AMERICAN LEAGUE
REUTERS AND AP, BOSTON
Kevin Youkilis hit two home runs and equaled a career-high with six RBI, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 14-1 thumping of the New York Yankees on Saturday.
PHOTO: AP
Boston’s win snapped a five-game losing streak to the Yankees and came one day after they were thrashed 20-11 in the series opener.
“Good teams let things go quickly — they just move on and play the next day,” Youkilis told reporters. “You don’t worry about what happened the night before. If you do, you’re going to find yourself going downhill quick.”
David Ortiz and Alex Gonzalez also homered for the Red Sox, who closed to within six-and-a-half games of the first place Yankees in the American League East.
PHOTO: AP
“I thought we showed up with great energy, and that’s important after a night like last night,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “Getting runs early helps. They show up and play, and we played better today than we played yesterday.”
Rookie Junichi Tazawa (2-2) tossed six shutout innings for the win, scattering eight hits while striking out two and walking two. The 23-year-old spent the past four seasons playing in the amateur Japan Industrial League before the Red Sox signed him to a three-year major league contract in December.
Dustin Pedroia had three hits and scored four runs, while Ortiz had two hits and three RBI for Boston.
PHOTO: REUTERS
A.J. Burnett (10-7) lost his third straight decision and gave up nine runs on nine hits in five innings, allowing three homers while striking out six and walking two.
Nick Swisher’s 21st homer in the seventh inning off Boston reliever Daniel Bard accounted for New York’s run. The Yankees lost for just the fourth time in 19 games.
“It happens,” New York’s Derek Jeter said of the loss. “Sometimes you’re going to hit balls hard and get hits, and other times you’re not. Today, we just fell behind early and couldn’t do anything.”
PHOTO: AP
ANGELS 7, BLUE JAYS 3
At Toronto, Vladimir Guerrero and Juan Rivera homered, Ervin Santana won his fourth straight start and Los Angeles beat slumping Toronto.
Guerrero broke a 3-all tie with a solo shot in the sixth inning and Rivera provided some insurance with a two-run drive in the eighth.
The only runs Santana (7-6) allowed in six innings came from a three-run homer by Adam Lind in the third. Santana is 5-0 in his last six road starts.
Blue Jays rookie Scott Richmond (6-7) took the loss.
Rays 5, Rangers 4, 10 inns
At St Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay slugger Carlos Pena homered twice and drove in the winning run against Texas with an RBI single in the 10th inning.
In other AL action it was:
• White Sox 4, Orioles 1
• Indians 4, Mariners 3, 11 inns
• Twins 8, Royals 7
• Athletics 3, Tigers 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, DENVER, COLORADO
A seven-run sixth inning sparked Colorado’s 14-11 win over San Francisco in the National League on Saturday, opening the Rockies’ lead over the Giants in the wild card race to two games.
Colorado trailed 6-3 after five innings, but Ian Stewart and Todd Helton both homered in the sixth when the Rockies sent 11 men to the plate. The hosts added another four runs in the seventh.
Dexter Fowler tripled twice and Jorge De La Rosa pitched six innings for Colorado.
DODGERS 2, CUBS 0
At Los Angeles, the hosts made it three straight wins by shutting out Chicago.
Los Angeles pitcher Charlie Haeger baffled the Cubs with his knuckleball, allowing only three hits in seven-plus innings and striking out seven. Matt Kemp and Casey Blake homered for the NL West leaders.
In other NL action it was:
• Braves 4, Marlins 3
• Phillies 4, Mets 1
• Cardinals 7, Padres 0
• Astros 4, Diamondbacks 2
• Brewers 11, Nationals 9
• Pirates 12, Reds 2
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