AMERICAN LEAGUE
Masahiro Tanaka extended his regular-season unbeaten streak to 40 starts, while Mark Teixeira homered and drove in three runs to help the Yankees rally past the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3 on Saturday and end a season-high, three-game losing streak.
Tanaka (4-0) gave up solo homers to Desmond Jennings and Wil Myers around an RBI single by Ryan Hanigan, falling behind 3-0 by the fourth. He is 32-0 in the regular season for Japan’s Rakuten Golden Eagles and the Yankees since losing to Seibu on Aug. 19, 2012.
Photo: Adam Hunger - USA TODAY
Kelly Johnson hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the sixth off Josh Lueke (0-2).
Jake Odorizzi retired the first nine Yankees in order, then allowed New York to go four-for-eight with two walks before he was removed.
RED SOX 6, ATHLETICS 3
In Boston, Jon Lester (3-4) struck out a career-high 15, allowing one hit over eight scoreless innings — Craig Gentry’s leadoff bloop single in the third over the head of second baseman Dustin Pedroia.
Jonny Gomes hit a grand slam in the first off Tommy Milone (0-3), while David Ortiz and David Ross added solo homers in Boston’s second straight win after losing a day-night doubleheader to Tampa Bay.
After Oakland scored three runs in the ninth against Chris Capuano, helped by two errors, Koji Uehara got out of a one-out, two-on jam for his seventh save.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Twins 6, Orioles 1
‧ Mariners 9, Astros 8
‧ Indians 2, White Sox 0
‧ Tigers 9, Royals 2
‧ Angeles 5, Rangers 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, Georgia
Brandon Belt, Buster Posey and Michael Morse led off innings with home runs as the streaking San Francisco Giants beat the slumping Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Saturday night in a matchup of first-place teams.
The NL West-leading Giants have won four straight and eight of nine. The Braves, who lead the NL East, have lost five straight for the first time since May 21 to 28, 2012.
San Francisco had only four hits, but have homered in 10 straight games, a feat they previously accomplished from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3, 2010.
Ryan Vogelsong (1-1) allowed one run, five hits and four walks in six innings, while Sergio Romo pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save. Julio Teheran (2-2) gave up just four hits with no walks in seven innings, but allowed a season-high three runs.
PIRATES 8, BLUE JAYS 6
In Pittsburgh, Neil Walker hit a tiebreaking, two-run double in the eighth against Todd Redmond (0-3), capping a comeback from a 5-0 deficit.
A night after wasting a 5-3, ninth-inning lead in a 6-5 loss, Toronto led 6-2 in the seventh, but the Pirates tied the score against Aaron Loup on Josh Harrison’s RBI double, Pedro Alvarez’s run-scoring groundout and pinch-hitter Jordy Mercer’s two-run double.
Bryan Morris (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth, and Mark Melancon earned his first save of the season in place of injured closer Jason Grilli, retiring Colby Ramus on a game-ending groundout with two on. Pittsburgh, which overcame four errors, won consecutive games for the first time since beating St Louis and the Chicago Cubs on April 6 and 8.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Phillies 7, Nationals 2
‧ Reds 6, Brewers 2
‧ Cubs 3, Cardinals 0
‧ Diamondbacks 4, Padres 3
‧ Dodgers 9, Marlins 7
‧ Rockies 11, Mets 10
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