Fri, Aug 22, 2008 page21

• Angels top Rays, regain best AL record

  MAJOR LEAGUES In the American League, the Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 to avoid a sweep of the three-game series between the AL’s top two teams

  • AP, ST. PETERSBURG
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  AMERICAN LEAGUE

  Garret Anderson’s infield single in the ninth inning extended his hitting streak to 23 games and gave the Los Angeles Angels a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League on Wednesday.

  Anderson struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh, but he came through in the same situation in the ninth, after the Rays had tied it 4-all on Carlos Pena’s RBI double off Jose Arredondo (5-1).

  

  The Los Angeles Angels’ Garret Anderson follows through on a ninth-inning RBI single off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chad Bradford in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Wednesday. The Angels’ Mark Teixeira scored on the hit.

  PHOTO: AP

  The play was initially ruled an error on second baseman Akinori Iwamura. It later was changed to a hit, keeping Anderson’s streak alive.

  Erick Aybar had a two-run

  triple and Chone Figgins and Mark Teixeira also drove in runs for the Angels, who won for the first time in six games at Tropicana Field this season.

  The victory enabled Los Angeles to nudge back ahead of Tampa Bay for the best record in the AL at 77-48 and avoid a sweep of the three-game series.

  ORIOLES 11, RED SOX 6

  At Baltimore, Ramon Hernandez and Melvin Mora hit three-run homers as Baltimore overcame an early deficit to avoid a three-game sweep.

  Baltimore trailed 4-0 before scoring 10 straight runs against three Boston pitchers. Hernandez put the Orioles up 6-4 with his third-inning drive, and Mora’s 21st homer of the season made it 10-4 in the fourth.

  YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 1

  At Toronto, Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer for New York and Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings to snap a four-start winless streak.

  Jeter’s homer in the fourth inning was his eighth of the season and 203rd of his career, moving him past Bill Dickey and into a tie with Roger Maris for 11th place on the Yankees’ all-time list.

  In other games it was:

  • White Sox 15, Mariners 3

  • Twins 3, Athletics 1

  • Indians 8, Royals 5

  • Rangers 9, Tigers 1

  NATIONAL LEAGUE

  AP, NEW YORK

  Mike Pelfrey pitched a three-hitter for his first career complete game and David Wright homered to lead the New York Mets past the Atlanta Braves 6-3 in the National League on Wednesday.

  Pelfrey (12-8) also delivered at the plate, hitting an RBI single in a five-run first inning, when the NL East leaders took advantage of two Atlanta errors. Daniel Murphy hit a two-run single, and Fernando Tatis also drove in a run for the Mets, who have won eight of nine and 11 of 14. They remained 1.5 games ahead of second-place Philadelphia.

  Braves starter Jair Jurrjens (11-9) gave up six runs — four earned — and six hits in five innings.

  Wright hit his 24th homer leading off the fifth, making it 6-1.

  The Braves have lost nine of 10, falling a season-worst 15 games under .500.

  
  

  DIAMONDBACKS 8, PADRES 6

  At Phoenix, Adam Dunn hit his NL-leading 34th homer and his second in as many games for Arizona in a win over San Diego.

  In other games it was:

  • Phillies 4, Nationals 0

  • Brewers 5, Astros 2

  • Reds 2, Cubs 1

  • Cardinals 11, Pirates 2

  • Giants 6, Marlins 5

  • Rockies 4, Dodgers 3
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