Daisuke Matsuzaka, who missed his last scheduled start with a sore back, surrendered four runs in five-and-two-thirds innings on Thursday but his Boston Red Sox held on for a 6-4 victory over Baltimore.
Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth for his 35th save, and second in two nights.
Baltimore got runners on second and third with one out before Papelbon struck out Cesar Izturis and rookie Josh Bell.
With the victory, Boston salvaged what could have been a disastrous road trip. They lost two of three at the Tampa Bay Rays, then lost in Baltimore on Tuesday before winning the next two.
Adrian Beltre homered to spark a five-run second inning, David Ortiz drove in two runs and J.D. Drew had three hits for the Red Sox, who moved within six-and-a-half games of idle Tampa Bay in the American League wild-card race.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter was denied his 900th career win for a second time.
Papelbon became the only pitcher in Major League Baseball history to record at least 35 saves in each of his first five seasons.
The Orioles trailed 5-0 and had been limited to two hits over the first five innings by Matsuzaka. The only runner against Matsuzaka in the first three innings was Luke Scott, who reached on an error but was then out on a double play.
However, Baltimore chased Matsuzaka with a four-run sixth.
Nick Markakis hit an RBI single and Ty Wigginton followed with a run-scoring groundout before Matt Wieters hit a two-run double.
Yankees 5, Athletics 0
In New York, Yankees pitcher C.C. Sabathia gave up only one hit over eight innings to earn his major league-leading 19th win, and steer the Yankees to a win over the Oakland Athletics.
Sabathia (19-5) gave up a single leading off the second, but thereafter gave the A’s nothing as New York completed a four-game sweep and opened a one-and-a-half game lead atop the AL standings.
Curtis Granderson hit a solo homer and a two-run shot as a replacement for Nick Swisher, who left after one inning because of a stiff knee.
Oakland starter Dallas Braden (9-10) left in the sixth inning with heat-related cramps, when trailing 1-0.
In other AL play it was:
• Tigers 10, Twins 9, 13 innings
• Indians 6, Mariners 3
AP, ATLANTA
David Wright homered, Johan Santana won for the first time in four starts and New York snapped Atlanta’s five-game winning streak with a 4-2 victory on Thursday night.
The Mets, who had dropped three straight, broke a 13-game stretch in which they scored three runs or less against the NL East-leading Braves.
Tim Hudson (15-6) lost for the first time in nine starts after allowing eight hits and four runs — three earned — with one walk and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Santana (11-9) left after five innings, his shortest outing in 23 starts, throwing 65 pitches. The Mets announced that the left-hander had a strained pectoral muscle and was listed as day-to-day.
Phillies 12, Rockies 11
In Denver, Chase Utley drove in six runs and hit a grand slam to cap a nine-run seventh inning as Philadelphia rallied to beat Colorado.
Utley’s six RBIs tied a career high and came after Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth also went deep during the big inning in which the Phillies had nine hits.
Antonio Bastardo (1-0) benefited from the Phillies’ big inning, getting the win despite allowing a run and four hits in one inning of relief. Brad Lidge got the last three outs for his 19th save, but not before giving up a run.
Colorado had 19 hits.
Carlos Gonzalez hit his 31st homer and Chris Iannetta and Dexter Fowler also homered as the Rockies built a 7-3 lead heading into the seventh.
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