Alex Rodriguez hit his 19th career grand slam to power the New York Yankees to an 8-4 win over the Minnesota Twins in the American League on Friday.
Minnesota were leading 4-2 in the seventh inning when Mark Teixeira was intentionally walked and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire made the curious decision to introduce reliever Matt Guerrier, as Rodriguez had a four-for-six record with three home runs off him.
Rodriguez carried his bat all the way to first base, then raised a fist in triumph after the homer, which was his 587th, moving him past Frank Robinson and into sole possession of seventh place on the all-time list.
Joba Chamberlain (1-1) struck out the Twins in the eighth to take the win.
Red Sox 7, Tigers 2
In Detroit, Michigan, David Ortiz had his second multihomer game this month and drove in four runs, lifting Boston over Detroit.
Ortiz hit a three-run homer after Dustin Pedroia’s two-run drive in the first inning. Ortiz added a solo shot in the fourth to restore Boston’s five-run cushion. He has hit five home runs in nine games after clearing the fence only once in his first 16 games.
Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz (4-3) gave up just one run in six-and-a-third innings.
Detroit’s Max Scherzer (1-4) gave up six runs over five innings in his fourth poor start in a row.
Friday’s other results:
• Blue Jays 16, Rangers 10
• Mariners 4, Rays 3
• Angels 4, Athletics 0
• Royals 6, White Sox 1
• Orioles 8, Indians 1
AP, CINCINNATI, Ohio
Albert Pujols ended St Louis’ longest homer drought in three years with a two-run shot that helped the Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 in Friday’s clash of National League Central leaders.
Ryan Ludwick added a two-run shot off Aaron Harang (2-5) that also cleared the wall, sparking an offense that hadn’t homered in the previous nine games.
St Louis starter Jaime Garcia (4-2) has gone at least six innings and given up two or fewer earned runs in all seven starts.
It’s the best such opening streak by a rookie since the L.A. Dodgers’ Fernando Valenzuela did so in eight games in 1981.
Dodgers 4, Padres 3
In San Diego, California, Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer in the seventh that a frustrated Tony Gwynn Jr got his glove on as it sailed over the wall, sending Los Angeles to a win over San Diego.
Gwynn leaped at the center-field wall to take a stab at Kemp’s fly-ball, but it hit the end of his glove and went over. After he came back down, Gwynn punched the padded wall.
The Dodgers won their fifth straight, while the Padres had their three-game winning streak snapped.
Kemp’s homer off Luke Gregerson (0-1) came with Russell Martin aboard on a double.
Friday’s other results:
• Marlins 7, Mets 2
• Phillies 9, Brewers 5
• Giants 8, Astros 2
• Braves 6, Diamondbacks 5
• Pirates 10, Cubs 6
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