AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, TORONTO
Justin Morneau homered twice as the Minnesota Twins beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Monday, boosting their lead in the American League Central division.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Morneau went 3 for 4 with a walk and four RBIs. He hit a solo homer in the sixth inning and added a two-run drive in the eighth, his first multihomer game this season and the 13th of his career.
Morneau has hit safely in 10 straight games.
Delmon Young also went deep for the Twins.
Toronto’s Jose Bautista homered for the fourth time in three games, his team-leading 11th, but the Blue Jays’ four-game winning streak ended.
Minnesota starter Kevin Slowey (5-3) earned his first win in five career starts against the Blue Jays.
Toronto starter Dana Eveland (3-3) took the loss.
YANKEES 11, RED SOX 9
In New York, the hosts got two homers in the ninth inning to secure a thrilling win over Boston.
The Yankees were trailing by two runs in the ninth, but with one out and a runner on third, Rodriguez hit his first pitch over the fence in left-center to tie it 9-9. Boston pitcher Jonathan Papelbon (1-3) got Robinson Cano to fly out for the second out, but hit Francisco Cervelli with a pitch before Marcus Thames drove his next delivery over the wall in left.
Thames was mobbed at home plate after New York’s first game-ending hit of the season.
New York’s Javier Vazquez (2-4) got the win in an unfamiliar reliever role, striking out Kevin Youkilis with runners on the corners for the final out of the ninth.
RAYS 4, INDIANS 3, 11 INNINGS
In St Petersburg, Florida, Jason Bartlett laid down a bunt to drive in the winning run in the 11th inning, giving Tampa Bay victory over Cleveland.
John Jaso hit a one-out single against Jamey Wright (1-2) and went to third on Gabe Kapler’s single to right. Bartlett then laid down a bunt on the first base side of the mound that Wright fielded and was forced to make a desperation toss toward the plate that went over the catcher’s head.
Andy Sonnanstine (1-0), the sixth Tampa Bay reliever, took the win by striking out two during a perfect 11th, helping the Rays improve to a major league-best 27-11 this season.
In other AL action, it was:
• Rangers 4, Angels 3
• Athletics 8, Mariners 4
• Royals 4, Orioles 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN DIEGO
The San Diego Padres stayed atop the National League West by beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Monday — their seventh straight win against their divisional rival.
Adrian Gonzalez homered for the Padres, who staged a form reversal, as they were coming off three straight losses while the Giants entered with three consecutive wins.
San Diego starter Clayton Richard beat Giants starter Matt Cain (2-2) for the second time in a span of six games by holding San Francisco to one run in seven innings.
CARDINALS 6, NATIONALS 2
In St Louis, Missouri, Albert Pujols had three hits and a walk and helped fuel a four-run first inning that was enough for St Louis to defeat Washington.
The big first inning against Nationals starter Craig Stammen (1-2) came with Pujols batted fourth in the order for the first time since 2003.
Kyle Lohse (1-3) became the final member of the St. Louis rotation to win this season.
PHILLIES 12, PIRATES 2
In Philadelphia, Kyle Kendrick pitched eight impressive innings to guide Philadelphia to a rout of Pittsburgh.
Pitching in a steady rain, Kendrick (2-1) allowed two runs, striking out four.
Ryan Howard hit a grand slam and had six RBIs, while Jayson Werth had a three-run homer for the NL East-leading Phillies, who have won four straight.
Philadelphia got one of its injured stars back when Jimmy Rollins returned to the lineup after missing 29 games with a calf injury.
The three-time All-Star shortstop and 2007 NL MVP had two hits and an RBI.
Pirates starter Charlie Morton (1-7) gave up six runs in four innings.
METS 3, BRAVES 2
In Atlanta, Georgia, Mike Pelfrey pitched 7 2-3 strong innings to help New York edge Atlanta and end a five-game losing streak.
Pelfrey (5-1) became the first Mets starting pitcher to win a game this month.
Rod Barajas gave the Mets a 2-0 lead with a two-run double off Braves starter Derek Lowe (5-4) in the second.
Pedro Feliciano struck out Brian McCann with the bases loaded in the eighth to protect a one-run lead. Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his sixth save, striking out Nate McLouth with a runner on second to end the game.
REDS 6, BREWERS 3
In Cincinnati, Jonny Gomes’ three-run homer completed a five-run rally in the seventh inning, as Cincinnati retained the Central lead for another day by beating Milwaukee.
Gomes’ homer off Todd Coffey (1-1) sent the Reds to their eighth victory in nine games. They haven’t led the Central this deep into a season since 2006.
Reds starter Johnny Cueto (3-1) fanned seven, giving up Corey Hart’s solo homer. Hart also homered in the ninth.
The slumping Brewers lost their season-worst seventh straight.
In other NL games, it was:
• Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 1
• Cubs 4, Rockies 2, 11 innings
• Dodgers 6, Astros 2
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