifth and scored on a single by Nick Swisher, who had only two hits his previous 28 at-bats.
Kluber (4-4) went to Coppell High School, which is less than 40km from Rangers Ballpark. The right-hander struck out three with three walks and benefited from three double plays.
Lefty Holland, who pitched a season-low 4-1/3 innings, was 4-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his previous seven starts.
RAYS 8, RED SOX 3
In St Petersburg, Florida, Matt Joyce hit one of three homers off Jon Lester to help the Rays beat the AL East-leading Red Sox.
Joyce, one day after being hit by a pitch that sparked a bench-clearing scrum, put the Rays up 7-3 on a two-run shot in the fifth that ended Lester’s night.
Desmond Jennings homered twice, while Evan Longoria also went deep for the Rays. Roberto Hernandez (4-6) allowed three runs and seven hits over seven-plus innings.
Lester (6-3) had his winless streak reach five starts, including three losses, since beating the Rays on May 15. The left-hander gave up seven runs, eight hits and seven walks in 4-2/3 innings.
ORIOLES 3, ANGELS 2
In Baltimore, Maryland, Miguel Gonzalez allowed one run over eight innings, while Nick Markakis hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning as the Orioles beat the Angels.
Light-hitting Ryan Flaherty contributed two well-timed hits for the Orioles, whose third straight victory put them a season-high nine games over .500 (37-28).
The Angels lost their fourth in a row, despite a home run by Mike Trout that traveled an estimated 136.5m.
Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos made the defensive play of the night, robbing J.J. Hardy of a two-run homer in the first inning.
After retreating toward the warning track, Bourjos pressed his body against the wall with a perfectly timed leap, stuck his glove well over the 2.1m barrier and caught the ball.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Mariners 4, Astros 0
‧ Athletics 6, Yankees 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
In a game highlighted by a heated brawl in the seventh inning that involved both players and coaches, Tim Federowicz hit a go-ahead three-run double in the eighth inning to help the Los Angeles Dodgers rally for 5-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday night.
Arizona starter Ian Kennedy, manager Kirk Gibson and coach Turner Ward, along with Dodgers star rookie Yasiel Puig and hitting coach Mark McGwire were ejected after the prolonged bench-clearing scuffle.
Kennedy hit Los Angeles starter Zack Greinke with a pitch, a retaliation throw that triggered the fracas that nearly spilled into the stands.
An inning earlier, Greinke hit Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero in the back and both teams came charging onto the field, but it broke up quickly with no punches thrown. That was payback for Kennedy hitting Puig. The ball deflected off his shoulder and struck Puig on the nose.
PIRATES 8, GIANTS 2
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Gerrit Cole took a shutout into the seventh inning of his major league debut and hit a two-run single in his first at-bat, leading the Pirates to a victory over the Giants in front of a festive crowd.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Cardinals 9, Mets 2
‧ Marlins 5, Brewers 4
‧ Reds 12, Cubs 2
‧ Rockies 8, Nationals 3
‧ Padres 3, Braves 2
In interleague play, it was:
‧ Twins 3, Phillies 2
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