American LeagueAlex Rodriguez snapped out of a 1-for-24 slump with three hits, including his 27th home run, backing Randy Johnson and leading the New York Yankees over the Tigers 6-4 on Thursday.
Rodriguez homered leading off the seventh inning and was called out of the dugout for a curtain call by Yankee fans, who have jeered him for much of the season. Robinson Cano followed with a double and scored on a single by Bernie Williams, who had two RBIs.
Twins 3, Royals 1
In Minneapolis, Johan Santana dominated struck out 11 in seven innings to help the Twins end a three-game losing streak.
Rondell White homered for the Twins, who moved within five games of first-place Detroit in Major League Baseball's American League Central Division and one-half game behind Chicago in the AL wild-card race.
Devil Rays 5, White Sox 3
In Chicago, Jorge Cantu hit a two-run single in the 10th inning, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the White Sox 5-3 Thursday to keep Chicago from pulling within 3 1/2 games of first-place Detroit in the AL Central.
Chicago led 3-2 before Dioner Navarro's eighth-inning homer off Matt Thornton.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5
At Boston, Alex Rios gave the Red Sox an unusual lift that stopped Boston's six-game losing streak.
Trying to catch Alex Cora's seventh-inning fly about 10 feet from the right-field fence, Rios juggled the ball and accidentally knocked it over the wall for a two-run homer that boosted the reeling Red Sox over Toronto.
Dustin Pedroia was on first when Cora came to the plate with two outs and the score 4-4. Cora, who had not homered in 245 at-bats since Aug. 15, 2005, lofted a fly to right against Roy Halladay (16-5).
An angry Halladay gestured in exasperation back in the infield. Cora was 0-for-8 in his career against Halladay before his homer.
Rangers 7, Orioles 5
At Arlington, Texas, Gary Matthews Jr led off with a disputed home run to quickly end Daniel Cabrera's scoreless streak and Texas beat Baltimore.
Mark Teixeira homered in his third straight game for Texas. Carlos Lee had a home run and an RBI double, but was also charged with an error when he knocked a ball out of Matthews' glove in the outfield that led to an unearned run.
Nick Markakis had a double and his 10th home run in August, the most by an Orioles rookie in a month. Markakis is 30-for-74 (.405) his last 19 games.
National League
AP, WASHINGTON
Two blown late-inning leads culminating in a game-ending wild pitch overshadowed Ryan Howard's franchise record 49th homer and kept the Philadelphia Phillies from tying San Diego for the National League wild-card lead.
Marlon Anderson scored from third base on Aaron Fultz's wild pitch in the 10th inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 6-5 victory Thursday.
Philadelphia led 4-2 in the ninth before Felipe Lopez's two-run, two-out single off Arthur Rhodes.
Giants 8, Braves 6
At Atlanta, Matt Morris won on the road for the first time in six tries, ending a six-game home winning streak for John Smoltz and leading San Francisco over Atlanta.
Mark Sweeney hit a two-run single in a three-run sixth that knocked out Smoltz (12-7), who gave up a season-high seven runs and six hits in five-plus innings. He had been 6-0 with a 2.11 ERA in his previous six home starts since a June 7 loss to Washington.
Cardinals 5, Marlins 2
At St. Louis, Chris Duncan hit a tying pinch homer and Scott Rolen singled in the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth inning, leading St. Louis over Florida.
St. Louis, which reopened a five-game lead over second-place Cincinnati in the NL Central, sent the Marlins to their second straight loss following a nine-game winning streak. After losing 14 of their first 22 games in August, the Cardinals won five of their final six.
Rockies 8, Mets 4
At Denver, Jeff Francis struggled on the mound but not at the plate, posting his first career two-hit, two-RBI game in Colorado's win over New York.
Francis (11-10) allowed four runs and 10 hits in five innings. He helped himself out with his bat, singling home a run in the third and adding a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Astros 5, Brewers 3
At Houston, Craig Biggio homered and Andy Pettitte struck out five in seven solid innings as the Houston completed a three-game sweep of Milwaukee.
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