AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA
Shaun Marcum pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a home run to Conor Jackson leading off the seventh inning, while Jose Bautista hit his majors-best 37th home run to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 3-1 win over Oakland Athletics on Monday.
The A’s were held hitless late for the second straight day.
Minnesota’s Kevin Slowey didn’t allow a hit through seven innings on Sunday before being pulled. Oakland got its first hit with one out in the eighth against Jon Rauch.
Marcum (11-6) missed most of last season after undergoing surgery on Sept. 30, 2008. He faced only two batters over the minimum before Jackson’s home run, then finished for his first career complete game.
TIGERS 3, YANKEES 1
In New York, Detroit’s Max Scherzer pitched two-hit ball for six shutout innings and shaky closer Jose Valverde got Derek Jeter to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead into the ninth. The Yankees were close to being shut out in consecutive games for the first time since 1999.
Valverde held on for his 23rd consecutive save.
The highest-scoring team in the majors managed only six hits overall against Scherzer (8-9) and three relievers.
Not since May 1999, when the Anaheim Angels stopped them, have the Yankees been blanked in consecutive games.
Ryan Raburn hit a two-run homer in the second off Javier Vazquez (9-9). Miguel Cabrera hit his 28th home run in the ninth off Joba Chamberlain.
In other AL play, it was:
Rays 6, Rangers 4
Orioles 5, Mariners 4, 11 innings
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Melky Cabrera’s two-run single off Octavio Dotel with the bases loaded in the ninth inning capped a three-run rally that lifted Atlanta to a 4-3 victory over Los Angeles on Monday.
Dotel took over for Kuo Hong-chih (3-2), who failed to protect a 3-1 lead. Kuo gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases.
Dotel walked pinch-hitter David Ross to force in a run. Cabrera then lined the game-winning single past shortstop Jamey Carroll.
The first-place Braves moved two-and-a-half games ahead of Philadelphia in the NL East.
Peter Moylan (4-2) pitched a perfect ninth for Atlanta.
Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley gave up five hits and one run in seven innings. Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson gave up five hits and a run in seven innings.
METS 3, ASTROS 1
In Houston, Carlos Beltran homered in the fourth inning and New York took the lead in the ninth inning on a wild pitch by Houston closer Matt Lindstrom.
Hisanori Takahashi worked a perfect ninth for his first save, filling in as closer on the day the Mets learned Francisco Rodriguez would miss the rest of the season.
Lindstrom (2-4) allowed a single to David Wright with one out in the ninth before a single by Beltran put runners at the corners.
With Jeff Francoeur batting, Lindstrom’s pitch in the dirt got away from rookie catcher Jason Castro, allowing Wright to score and give the Mets a 2-1 lead.
Francoeur added an insurance run with an RBI triple off the left-center fence.
In other NL play, it was:
Pirates 7, Marlins 1
Padres 9, Cubs 5
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