MAJOR LEAGUES
Jerry Sands, Yunel Escobar and Ryan Hanigan homered on Monday night, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-4.
Sands’ first homer since Sept. 20, 2011, a two-run, pinch-hit shot off Brian Matusz, snapped a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning. Escobar hit a solo homer in the first and Hanigan added a two-run drive in the fourth for a 3-0 lead against Orioles starter Chen Wei-yin of Taiwan.
Photo: Kim Klement-USA Today
Adam Jones homered for the second straight day for Baltimore, hitting a two-run shot in the sixth off rookie Jake Odorizzi, who allowed two runs and three hits over 5-1/3 innings. Delmon Young had a pinch-hit homer in the ninth off Juan Carlos Oviedo, who got the last three outs for his first save.
Sands, who drove in the winning run in Tampa Bay’s victory in Houston, Texas, on Sunday, went deep on a 2-0 pitch after Matusz replaced Darren O’Day (2-1), who departed with a runner on and two outs.
The Orioles had just tied it in the top of the eighth with a run charged to Grant Balfour, loading the bases with two singles and a walk, before Nelson Cruz delivered an RBI infield single.
Baltimore nearly took the lead when pinch-hitter Steve Pearce lined a pitch down the left-field line, but the ball landed foul. Two pitches later, he grounded into a force play, letting Jake McGee (3-0) off the hook.
The Orioles announced before the game that two-time All-Star catcher Matt Wieters, who has not played since May 10, will have season-ending surgery on his right elbow. Manager Buck Showalter said the team is hopeful Wieters will be ready for opening day next season.
The Rays have won four of five, scoring 24 runs.
Odorizzi allowed Hardy’s single and a walk with two outs in the second, escaping the jam by fanning Ryan Flaherty. The 24-year-old right-hander retired eight straight after walking Nick Markakis in the third, with the Orioles right fielder interrupting the string with a double leading off the sixth.
Jones hit his 12th homer one out later, ending Odorizzi’s night and trimming Baltimore’s deficit to 3-2.
Texas relished their return to the happy hunting ground of Oakland by beating the Athletics 14-8 on Monday, with Donnie Murphy hitting two home runs for the Rangers.
Among other key results, Cleveland edged the Los Angeles Angels to end Jered Weaver’s charmed run against the Indians, Kansas City produced a mid-game surge to overpower Detroit, while Milwaukee pulled away late to beat Arizona.
Texas’ Murphy hit a two-run home run in the fourth and a solo shot in the ninth to help the Rangers win at the Coliseum for the fourth time in as many games this season.
Michael Choice and Robinson Chirinos also homered, while Adrian Beltre drove in three runs for the visitors.
Texas starter Colby Lewis (5-4) won for the first time since last month, despite allowing five runs over 5-1/3 innings.
The Cleveland Indians edged the Los Angeles Angels 4-3, with Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera both hitting homers.
Santana’s leadoff homer in the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie and moved the Indians (36-35) over the .500 mark. Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first.
Both home runs came off Jered Weaver (7-6), who lost for the first time in 10 career starts in Cleveland. Weaver was 6-0 in nine starts at Progressive Field going into the game.
Kansas City’s Omar Infante hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and had an RBI single in a four-run fifth that lifted the Kansas City Royals to an 11-8 win over the Detroit Tigers.
The Royals have won a season-high eight straight to pull within half a game of the American League Central-leading Tigers, who scored six runs in the ninth inning.
Detroit starter Justin Verlander (6-7) allowed seven earned runs in consecutive starts for the first time in his career, giving up a season-worst 12 hits and striking out only two over six innings.
Milwaukee’s Wily Peralta pitched seven effective innings to guide the Brewers to a 9-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Peralta (7-5) shook off a shaky second inning to keep the National League Central-leading Brewers close and they ran away late, scoring six runs over the final two innings.
Aramis Ramirez sparked the late surge with a two-run double in the eighth inning, his third hit of the game.
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat Colorado 6-1 to end the Rockies season-best five-game winning streak, with Dee Gordon having four hits for the hosts.
Gordon’s hits included a triple that was misplayed into four bases by Colorado left fielder Charlie Blackmon.
Ryu Hyun-jin (8-3) pitched six strong innings, allowing one run and striking out six. It was the ninth time in his 13 starts this year that Ryu conceded less than three earned runs.
St Louis’ Allen Craig and Matt Adams each had two RBIs as the Cardinals beat the New York Mets 6-2.
The Cards — who have won seven out of eight — used rookie pitchers to substitute for ace Adam Wainwright and got strong performances.
Carlos Martinez allowed one unearned run in four innings in his second career start and Nick Greenwood (1-0) also allowed one run in 3-1/3 innings to win on his major league debut.
The Philadelphia Phillies scored five runs in the 13th inning to finally break open a dour contest against the Atlanta Braves, with Ryan Howard homering and driving in the go-ahead run.
The Seattle Mariners’ Kyle Seager hit a three-run homer in the first inning to set up a 5-1 win over the San Diego Padres, which was a team in mourning for former great Tony Gwynn, who died of cancer earlier in the day.
Boston’s Rubby de la Rosa pitched seven scoreless innings to guide the Red Sox to a 1-0 win over the Minnesota Twins.
Chicago pitcher Travis Wood was used as a pinch-hitter and came up with an RBI double with two outs in the 13th inning to lift the Cubs to a 5-4 win over the Miami Marlins.
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