AMERICAN LEAGUE
Derek Holland pitched his second career shutout as the in-form Texas Rangers beat the Cleveland Indians 4-0 in Saturday’s clash of American League divisional leaders.
Holland (5-1) struck out five in his first shutout since 2009 and Texas recorded its seventh win in eight games.
Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz each hit two-run homers, with both going long on consecutive nights for the Rangers, who have won 15 of the past 18 meetings against the Indians and 10 of 11 at Progressive Field.
Cleveland has lost a season-worst five straight at home.
Both homers came off Fausto Carmona (3-7), who hasn’t won in a month and is 0-4 in his past six starts.
YANKEES 3, ANGELS 2
In Anaheim, California, C.C. Sabathia came within one out of his second complete game in three starts, pitching New York to victory over Los Angeles.
Sabathia (7-3) allowed two runs and one walk, while striking out three. He has won his past four starts, tying his longest career winning streak.
Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and Robinson Cano also went deep for New York. The two RBIs increased A-Rod’s total to 1,864, tying Mel Ott for ninth place on the all-time list. Derek Jeter was 1 for 3 with a walk, tying Sam Rice for 28th on the career hit list.
Mariano Rivera recorded his 15th save in 18 chances. It was Rivera’s 1,003rd career appearance, overtaking former Yankees Hall of Fame closer Goose Gossage for 14th place all-time.
Angels starter Ervin Santana (3-5) allowed three runs in seven innings.
RAYS 3, MARINERS 2
In Seattle, Washington, Jeremy Hellickson pitched neatly into the eighth inning to lead Tampa Bay to victory over Seattle.
Hellickson (7-3) allowed one run over 7-1/3 innings, improving to 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA in his past seven starts. He continued on with the form that saw him recognized as AL pitcher of the month for last month.
Joel Peralta replaced Hellickson in the eighth and yielded a two-run homer, cutting Tampa Bay’s lead to 3-2, but Peralta induced a fly out to end the inning and Kyle Farnsworth finished for his 11th save in 12 chances.
Tampa Bay scored three times in the second inning against Doug Fister (3-6).
TIGERS 4, WHITE SOX 2
In Chicago, Miguel Cabrera hit a tiebreaking two-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, lifting Detroit over Chicago.
Austin Jackson opened the ninth with a triple against Jesse Crain (2-2), who nearly wriggled out of the jam. After a pop up and a strikeout, Cabrera hit a pitch over the right-field fence to put the Tigers ahead 4-2.
Jose Valverde retired the White Sox in the bottom half of the ninth for his 15th save in 15 chances. After a lead-off walk, Valverde set down the next three batters to end the game.
Jackson had three hits and scored twice for the Tigers, while Justin Verlander (6-3) allowed two runs in eight innings to improve to 7-0 with a 2.06 ERA in his past seven starts against Chicago, who lost their first game in five.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Red Sox 9, A’s 8, 14 innings
‧ Orioles 5, Blue Jays 3
‧ Twins 7, Royals 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, MIAMI
Prince Fielder hit his 13th homer of the season to help the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 win over the Florida Marlins in the National League on Saturday.
Yuniesky Betancourt hit a tiebreaking RBI double in Milwaukee’s two-run seventh inning.
Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo (8-2) pitched six effective innings to win his sixth consecutive start. John Axford pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 17 opportunities.
Marlins starter Chris Volstad (2-5) gave up six hits in seven innings. He is 0-4 with a 5.87 ERA in his past seven starts.
PIRATES 6, PHILLIES 3
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the hosts sent Philadelphia to its fourth consecutive loss.
Andrew McCutchen and Lyle Overbay each had three hits and Brandon Wood homered for Pittsburgh, which could complete a sweep of first-place Philadelphia yesterday to reach .500.
Pirates starter Charlie Morton (6-) pitched seven solid innings, giving up two runs with five strikeouts, as his trademark sinker induced 11 groundball outs to only two outfield putouts.
Kyle Kendrick (3-4) made his third start of the season for Philadelphia and was charged with four runs with no strikeouts in five innings.
DODGERS 11, REDS 8, 11 INNINGS
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Matt Kemp hit a tying grand slam in the eighth inning for his second homer of the game and Los Angeles went on to beat Cincinnati in 11 innings.
Jamey Carroll singled in the go-ahead run in the 11th with his fourth hit.
It started a four-run rally off Carlos Fisher (0-3). Aaron Miles also singled home a run and Fisher’s throwing error helped the Dodgers pull away. Kemp finished it with a run-scoring forceout for his career-high sixth RBI.
The Dodgers pulled off their biggest comeback of the season and improved to 5-0 in extra innings.
Los Angeles rookie Javy Guerra (1-0) pitched out of a threat in the 10th for his first big league win.
PADRES 6, ASTROS 3
In San Diego, California, Aaron Harang pitched into the seventh inning to lead San Diego past Houston, giving the Padres back-to-back home wins for the first time all season.
Harang (6-2), who joined his hometown Padres in the offseason, matched his win total from each of his last three seasons with Cincinnati, when he struggled due to back spasms. He held the Astros to two runs in 6-2/3 innings.
Brad Hawpe had a two-run double for San Diego, which has reached at least six runs at home for only the third time this season.
Ryan Ludwick scored three runs and rookie Logan Forsythe put the Padres ahead with his first big league RBI.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Rockies 2, Giants 1
‧ Mets 5, Braves 0
‧ Cardinals 5, Cubs 4, 12 innings
‧ Diamondbacks 2, Nationals 0
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