AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Tampa Bay starter James Shields struck out 12 in seven innings to guide the Rays to a 10-3 win over the Oakland Athletics in Wednesday’s American League action.
Shields (3-0) allowed a first-inning home run, then limited the A’s to one unearned run over the next six innings. He walked only one and matched his career high for strikeouts as the American League leaders made it 13 wins from 15 games.
Evan Longoria and Carlos Pena led off the sixth inning with consecutive homers and each had two RBIs. They also drove in runs off A’s starter Dallas Braden (3-1) during Tampa Bay’s six-run fifth inning.
YANKEES 8, ORIOLES 3
In Baltimore, Maryland, New York took control early.
Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia (3-1) allowed three runs in seven-and-two-third innings. In 15 career appearances against the Orioles, he is 10-1.
Robinson Cano homered and Nick Swisher had his second straight three-hit game for the Yankees, who built a 6-0 lead in the third inning against Jeremy Guthrie.
Wednesday’s other results:
• Tigers 11, Twins 6
• Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 0
• Angels 4, Indians 3
• Mariners 6, Royals 5
• Rangers 6, White Sox 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
Philadelphia’s Wilson Valdez doubled home the go-ahead run in the 11th inning as the Phillies beat the San Francisco Giants 7-6 in the National League on Wednesday to avoid their first sweep of the year.
Jayson Werth’s three-run double with two outs in the ninth inning kept the visitors in the game.
Phillies slugger Ryan Howard snapped a career-worst 65 at-bat homerless streak in the fifth inning. It was his first homer since agreeing to a US$125 million, five-year contract extension on Monday.
Giants ace Tim Lincecum, the two-time reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, struck out 11 and was poised to win his fifth straight start until Giants closer Brian Wilson blew it.
San Francisco’s Nate Schierholtz had an RBI double in the bottom of the 11th inning for his career-high fifth hit, but it wasn’t enough on a day the Giants stranded 16 base-runners.
Ryan Madson (1-0) pitched one inning for the win. Nelson Figueroa finished for his first career save. Sergio Romo (0-2) took the loss.
Wednesday’s other results:
• Mets 7, Dodgers 3
• Padres 6, Marlins 4
• Nationals 3, Cubs 2
• Diamondbacks 12, Rockies 11, 10 innings
• Pirates 6, Brewers 5, 14 innings
• Cardinals 6, Braves 0
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