AMERICAN LEAGUE
AGENCIES, BOSTON AND NEW YORK
Closer Jonathan Papelbon halted a two-run ninth-inning rally by the Toronto Blue Jays to help the Boston Red Sox hold on for a 3-2 victory on Saturday.
PHOTO: AP
Papelbon replaced reliever Hideki Okajima, who had given up back-to-back run-scoring hits by Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay in the top of the ninth, to retire the final two batters and record his 32nd save of the season.
Boston starter Clay Buchholz had been sailing along with a three-hit shutout before he was pulled in the ninth after one out and a runner on first and replaced by Okajima.
“I would have liked to stay out there and pitched, but it was the most pitches [107] that I’ve thrown all year,” Buchholz told reporters after being pulled by manager Terry Francona.
PHOTO: AP
Buchholz (3-3) struck out nine and walked two. All his wins this season have come against the Blue Jays. The only hits he allowed were singles by Kevin Millar in the second, Overbay in the seventh and Jose Bautista in the ninth.
“That was a terrific game,” Francona told reporters. “He threw strikes with a lot of pitches. Changuep, breaking ball, fastball — he really pitched well.”
The win kept the Red Sox two-and-a-half games ahead of the Texas Rangers in the American League wild card race.
Dustin Pedroia gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead with a first-inning single before Alex Gonzalez’s single in the sixth made it 2-0. Boston’s third run came on a bases-loaded walk three batters later.
YANKEES 10, WHITE SOX 0
At New York, Sergio Mitre surrendered just one hit before a line drive to his right arm forced him out of New York’ victory over Chicago on Saturday.
Mitre pitched six-and-a-third innings and had a perfect game broken up in the fifth. After he was forced out of the game, Chad Gaudin took the mound for New York and preserved the one-hitter.
Robinson Cano had three hits, drove in two and scored once while Alex Rodriguez had a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Yankees, who stretched their lead over Boston to six-and-a-half games atop the American League East.
Mitre had a perfect game through the fourth inning, setting down the first 12 batters he faced.
INDIANS 5, ORIOLES 3
At Baltimore, Maryland, Andy Marte hit a three-run homer following a long rain delay and Jhonny Peralta also connected in Cleveland’s win over Baltimore.
Marte’s shot off Chris Ray erased a 2-1 deficit in the sixth inning. Peralta’s homer, off Chris Tillman in the fourth, tied the game at 1.
With the Orioles batting against Jeremy Sowers in the fifth, a light rain intensified. Ty Wigginton reached third with two outs and, as thousands of fans headed for cover, Cesar Izturis tripled into the gap in right-center.
When play resumed, Ray (0-2) replaced Tillman and immediately struck out Peralta. But Luis Valbuena and Matt LaPorta followed with singles, and Marte hit a 3-2 pitch deep into the left-field seats.
RAYS 3, TIGERS 1
At Detroit, David Price (7-6) lasted a career-best 7 1-3 innings and allowed a run and five hits to help Tampa Bay beat Detroit. Nate Robertson (1-1) took the loss as he was making his first start of the season since elbow surgery.
In other MLB action it was:
• Rangers 3, Twins 0
• Athletics 4, Angels 3
• Mariners 8, Royals 4
• Dodgers 11, Reds 4
• Giants 5, Rockies 3
• Braves 9, Phillies 1, 8 inns
• Cubs 11, Mets 4
• Diamondbacks 9, Astros 0
• Cardinals 9, Nationals 4
• Brewers 7, Pirates 3
• Padres 7, Marlins 4
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