AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, CHICAGO
John Danks pitched eight sharp innings as the Chicago White Sox beat Minnesota 6-1 on Wednesday to move back into a first-place tie in the American League Central with the Twins.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Carlos Quentin homered in his second straight game while helping the White Sox draw even again after being knocked out of first place for the first time since July 10 with a 12-6 loss to the Twins on Tuesday.
They fared better this time after dropping four of five, with a rare victory over a team that had won 18 of 23 against them.
Danks (12-8) allowed one run and six hits. Quentin hit a two-run shot in the second off Glen Perkins (0-1) that made it 2-0.
The Twins got two hits apiece from Michael Cuddyer and Joe Mauer, who has 27 in his last 50 at-bats after going 2 for 4.
YANKEES 7, RANGERS 6
In Arlington, Texas, Marcus Thames hit a long homer then had the go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning as New York rallied from five runs down for a split in the two-game series with fellow-division leaders Texas.
Thames’ grounder between shortstop and third base came after Derek Jeter had tied the game with a chopper past a drawn-in infield, an RBI single off Rangers rookie All-Star closer Neftali Feliz (3-3).
Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances.
Elvis Andrus led off the inning with a triple, before the Yankees closer retired the Nos. 2-4 hitters.
Thames led off the eighth with his fourth homer of the season getting New York within 6-5.
TIGERS 3, RAYS 2
In Detroit, Michigan, Ryan Raburn hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning as Detroit held on to avoid a series sweep to Tampa Bay.
Justin Verlander (13-7) gave up one run and six hits, while striking out seven over six innings. Ryan Perry pitched one-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief and Jose Valverde allowed a run before earning his 22nd save in 23 chances.
Matt Garza (11-7) gave up three runs and seven hits in five-and-two-thirds innings. He is winless in three starts since his no-hitter July 26 against Detroit.
ORIOLES 3, INDIANS 1
In Cleveland, Ohio, Brad Bergesen pitched a two-hitter for his first win in nearly three months as Baltimore downed Cleveland.
The Orioles won their fourth straight and moved to 8-1 under new manager Buck Showalter. They became the last team in the majors to reach 40 wins this season.
Bergesen (4-9) held the Indians hitless until Luis Valbuena singled with two outs in the fifth. Asdrubal Cabrera singled with two outs in the ninth for Cleveland’s other hit.
Baltimore backed Bergesen with 13 hits as he won for the first time in 13 starts. He had gone 0-7 with a 6.65 ERA. Bergesen walked two and struck out four.
In other AL play, it was:
• Red Sox 10, Blue Jays 1
• Angels 2, Royals 1
• Athletics 5, Mariners 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PHILADELPHIA
Roy Oswalt pitched seven impressive innings in his home debut and two relievers finished off the six-hitter as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0 on Wednesday.
The two-time NL champions are 15-4 since July 22, but lost another player when Ross Gload left with a strained right groin.
Oswalt (7-13) allowed five hits, walked two and struck out five.
It was his first win in his third start for the Phillies.
Dodgers starter Clay Billingsley (9-7) gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.
Ryan Madson worked around a leadoff double in the eighth, striking out two batters. Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save.
MARLINS 9, NATIONALS 5
In Washington, Mike Stanton had five hits and four RBIs and Chris Volstad won his third game for Florida against Washington this season.
It was the third straight win for the Marlins (56-56) and the 18th time this season they have reached .500.
Stanton had the first five-hit game of his two-month career, with a two-run double in a four-run first inning, an RBI single in the second, a double in the fourth, a long home run in the seventh and a single in the ninth. His previous best was three hits.
Stanton’s first double keyed a four-run first inning where Florida batted around against Scott Olsen (3-4), who allowed seven runs and eight hits in one-and-two-thirds innings — his shortest start since July 8, 2007.
ROCKIES 6, METS 2
In New York, Melvin Mora hit a go-ahead Grand Slam with two outs in the eighth inning as Colorado downed New York.
Angel Pagan hit a two-run homer in the first for the Mets and Jonathon Niese hung on to the early lead, but the bullpen came undone.
With two outs in the eighth, Hisanori Takahashi (7-6) gave up a single to Todd Helton and walked Carlos Gonzalez, prompting manager Jerry Manuel to call on Manny Acosta. Acosta’s first offering was a wild pitch that let the runners advance and Troy Tulowitzki was intentionally walked.
In other NL play, it was:
• Giants 5, Cubs 4
• Cardinals 6, Reds 1
• Braves 8, Astros 2
• Diamondbacks 8, Brewers 2
• Padres, 8 Pirates 5
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