AMERICAN LEAGUE
With his team trailing 2-0, the bases loaded and the league’s best batter at the plate, New York Yankees reliever Boone Logan could not have picked a more testing time to take the mound against bitter rivals Boston at Fenway Park on Friday.
However, Logan did not let the pressure get to him, striking out Adrian Gonzalez to end the fifth inning and spark his team to a 3-2 win that saw them take top spot above the Red Sox in the AL East.
Photo: AFP
The win was just New York’s second in 10 attempts against Boston this season.
New York’s offense responded in the sixth inning with three runs against Red Sox starter Jon Lester, who had been in top form through the first five.
“They did a good job being patient in the sixth, they laid off some good pitches,” Lester (11-5) said.
Boston went ahead when Marco Scutaro scored in the third inning on an RBI double by Jacoby Ellsbury and David Ortiz hit a solo home run in the fourth to give the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.
Former Red Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon started for the Yankees and allowed two runs on six hits in 4-2/3 innings, before giving way to Logan, who earned the win to improve to 3-2.
Logan and three relievers delivered the lead to Mariano Rivera, who pitched a clean ninth inning for his 29th save.
Rangers 8, Indians 7, 11 innings
In Arlington, Texa, Josh Hamilton drove in the winning run with a two-out infield single in the 11th inning, lifting Texas over Cleveland.
Elvis Andrus sparked the game-ending rally with a two-out bunt single against Rafael Perez (4-2). Andrus advanced to second on Perez’s wild pitch and Hamilton hit a soft grounder to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera.
Hamilton slid headfirst into first, beating Cabrera’s throw. Andrus never stopped after rounding third and beat the one-hop throw to the plate.
Texas’ Neftali Feliz (1-2) pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings for the win.
In other AL games, it was:
‧ Angels 1, Mariners 0, 10 inns
‧ Rays 8, Athletics 4
‧ Tigers 4, Royals 3, 10 innings
‧ White Sox 5, Twins 3
‧ Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
A bench-clearing brawl marred Philadelphia’s 9-2 win over the San Franciso Giants on Friday as the Phillies made it eight straight wins in the National League.
Philadelphia’s Shane Victorino and San Francisco’s Ramon Ramirez and Eli Whiteside all were ejected after benches cleared in the top of the sixth inning. Tempers flared after Ramirez hit Victorino in the back with a pitch.
Victorino began walking toward the mound and Whiteside, the catcher, stepped in front of him. Placido Polanco raced in from second and was tackled by Whiteside.
John Mayberry Jr hit a two-run homer for his second clout in two games, while Victorino and Hunter Pence also went long for the Phillies.
Philadelphia starter Vance Worley (8-1) won his sixth straight decision, allowing two runs in seven innings, striking out six and walking only one.
Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez (4-6) lasted 4-2/3 innings.
Nationals 5, Rockies 3
In Denver, Colorado, Ian Desmond had four hits, including a liner that hit Colorado pitcher Juan Nicasio in the head, to lead Washington over the Rockies.
Nicasio was struck in the second inning. The ball slammed into the right side of his head and rebounded off past the first-base line. Nicasio (4-4) was taken to the hospital where he was undergoing tests, the Rockies announced.
Michael Morse homered, Rick Ankiel had three hits and Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa had two hits each for Washington.
Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (7-9) allowed just two hits through the first five innings.
In other NL games, it was:
‧ Braves 4, Mets 1
‧ Cardinals 3, Marlins 2
‧ Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 4
‧ Padres 15, Pirates 5
‧ Cubs 4, Reds 3
‧ Brewers 8, Astros 1
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