AMERICAN LEAGUE
Orlando Cabrera’s three-run double in the first inning set the Cleveland Indians on their way to a ninth successive home win, beating the slumping Kansas City Royals 7-2 in the American League on Wednesday.
Cabrera hit a bases-loaded double off Jeff Francis (0-3) as the Indians jumped to a 5-0 lead. That was all the support Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin (4-0) would need in sending Kansas City to their fifth straight loss.
Tomlin gave up two solo homers in the second, but blanked Kansas City over the next four innings. He has gone at least five innings in each of his first 17 appearances in the majors — a club record.
ATHLETICS 2, ANGELS 1
In Anaheim, California, Cliff -Pennington opened the 10th inning with a triple off a fielder’s glove to lift the Oakland Athletics over Los Angeles.
Former Angels closer Brian Fuentes returned in Oakland colors and inadvertently helped his old team by giving up the tying run in the bottom of the ninth.
However, the A’s recovered in the 10th, when the switch-hitting Pennington sliced a pitch from Jordan Walden (0-1) toward left-center. Vernon Wells tried a sliding catch, but the ball went off his glove as he nearly collided with the center fielder.
After an intentional walk with one out, Conor Jackson delivered the run with a groundout, hitting a high chopper to shortstop.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Rangers 7, Blue Jays 6
‧ Yankees 3, White Sox 1
‧ Mariners 10, Tigers 1
‧ Rays 8, Twins 2
‧ Orioles 5, Red Sox 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Chipper Jones hit a two-run triple and finished with three RBIs as the Atlanta Braves beat San Diego 7-0 on Wednesday, leaving Padres ace Mat Latos winless since September.
Jones moved out of a tie with Mickey Mantle and into sole possession of second place among switch-hitters with 1,512 RBIs. Hall of Famer Eddie Murray tops the list at 1,917.
Braves starter Tommy Hanson (3-3) struck out 10 and walked only one in seven innings and combined with two relievers on a four-hitter.
In other NL games, it was:
‧ Pirates 2, Giants 0
‧ Phillies 8, Diamondbacks 4
‧ Mets 6, Nationals 3
‧ Cardinals 6, Astros 5
‧ Dodgers 5, Marlins 4, 10 inns
‧ Reds 7, Brewers 6, 10 inns
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