AMERICAN LEAGUE
Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton blasted four home runs to tie the MLB record and had eight RBIs in a prodigious night at the plate in Baltimore as the Rangers routed the Orioles 10-3 on Tuesday.
Hamilton, the 2010 American League MVP, hit four two-run homers in the game to lift his season total to 14 homers and 36 RBIs, to go along with a .406 batting average.
Photo: AFP
He became the 16th major league player to achieve the long-ball feat and the first since Carlos Delgado did it in September 2003 for the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Other than being in the World Series, the highlight of my big-league career,” Hamilton told reporters. “I’ve never hit three in a game before, and what a blessing that was. Then to hit four is just an awesome feeling.”
Hamilton, who also doubled to go 5-for-5 in the game, also set an AL record with 18 total bases in the contest.
“Amazing,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “History was witnessed tonight.”
The slugger, who can become a free agent after this season, homered in the first and third off Baltimore starter Jake Arrieta, connected in the seventh off reliever Zach Phillips and finished up by driving a shot over the center-field wall against Darren O’Day.
YANKEES 5, RAYS 3
In New York, David Robertson struck out Carlos Pena with the bases loaded to end a rocky ninth inning and give New York their first victory over Tampa Bay in eight attempts.
Robertson only just held on in his first save chance since veteran closer Mariano Rivera suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Raul Ibanez homered twice, Curtis Granderson also connected and the Yankees handed Rays pitcher James Shields (5-1) his first loss in seven starts this season.
New York starter Ivan Nova (4-1) pitched seven sharp innings, the last three in a steady rain. He gave up six hits and struck out eight.
WHITE SOX 5, INDIANS 3 (10)
In Cleveland, Alex Rios tripled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to lead Chicago over Cleveland.
Cleveland closer Chris Perez (0-1) yielded a leadoff single to Paul Konerko. After a foul out, Rios lined a drive over the head of the second baseman, which rolled all the way to the wall.
Rios then scored on a fielder’s choice, beating the throw home after a ground ball hit by Alexei Ramirez.
White Sox reliever Hector Santiago (1-1) pitched the ninth for his first career win.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Royals 6, Red Sox 4
‧ Twins 5, Angels 0
‧ A’s 7, Blue Jays 3
‧ Tigers 6, Mariners 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, LOS ANGELES
The San Francisco Giants beat Los Angeles 2-1 on Tuesday, ending a run of 12 successive home victories by Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
Kershaw hadn’t lost at home since April 16 last year. The Giants snapped an 0-6 skid against the left-hander.
Kershaw (2-1) had his career-best 10-game overall winning streak end despite giving up only two runs in eight innings, striking out seven and walking just one.
Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong (1-2) pitched into the eighth inning for the first time this season, allowing one run in 7-1/3 innings.
San Francisco closer Santiago Casilla retired the last batter for his sixth save in seven attempts.
CARDINALS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 1
In Phoenix, Carlos Beltran homered in his first two at-bats, including a grand slam, for six RBIs, as St Louis handed Arizona their fourth loss in a row.
Beltran hit a two-run homer off Ian Kennedy (3-2) in the first, then cleared the bases with a shot into the swimming pool area in right-center in the second — his 10th career grand slam.
Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (4-2) pitched seven scoreless innings.
PIRATES 5, NATIONALS 4
In Pittsburgh, Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Pittsburgh over Washington.
The veteran catcher, mired in a season-long hitting slump, drilled a shot down the left field line that sailed a few rows into the seats for his first home run and RBIs of the year.
The Nationals had gone ahead in the top of the ninth thanks to Adam LaRoche’s two-run homer.
However Alex Presley singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth off Henry Rodriguez (1-2) and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches before Barajas’ shot.
Tony Watson (2-0) earned the victory.
METS 7, PHILLIES 4
In Philadelphia, Lucas Duda had a tiebreaking, two-out RBI single in the seventh as New York took advantage of a Philadelphia defensive blunder.
Duda and David Wright had two hits and two RBIs each to help the Mets win their fourth straight.
The Mets took the lead in the seventh with four two-out runs, including Duda’s single off left-hander Antonio Bastardo (1-2) that drove in Wright with the go-ahead run.
New York reliever Manny Acosta (1-2) didn’t allow a hit in two-thirds of an inning in the sixth.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Braves 3, Cubs 1
‧ Astros 3, Marlins 2
‧ Brewers 8, Reds 3
‧ Padres 3, Rockies 1
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