MAJOR LEAGUES
Felix Hernandez struck out a career-high 15 in seven innings, before Endy Chavez keyed a five-run ninth with a tiebreaking RBI single, leading the Seattle Mariners to a 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
James Jones had a two-run triple for the Mariners, who have won seven of eight. King Felix scattered four hits over seven innings.
After Brad Miller hit a two-out triple and Willie Bloomquist walked against Grant Balfour (0-2), Chavez slapped a two-strike single to left for a 1-0 lead. Jones had his triple before Kyle Seager added a two-run double.
Yoervis Medina (3-1) threw a scoreless eighth for the win.
ROYALS 2, YANKEES 1
In Kansas City, Missouri, James Shields kept making critical pitches to escape trouble, while Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas drove in runs as the Royals squeaked out a win over the Yankees.
The Royals have won the past seven games that Shields (7-3) has started, and he has earned the win in four of those. The veteran right-hander lasted six innings in his latest effort, giving up six hits to the punchless Yankees, but only allowing only one unearned run.
The Royals scored both of their runs off Hiroki Kuroda (4-4) in the second inning.
Aaron Crow escaped a jam in the seventh inning, and Wade Davis recorded the 500th strikeout of his career during a perfect eighth, before Greg Holland survived a shaky ninth for his 18th save.
ASTROS 14, TWINS 5
In Minneapolis, Chris Carter and Jon Singleton hit their first career grand slams to power the Astros to a victory over the Twins.
Carter’s slam in the seventh inning sailed over the limestone overhang in right field and gave Houston a 9-3 lead. Singleton lined a fastball off Glen Perkins over the right-field wall that made it 14-5 in the ninth.
The only other time two Astros players hit grand slams in the same game was July 30, 1969, in New York when Denis Menke and Jimmy Wynn both hit slams in an 11-run ninth inning against the Mets.
Dexter Fowler and George Springer also homered for the Astros.
Darin Downs (1-0) got the last eight outs as the third reliever to follow starter Colin McHugh, who fanned six and allowed one run over 4-1/3 innings.
Houston batted around in the fourth inning, scoring three runs after Samuel Deduno (2-4) loaded the bases with nobody out by walking two batters and hitting another.
INDIANS 3, RANGERS 2
In Arlington, Texas, Lonnie Chisenhall had two hits and scored twice, while Indians starter Justin Masterson picked up his first road win of the season.
Adrian Beltre and Alex Rios had two hits each for the injury-riddled Rangers, who learned before the game they will be without first baseman Mitch Moreland for three months. Moreland needs surgery on his ailing left ankle.
Masterson (4-4) gave up five hits and two runs in 5-2/3.
Left-hander Joe Saunders (0-2) is winless in four starts for Texas after allowing seven hits and three runs — two earned — with four walks in 5-1/3 innings.
In other MLB action, it was:
‧ Angels 4, White Sox 2
‧ Cardinals 5, Blue Jays 0
‧ Reds 4, Phillies 1
‧ Brewers 1, Pirates 0
‧ Marlins 4, Cubs 3
‧ Giants 6, Mets 4
‧ Diamondbacks 6, Braves 5
‧ Dodgers 6, Rockies
‧ Nationals 6, Padres 0
‧ Athletics 11, Orioles 1
‧ Red Sox 5, Tigers 3
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