AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
New York pitcher C.C. Sabathia came close to a no-hitter as he steered the Yankees to a 10-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League on Saturday.
Sabathia had not yielded a hit for 7 2-3 innings when his former battery mate Kelly Shoppach got a hit. There was no visible reaction from the exhausted Yankees ace.
Manager Joe Girardi immediately removed Sabathia, who struck out five. The left-hander threw 69 of his 111 pitches for strikes and benefited from some spectacular defensive plays in the field.
TWINS 2, WHITE SOX 1
In Chicago, Jason Kubel’s two-run homer in the seventh inning was enough for Minnesota to edge Chicago.
Twins starter Scott Baker pitched seven sharp innings, having struggled on opening day. He allowed just one run, striking out three.
Jesse Crain got two outs in the eighth and stranded Chicago’s Mark Teahen at second, and Jon Rauch pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save.
TIGERS 4, INDIANS 2
In Detroit, Jeremy Bonderman gave up one hit in five innings to guide Detroit to victory against Cleveland.
Bonderman retired the first 11 he faced, then allowed a run on a wild pitch, single and two walks. He started for the first time at home in nearly two years since having surgery to break up a blood clot in his throwing shoulder.
Magglio Ordonez had a two-run homer for the Tigers.
ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 3
In Anaheim, California, Hideki Matsui singled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning, giving Los Angeles victory over Oakland.
Bobby Abreu started the winning rally with the Angels’ sixth double of the game.
A’s pitcher Craig Breslow intentionally walked Torii Hunter, then Matsui lined the next pitch just inside the right-field line for his first game-ending hit with the Angels.
In other games it was:
• Mariners 4, Rangers 3
• Red Sox 8, Royals 3
• Blue Jays 3, Orioles 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
The Atlanta Braves inflicted San Francisco’s first defeat of the season, beating the Giants 7-2 in the National Legue on Saturday.
Jason Heyward hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and added an RBI single to cap a four-run seventh.
Braves starter Derek Lowe scattered four hits over six innings, taking a win despite issuing a career-worst seven walks.
The Giants were charged with four wild pitches, tying the most in San Francisco history. They entered as the only unbeaten team in the majors but failed to take advantage of nine walks by Braves pitching.
CARDINALS 7, BREWERS 1
In Milwaukee, Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer to boost St. Louis over Milwaukee.
Milwaukee starter Yovani Gallardo struggled in his first outing since signing a big contract extension with the Brewers, giving up six runs in five innings.
Jaime Garcia was sharp in his debut as the Cardinals’ No. 5 starter, giving up one run in six innings.
In other games it was:
• Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 3
• Marlins 7, Dodgers 6
• Nationals 4, Mets 3
• Cubs 4, Reds 3
• Phillies 9, Astros 6
• Padres 5, Rockies 4, 14 innings
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