Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer to break Lou Gehrig’s American League record for RBIs as the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 4-2 on Wednesday to finish a three-game sweep.
Michael Pineda (6-2) rebounded from consecutive losses, while Brian McCann hit a solo shot for the Yankees, who outscored the AL champions 23-4 in their first home sweep of at least three games against Kansas City since August 2007.
Chris Young (4-1) gave up both Yankees home runs, with the slumping Royals having dropped four straight for the first time since Aug. 28 to Aug. 31 last year.
Photo: AFP
MARINERS 3, RAYS 0
In St Petersburg, Florida, Felix Hernandez pitched a four-hitter to become the major’s first eight-game winner, while Nelson Cruz hit his AL-best 18th homer to snap a scoreless tie in the ninth inning as the Mariners completed a three-game sweep by beating the Rays.
Hernandez (8-1) got four double plays in his second shutout this season.
Brad Boxberger (2-3) relieved after Chris Archer pitched two-hit ball for eighth innings, while Boxberger walked Seth Smith and Robinson Cano with two outs before Cruz connected.
Archer tied a career high with 12 strikeouts for the Rays, who have lost five in a row. The right-hander had stretches where he retired 12 and 11 batters in a row.
INDIANS 12, RANGERS 3
In Cleveland, Ohio, Carlos Santana capped and eight-run third inning with a three-run homer, leading the Indians past Texas to end the Rangers’ seven-game winning streak.
Carlos Carrasco (6-4) allowed only Robinson Chirinos’ solo homer in the fifth while pitching eight sharp innings. The right-hander held Texas to five hits and struck out eight.
Texas starter Colby Lewis (4-3) allowed 10 runs and 11 hits in 2-2/3 innings. He was chased in the third when the Indians sent 12 men to the plate.
TWINS 6, RED SOX 4
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aaron Hicks homered for the first time in more than a year as the Twins extended their winning streak to five games with a victory over the Red Sox.
Eddie Rosario also homered for Minnesota, who have won nine of 11. The Twins swept Boston for the first time since June 13 to June 15, 2006.
Dustin Pedroia homered twice for the Red Sox, who have lost six of eight.
Minnesota starter Phil Hughes (4-4) allowed four earned runs in 6-2/3 innings.
Rick Porcello (4-4) allowed six earned runs in seven innings for Boston.
NATIONALS 3, CUBS 0
In Chicago, Illinois, Bryce Harper hit his 18th home run, while Max Scherzer struck out a season-high 13 to outduel Jon Lester as Washington beat Chicago.
The top two free-agent pitchers on the market last off-season, Scherzer and Lester (4-3) faced off in a memorable matchup in the finale of the three-game series. Scherzer (6-3) was better than his counterpart, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing five hits and one walk to win his fifth straight start.
In other games, it was:
‧ Cardinals 4, Diamondbacks 3
‧ White Soc 5, Blue Jays 3, (10)
‧ Giants 3, Brewers 1
‧ Mets 7, Phillies 0
‧ Pirates 5, Marlins 2
‧ Rockies 6, Reds 4
‧ Tigers 3, Athletics 2
‧ Orioles 5, Astros 4
‧ Braves 3, Dodgers 2
‧ Padres 5, Angels 4
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Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
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