AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, DETROIT AND TORONTO
Carlos Guillen drove in the winning run in the 10th inning to help the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, stretching their AL Central Division lead to three games.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Guillen’s grounder up the middle skipped past White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez into center field for a single that allowed Clete Thomas to score.
Thomas and Miguel Cabrera smacked back-to-back singles off loser D.J. Carrasco (3-1) to set the stage for Guillen.
“Carlos’ bat back in the lineup makes a difference,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland told reporters. “We’re a different looking club. We’re not a great club by any means, but there’s a difference with the presence of a veteran like that that’s been in those situations before. He’s not going to panic.”
Guillen, who returned to the lineup on Friday, had not played in the majors for almost three months because of a shoulder injury.
“I’ve worked hard on my shoulder to get better and get back on the field,” the designated hitter said.
He went on the disabled list in early May with inflammation in his shoulder. It was later diagnosed as coming from wear and tear from years of playing shortstop and throwing.
The win was the third successive victory over the White Sox by the Tigers, who were 3-2 down going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Curtis Granderson’s run-scoring single with two outs in the ninth sent the game into extra innings and Guillen delivered the game winner with his second RBI of the contest.
The teams had been tied for the division lead before Detroit swept a double header on Friday.
Cabrera singled in the Tigers’ opening run in the first and Guillen collected an RBI on a run-scoring fielder’s choice later in the inning.
Chicago struck back for one run in the second on A.J. Pierzynski’s home run and went ahead 3-2 in the fifth when Gordon Beckham hit a double to score Chris Getz and Beckham was then driven in by Scott Podsednik’s single.
ATHLETICS 6, YANKEES 4
At New York, Gio Gonzalez struck out six batters in a career-high six-and-two-third innings and Oakland scored all its runs in the seventh to end New York’s eight-game winning streak.
Landon Powell and Orlando Cabrera each drove in a pair of runs for the A’s, who also ended an eight-game losing streak to the Yankees that dated to last season.
RAYS 10, BLUE JAYS 9
In Toronto, Jason Bartlett’s RBI double in the 12th inning capped the biggest comeback in Tampa Bay history as the Rays erased an eight-run deficit to beat the home team in the American League on Saturday.
Down 8-0 after four, Tampa Bay cut it to 9-7 heading into the ninth against closer Scott Downs. The defending AL champions tied it on solo homers by Carlos Pena and Willy Aybar. Pena went 2 for 6 with four RBIs.
In other AL action it was:
• Angels 11, Twins 5
• Indians 10, Mariners 3
• Red Sox 7, Orioles 2
• Royals 6, Rangers 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
Casey Blake hit a bases-loaded single with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a gripping 4-3 win over the Florida Marlins in the National League on Saturday.
Los Angeles trailed until a pair of run-scoring singles in the sixth.
In the ninth, with one out, a bunt single, then a further single put men on first and second. A walk loaded the bases. Blake then looped one over the infield for the winner.
In NL action it was:
• Phillies 14, Cardinals 6
• Rockies 8, Giants 2
• Brewers 4, Braves 0
• Mets 10, Astros 3
• Cubs 5, Reds 3
• Diamondbacks 7, Pirates 0
• Nationals 13, Padres 1
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