American League
Mike Maroth pitched a one-hitter, Ivan Rodriguez had a two-run double in a five-run fifth and the Detroit Tigers matched their win total from last season with an 8-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Friday night.
Gary Sheffield's double in the fourth was the lone hit against Maroth, and Sheffield was the only Yankees baserunner to reach second.
PHOTO: AP
"It was unbelievable having a sold-out crowd, standing on their feet for the ninth inning, getting louder and louder," said Maroth, who tied a career high with seven strikeouts and walked two. "I usually smile, but I'm going to be smiling for a while."
The Tigers (43-46) already have as many wins as they did last season when they lost an American League-record 119 games, one short of the post-1900 futility mark. Maroth (6-7), who lost 21 games last season, got his first major league shutout.
"You knew things would get better for him because of the way he went out there last year," Alex Rodriguez said. "He showed a lot of character."
Javier Vazquez (10-6) gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- on eight hits over 4 1-3 innings, in his worst outing since giving up seven runs on May 6 at Oakland.
Athletics 5, White Sox 1
In Oakland, California, Barry Zito pitched seven strong innings for his first win in seven starts, and Jermaine Dye hit a three-run homer to lead Oakland past Chicago.
Dye had three hits and Marco Scutaro had an RBI double for the A's, who beat Chicago at the Coliseum for the 15th time in 16 games. Oakland has won 22 of its last 25 at home overall.
Zito (5-7) allowed four hits and four relievers finished up, with Octavio Dotel picking up his fourth save in six chances after Chad Bradford allowed consecutive singles in the ninth.
In the first inning, Eric Byrnes and Eric Chavez singled against Mark Buehrle (9-3) before Dye's 17th homer of the season.
Buehrle yielded nine hits and two walks in just his second loss in 16 starts.
Indians 18, Mariners 6
In Seattle, Victor Martinez hit three of Cleveland's club record-tying eight homers and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Indians thrashed Seattle.
Matt Lawton, Martinez and Casey Blake connected for consecutive homers in a six-run third inning for the Indians. In the ninth, Martinez, Travis Hafner and Ben Broussard all homered off Julio Mateo. And Jody Gerut connected off Mike Myers for Cleveland's eighth homer, which tied the club record set at Milwaukee April 25, 1997.
The switch-hitting Martinez went 5-for-5. He hit a three-run homer and a solo shot from the right side of the plate and a solo shot from the left. He also had a two-run single.
Cliff Lee (10-1) won his fifth straight decision. Rookie Travis Blackley (1-2) couldn't get a batter out in the sixth, when the Indians took a 7-0 lead.
Red Sox 4, Angels 2
In Anaheim, California, Pedro Martinez won his sixth straight decision and Nomar Garciaparra homered as Boston beat Anaheim.
Martinez (10-3) allowed two runs on five hits and four walks in six innings, while striking out eight. The three-time Cy Young winner improved his career record against Anaheim to 9-1 while ending the Angels' four-game winning streak.
Martinez hasn't lost in 10 starts since May 16 at Toronto. Keith Foulke got three outs for his 14th save in 18 opportunities and his first since June 13.
Kelvim Escobar (5-6) lost for the fourth time in his last five decisions, allowing three runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked three.
National League
Jim Thome hit his major league-leading 29th home run, and Kevin Millwood pitched three-hit ball for seven innings to lead the Phillies over the New York Mets 5-1 Friday.
Bobby Abreu also homered and drove in two runs for the Phillies, who bounced back from an 11-inning loss in the opener of the four-game series. Thome finished with three RBIs, and Jimmy Rollins stole two bases.
Millwood (7-5) didn't give up a hit until the fifth and outpitched Jae Seo (4-6), who allowed only two runs and six hits, but still lost for the first time in six starts since June 11 at Kansas City. Billy Wagner entered for the Phillies in the eighth throwing 100mph and got five outs for his 14th save in 16 chances.
Padres 5, Astros 1
In Houston, Phil Garner opened his tenure as manager of the Houston Astros with a loss.
Mark Loretta's three-run double backed Jake Peavy, who sent Andy Pettitte to his second straight loss.
Garner, who managed Detroit and Milwaukee to a combined 708-802 record during parts of 11 seasons, replaced Jimy Williams on Wednesday, the day after Houston hosted the All-Star game. Houston dropped a season-high 12 games behind NL Central-leading St. Louis, which has w on 10 of 11 games.
Pettitte (5-3), who left the New York Yankees for the chance to pitch for his hometown Astros, allowed four runs and seven hits over five innings in his first career start against San Diego.
Peavy (6-3), who struggled against Houston on July 7 in his second start after coming off the DL, allowed one run and six hits in five-plus innings.
Cardinals 7, Reds 5
In Cincinnati, pinch-hitter Marlon Anderson hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning off Cincinnati closer Danny Graves, the major leagues saves leader with 33.
Reggie Sanders hit a two-run single off Graves (1-4) to make it 5-4 before Anderson's blast.
Kiko Calero (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh inning. Jason Isringhausen pitched the ninth for his 22nd save in 26 opportunities.
Brewers 3, Cubs 2
In Chicago, pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick singled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
Victor Santos (9-3) allowed four hits and two runs in six innings to win for the seventh time in his last eight decisions.
Bill Hall, who entered the game in the first inning because third baseman Wes Helms had an upset stomach, singled in the seventh and advanced two bases on the same play with an easy steal of second on Matt Clement's wild pitch.
Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 2
In Phoenix, Alex Cora drove in two runs with squeeze bunts, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win for the 11th time in 12 games.
Kazuhisa Ishii (11-4) improved to 7-1 against the Diamondbacks, including 4-0 this year, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings.
Shawn Green went 3-for-4 with an RBI double, Robin Ventura had a run-scoring single and Milton Bradley scored three runs after two walks and a double.
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