MAJOR LEAGUES
David Murphy was four-for-four with two RBIs against his former team, while Danny Salazar allowed one unearned run in six innings as the Indians routed the Rangers 12-2.
Murphy, who played for Texas from 2007 to last year, before signing a two-year contract with the Indians in November last year, had a two-run double in the fifth when Cleveland scored six times. He doubled in the second and added singles in the fourth and sixth.
Photo: AFP
Murphy also threw out a runner at home from right field in the second to end the Rangers’ scoring threat.
Salazar (4-4) won his third straight start since being recalled from the minors last month. The right-hander was moved into Friday’s start to replace Justin Masterson, who was traded to St Louis on Wednesday.
TIGERS 4, ROCKIES 2
In Detroit, Justin Verlander equaled his longest outing of the season, pitching eight solid innings to lift the Tigers to a victory over the Rockies.
A day after the AL Central-leading Tigers added star left-hander David Price to their rotation, Verlander (10-9) showed signs that he might be rounding into form. He allowed two runs and eight hits, striking out five without a walk. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 4.66.
Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 27 chances, retiring Charlie Blackmon on a flyout with two on to end it.
Franklin Morales (5-6) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out two.
ANGELS 5, RAYS 3
In St Petersburg, Florida, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton homered to help the Angels beat the Rays.
Trout hit his 25th homer of the season, a two-run shot off Jeremy Hellickson (0-1) during a three-run first that put the Angels up 3-0.
Los Angeles went ahead 4-1 on Hamilton’s solo homer in the third. The slugger was hit by Jeff Beliveau’s pitch in the seventh inning and later left with a bruised left middle finger.
After Tampa Bay loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth against Huston Street, the closer got his fifth save since being acquired from San Diego on July 18 by striking out Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist, and getting Matt Joyce on a pop fly. Zobrist had a potential extra-base hit go foul down the right field line.
RED SOX 4, YANKEES 3
In Boston, Anthony Ranaudo pitched six solid innings in his major league debut and Dustin Pedroia drove in two runs as the Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Yankees.
Ranaudo (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits, including a solo homer Carlos Beltran hit into the New York bullpen in the fourth. Ranaudo walked four and struck out two, and he scattered the few mistakes he made well enough for Boston to hang on after taking a 2-0 lead in the third.
Derek Jeter led off the eighth inning with a shot over the Green Monster to pull the Yankees within 4-3.
However, they failed to drive Mark Teixeira for the tying run after his ground-rule double with one out.
Koji Uehara pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.
In other MLB action, it was:
‧ Royals 1, Athletics 0
‧ Astros 3, Blue Jays 1
‧ White Sox 10, Twins 8
‧ Brewers 7, Cardinals 4
‧ Phillies 2, Nationals 1
‧ Reds 5, Marlins 2
‧ Giants 5, Mets 1
‧ Padres 10, Braves 1
‧ Pirates 9, Diamondbacks 4
‧ Cubs 8, Dodgers 2
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