The Minnesota Twins mauled Texas Rangers starter Cliff Lee to avoid a series sweep with a 6-4 victory on Thursday.
Lee was chased after conceding seven hits and five runs over five innings as the AL Central-leading Twins (73-55) built a 6-0 lead going into the seventh and withstood a late fightback.
Delmon Young hit a three-run homer for Minnesota in the second inning, and veteran designated hitter Jim Thome followed up with a solo shot in the sixth.
The left-hander Lee continues to struggle for his new team and is now 2-5 in 10 starts since joining Texas from Seattle just before last month’s All-Star Game.
“I haven’t been locating pitches as well as I expect myself to and they haven’t missed them,” Lee told reporters.
“It’s just been a handful of pitches and they happened to capitalize on them. I’ve got to do a better job of staying out of the heart of the plate. That’s really it,” Lee said.
Vladimir Guerrero hit his second consecutive homer for the Rangers, who rallied to 6-4 before the Twins’ Matt Capps closed out the game.
Francisco Loriano, starting his first game in eight days for the Twins, allowed five hits and two runs over seven innings.
“When I can throw my changeup, things go better for me,” he said. “I was getting ahead in the count and focusing on getting the first hitter.”
Minnesota’s Orlando Hudson was delighted with the team’s fast start and dominance of Lee.
“We just came out early and scored some runs early on and stayed on top,” Hudson said. “Hopefully we’ll never, ever, ever see him again.”
Despite the defeat, the Rangers (72-55) maintained a healthy eight-and-a-half game lead in the AL West division.
In other AL play it was:
• Tigers 7, Blue Jays 1
• Indians 3, Athletics 2
• White Sox 8, Orioles 0
AP, PHILADELPHIA
The Houston Astros completed their first four-game sweep at Philadelphia in 11 years by winning 5-1 on Thursday, putting another dent in the Phillies’ playoff ambitions.
Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (10-12) pitched seven sharp innings, allowing only one run and striking out six. He has a 1.79 ERA since June 24.
Carlos Lee homered for the Astros, who did sweep in the Phillies over four games in Houston last year, but had not done so in Philadelphia since 1999.
Philadelpia, NL pennant winners two years running, fell three games behind first-placed Atlanta in the NL East and trail San Francisco by half a game in the wild-card standings, with 35 to play.
The Astros are the only NL team with a winning record (30-16) against Philadelphia since 2004.
Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (8-7) allowed four runs in six innings.
Marlins 11, Mets 4
In New York, Hanley Ramirez feasted on New York pitching yet again to power Florida to victory.
Ramirez hit a two-run homer and finished with three hits, going 10-for-15 over the series. He’s been a pain for the Mets all season, driving in 14 runs and scoring 15 times against them.
Marlins rookie Logan Morrison reached base four times, including a two-run double during the seven-run sixth inning.
Florida starter Anibal Sanchez (11-8) got the win despite allowing four runs over five sloppy innings.
New York stranded 12 runners and lost shortstop Jose Reyes to a muscle strain in the second inning.
Mets starter Jonathon Niese (8-6) matched his career high with eight strikeouts, but blew a 4-0 lead and left in the sixth. He allowed more runs (seven) than hits (five).
In other NL play it was:
• Diamondbacks 11, Padres 5
• Dodgers 7, Brewers 1
• Nationals 11, Cardinals 10,
13 innings
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