MAJOR LEAGUES
Jeff Samardzija pitched seven strong innings to win his Oakland debut as the Athletics beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep.
Samardzija, acquired a day earlier in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, received several standing ovations. He was cheered during pre-game warmups and again after striking out the side in the seventh.
Samardzija gave up one run and four hits. He struck out five and walked one while earning his first win since June 7.
Samardzija was 2-7 with the Cubs, despite a 2.83 ERA.
Jed Lowrie had two hits and scored twice, and leadoff hitter John Jaso added a pair of hits and an RBI for the A’s, who won their fourth straight following a three-game sweep in Detroit.
DIAMONDBACKS 3, BRAVES 1
In Atlanta, Wade Miley earned his first win since early May and Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer as Arizona stopped the Braves’ nine-game winning streak.
Miley (4-6) allowed one run on five hits and one walk in 6-2/3 innings. The left-hander was 0-3 in his previous nine starts and had not won since beating the White Sox on May 10. The win snapped his streak of five straight no-decisions.
Atlanta starter Alex Wood (6-7) allowed two runs on only three hits and three walks in seven innings. Wood’s big mistake was Goldschmidt’s homer off the foul pole in left field in the third inning.
B.J. Upton was zero-for-four with three strikeouts to end his career-best 11-game hitting streak for NL East-leading Atlanta.
Before the game, the Diamondbacks traded right-hander Brandon McCarthy and cash to the Yankees for left-hander Vidal Nuno.
RAYS 7, TIGERS 3
In Detroit, All-Star David Price came within an out of a complete game in helping Tampa Bay climb out of last place in the AL East.
The Rays have won three straight and eight of nine to move a half-game ahead of defending champion Boston in the standings. Tampa Bay had sole possession of the cellar for 39 consecutive days.
Price (8-7) received his fourth All-Star selection before the game, and he allowed three runs and seven hits before being pulled amid rain, thunder and lightning with two outs in the ninth. Jake McGee came on with two on and got the final out for his fifth save in six chances.
Rick Porcello (11-5) allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 5-2/3 innings.
Matt Joyce and Desmond Jennings homered for Tampa Bay, and Torii Hunter and J.D. Martinez went deep for Detroit.
The Rays had 19 hits, including four each by Ben Zobrist and Sean Rodriguez.
YANKEES 9, TWINS 7
In Minneapolis, Jacoby Ellsbury homered, doubled and drove in four runs as New York took a huge lead then held off Minnesota.
Down 9-0 in the fourth inning, the Twins began rallying and eventually brought the potential winning run to the plate with two outs in the ninth. Kurt Suzuki grounded out with runners at the corners to end it.
Before the game, the Yankees traded lefty Vidal Nuno to Arizona for right-handed starter Brandon McCarthy. New York also cut outfielder Alfonso Soriano.
Derek Jeter and Ichiro Suzuki each had three hits for the Yankees, who have won 14 of 18 overall at Target Field.
In other MLB action, it was:
‧ Giants 5, Padres 3
‧ Orioles 7, Red Sox 6, 12 inns
‧ Indians 4, Royals 1
‧ Nationals 2, Cubs 1
‧ Angels 6, Astros 1
‧ Dodgers 8, Rockies 2
‧ Mets 8, Rangers 4
‧ Marlins 8, Cardinals 4
‧ Pirates 6, Phillies 2
‧ White Sox 1, Mariners 0
‧ Reds 4, Brewers 2
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