INTERLEAGUE PLAY
Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez proved a thorn in the side of his former teammates as the first baseman’s seventh-inning hit set the surging Red Sox on course for a crushing 14-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday.
Gonzalez, who spent the previous five campaigns with the Padres before being traded to Boston in the off-season, broke open a 3-3 tie with an RBI double that opened the floodgates as the Red Sox added 10 runs in the top of the inning.
Photo: AFP
“It’s just great at-bats,” Gonzalez told reporters after he finished with three hits to raise his major league-leading batting average to .353.
He also leads baseball in RBIs with 67.
“It’s a line-up that consistently has good at-bats, professional at-bats and you wear down a pitcher,” he added.
Photo: AFP
Padres starter Wade LeBlanc left the game in the fourth inning and Boston exploited a shaky San Diego bullpen that walked four and hit two batters in a marathon seventh.
Padres reliever Cory Luebke gave up two runs in 3-1/3 innings and was charged with struggling San Diego’s (30-44) sixth consecutive loss.
“Our bullpen has been the best in baseball, top to bottom,” Padres manager Bud Black said. “Tonight showed that these guys aren’t invincible. Bad inning. That’s the only way you can write it.”
Boston (44-28) got a lift on the mound from Andrew Miller, making his season debut in place of injured starter Clay Buchholz. He allowed three runs in 5-2/3 innings of the no-decision.
Matt Albers came on to finish the sixth and pitched the seventh to earn the win for the red-hot Red Sox, who have won 14 of their last 16 games and lead the American League East by 1-1/2 games despite a 2-10 start to the season.
Boston took an early 3-0 lead with runs in the first, third and fourth innings, but the Padres battled back and tied the game in the sixth on a three-run homer from Orlando Hudson.
Hudson finished with three hits and Chase Headley went four-for-five in the loss for the Padres.
YANKEES 5, REDS 3
In Cincinnati, New York’s Alex Rodriguez keyed a four-run first inning that set up the Yankees’ win over the Cincinnati Reds.
New York rookie pitcher Ivan Nova (7-4) won his third straight start, allowing just one run and no walks over eight innings, taming the National League’s most prolific offense.
The Reds got a couple of runs in the ninth, before Mariano Rivera closed it out with his 18th save in 21 chances as the Yankees moved to a season-best 13 games above .500.
New York started fast against Reds left-hander Travis Wood (5-5), who made an unexpected start. Originally scheduled to pitch yesterday, he was moved up a day when Johnny Cueto showed up with a stiff neck.
RAYS 8, BREWERS 4
In Milwaukee, Wisconcin, Jeff Niemann tossed six scoreless innings on his return from an injury, steering Tampa Bay to victory over Milwaukee in their first visit to Miller Park.
Niemann (2-4) had spent the last 45 days on the disabled list with a lower back strain, but he looked comfortable while using his big curveball to neutralize the Brewers.
Tampa Bay gave Niemann an early run against Chris Narveson (4-5) and tacked on seven more late, including four in the seventh and Evan Longoria’s three-run shot in the eighth.
The Brewers fell a half-game out of first place in the National League Central, trailing the idle Cardinals, while the Rays have won four straight.
BRAVES 2, BLUE JAYS 0
In Atlanta, Georgia, Tim Hudson pitched scoreless ball into the ninth inning and hit his second career home run, leading Atlanta over Toronto.
Hudson (6-6) allowed one walk and struck out a season-high eight, including the 1,600th of his career. He connected off Ricky Romero (6-7) for a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh.
Hudson retired 20 straight batters before a walk and single in the ninth. Craig Kimbrel relieved and struck out three to earn his 20th save in 25 chances.
ROCKIES 8, INDIANS 7
In Cleveland, Ohio, Jason Giambi’s gigantic three-run homer in Colorado’s six-run fifth inning inflicted Cleveland’s first defeat in seven interleague games this season.
Giambi’s 134m shot — his 422nd career homer — off Fausto Carmona (4-9) helped the Rockies win for the fifth time in six games and get back to .500 for the first time in two months.
The 40-year-old Giambi will get more at-bats with the Rockies on the road in American League ballparks for the next five games.
Matt Lindstrom (2-1), the second of five Rockies relievers, got the win. Huston Street worked the ninth for his National League-leading 21st save in 23 chances.
The Indians collected 12 hits in their first game with new batting coach Bruce Fields, who replaced Jon Nunnally, who was fired on Saturday.
DODGERS 4, TIGERS 0
In Los Angeles, Clayton Kershaw threw his third career shutout and complete game to direct Los Angeles past Detroit.
Juan Uribe homered for the Dodgers, who recorded their second straight shutout.
Kershaw (7-3) tied a season high with 11 strikeouts, allowing only two hits and one walk.
Tigers starter Brad Penny (5-6) gave up seven hits over six innings.
ORIOLES 8, PIRATES 3
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Nick Markakis had three hits to help Baltimore down Pittsburgh.
Orioles starter Jake Arrieta (9-4) moved into a tie for the American League lead in wins, giving up three runs over five innings and even adding his first major league hit. He is the first Orioles pitcher in 18 years to reach nine wins by June 20.
The Orioles average 6.5 runs per game when Arrieta starts. They needed just two innings to top that mark against struggling Pirates starter Charlie Morton (7-4), while handing Pittsburgh their fourth straight loss.
Morton gave up seven runs in two innings. His ERA this month is 8.50.
RANGERS 8, ASTROS 3
In Arlington, Texas, Adrian Beltre had a pair of RBI singles among his three hits, helping Texas defeat state rivals Houston.
Josh Hamilton hit a two-run triple off the wall as the American League West leaders scored in each of the first three innings, quickly settling back in at home after a stretch of playing 17 of 20 games on the road.
Texas starter Derek Holland (6-2) pitched into the eighth to win at Rangers Ballpark for the first time in nearly two months.
Holland allowed six hits over 7-1/3 innings.
Houston starter J.A. Happ (3-9) lost his fifth straight decision. He gave up seven runs over 2-2/3 innings — his shortest outing of the season.
Monday’s other results:
‧ Angels 2, Marlins 1
‧ Cubs 6, White Sox 3
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