AMERICAN LEAGUE
World Series champions the New York Yankees responded to their season-opening loss with a 6-4 victory over arch rivals the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday to tie their three-game series.
Robinson Cano went two-for-three with a solo home run in the ninth inning and 40-year-old Mariano Rivera looked as good as new in closing out the bottom half of the inning for the Yankees, who had slumped to a 9-7 defeat to Boston on Sunday.
New York trailed 3-1 before scoring three times in the fifth when Alex Rodriguez had an RBI double and Cano added a sacrifice-fly.
Victor Martinez led the Red Sox with a two-run home run in the third and an RBI double in the fifth to level the score at 4-4 before outfielder Nick Swisher drew a bases-loaded walk in the eighth to put the Yankees in front.
Swisher’s walk could have been prevented had Boston shortstop Marco Scutaro hit the target with a throw to first base.
“It hit the top of my glove, and it just didn’t get in the webbing,” Boston first baseman Kevin Youkilis told reporters of Scutaro’s throw. “It just hopped up enough and I got a bad bounce.”
Both Yankees starter A.J. Burnett and Boston’s Jon Lester took no-decisions after throwing five innings and allowing four runs.
Burnett was signed to a lucrative deal before last year’s season but had a mediocre campaign to finish the regular season 13-9.
Jorge Posada was back behind the plate for the right-hander, after giving up to backup Jose Molina last season amid media reports of a rift between the starting catcher and Burnett.
“He really went out of his way to make me feel good, and I appreciate that,” Posada said of Burnett. “I went out there and told him to get on top of the curve ball a little more. He did it right away.”
New York had to dig deep into its bullpen to secure Tuesday’s win, and needed Joba Chamberlain to strike out consecutive batters in the eighth when the Red Sox had a man on second base with one out.
TWINS 5, ANGELS 3
In Anaheim, California, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and J.J. Hardy each homered, leading Minnesota over Los Angeles.
Twins starter Nick Blackburn returned to the site of his first big league start and took the win, allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts.
Minnesota closer Jon Rauch made his season debut with a perfect ninth inning to earn his first AL save.
Angels starter Joe Saunders gave up three homers and five runs over five innings.
In other games, it was:
• Athletics 2, Mariners 1, 10 inns
• Rays 4, Orioles 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN
Randy Wolf’s debut as a Milwaukee starting pitcher was a success, steering the Brewers to a 7-5 win over the Colorado Rockies in the NHL on Tuesday.
Wolf struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings in his first start since signing a US$29.75 million, three-year contract in the offseason to bolster Milwaukee’s starting staff.
Casey McGehee and Rickie Weeks did their part to help. McGehee hit a three-run homer in the first and Weeks added a solo shot off Rockies starter Greg Smith in the fifth.
Trevor Hoffman gave up a run in a rocky ninth but recorded his 592nd career save.
GIANTS 3, ASTROS 0
In Houston, Barry Zito gave up only three hits in six innings to guide San Francisco past Houston.
Zito struck out five before he was replaced and the relief staff of Waldis Joaquin, Dan Runzler, Sergio Romo and closer Brian Wilson combined for one hit in the last three innings. Wilson earned his second save.
Giants newcomer Aubrey Huff had two hits and drove in a run in a game that was scoreless until the sixth.
Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez allowed seven hits in six innings.
He struck out four and walked four.
PADRES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 3
In Phoenix, San Diego pitcher Chris Young allowed just one hit through six innings as the Padres downed Arizona.
Young, who missed the second half of last season after shoulder surgery, struck out five. The only hit he allowed was a single in the fourth.
Everth Cabrera drove in four runs with a triple in the sixth and a double in the second. That matched his career high for RBIs.
Arizona starter Edwin Jackson lasted just four innings in his Diamondbacks debut, allowing three runs, including a solo homer by Will Venable.
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