NATIONAL LEAGUE
Andre Ethier awakened from a recent slump with his fourth career grand slam to cap a six-run second inning and Chad Billingsley pitched the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Seattle Mariners 8-2 on Sunday.
Shut down by six pitchers in Seattle’s third no-hitter on Friday night, the Dodgers rebounded to win the final two games of the interleague series.
Photo: Reuters
Billingsley (4-4) won his second straight decision, giving up two hits and a solo homer to Kyle Seager in seven strong innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked three, the third time in four starts that he has struck out eight.
He got all the offense he needed on one swing from Ethier, who had just one hit in his previous 27 at-bats before smacking a 3-2 fastball from starter Blake Beavan (3-6) into the right-field seats with two outs in the second.
YANKEES 5, METS 4
Photo: AFP
In New York, Russell Martin led off the ninth with his second homer of the game as the New York Yankees took advantage of some shoddy infield defense to beat the Mets 5-4 for a three-game sweep.
The Mets could not hold an early 3-0 lead, but tied it 4-all in the top of the ninth on Ike Davis’ RBI double off Rafael Soriano.
In the seventh, Martin hit a two-run homer off the top of the right-field wall to pull the Yankees to 3-2 after third baseman David Wright’s throwing error extended the inning.
Mark Teixeira tied it at 3 with an RBI single in the eighth and Alex Rodriguez gave the Yankees the lead with a bloop single.
Martin hit a full-count pitch from Jon Rauch (3-6) to left field.
Boone Logan (1-0) got two outs with runners on first and third in relief of Soriano, who had his first blown save in 10 chances. Soriano is filling in for injured closer Mariano Rivera.
NATIONALS 4, RED SOX 3
In Boston, Roger Bernadina doubled with two outs in the ninth inning, driving in Bryce Harper for the go-ahead run, and Washington held off slumping Boston to finish a three-game sweep.
Danny Espinosa doubled twice and drove in two runs for the Nationals, a franchise that had never won at Fenway Park coming into the series.
Tom Gorzelanny (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Tyler Clippard earned his third save of the series, striking out Dustin Pedroia to end it. Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine stormed out of the dugout during Pedroia’s at-bat to argue a strike and was quickly ejected by plate umpire Alan Porter.
RAYS 4, MARLINS 2
In Miami, James Shields allowed one run in 6-1/3 innings to win for the first time in five starts and Tampa Bay capped a three-game sweep by beating Miami.
The Rays outscored their intrastate rivals 22-7 and have won seven in a row against the Marlins. Miami fell to 0-6 on their homestand and have been outscored 43-10.
Matt Joyce hit his 11th homer and Elliot Johnson hit his third to help the Rays (35-25) improve the best record in the AL. Shields (7-4), who had lost his past three decisions, allowed four hits and struck out five.
Fernando Rodney earned his 18th save in 19 chances with a scoreless ninth and lowered his ERA to 0.94.
Anibal Sanchez (3-5), plagued again by lousy run support, pitched six innings and allowed four runs, including both homers. He lost for the fifth time in his past six outings.
BLUE JAYS 12, BRAVES 4
In Atlanta, Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus each homered and drove in three runs as Toronto rallied from an early four-run deficit to defeat Atlanta.
The Braves’ six-game winning streak ended even though they led 4-0 after three innings. Blue Jays left-hander Ricky Romero lasted only four innings.
Toronto took the lead with six runs in the fifth off 21-year-old Julio Teheran, who was called up for his first start of the season, and 37-year-old Livan Hernandez (1-1).
Lawrie hit a two-run homer and Rasmus added a homer off Hernandez as Toronto added three runs in the sixth.
Carlos Villanueva (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings.
ORIOLES 5, PHILLIES 4 (10)
In Baltimore, Matt Wieters doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning and Baltimore beat Philadelphia to extend their run of successive extra-inning victories to nine.
Steve Tolleson hit a three-run homer for the Orioles, who bounced back from a 4-1 deficit to keep Phillies starter Cliff Lee winless this season.
Baltimore took two of three from the Phillies, including a 12-inning win on Saturday. The nine straight extra-inning victories is an Orioles record, breaking the mark of eight set twice previously.
Adam Jones led off the 10th against Joe Savery (0-1) by reaching on a fielding error by third baseman Ty Wigginton. Wieters then launched a drive to right that hit the scoreboard, inches over the outstretched glove of Hunter Pence. The bouncing ball eluded Pence long enough for Jones to score.
Darren O’Day (4-0) worked the 10th for the Orioles.
PIRATES 3, ROYALS 2
In Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen homered and drove in three runs, A.J. Burnett won his fifth consecutive start and Pittsburgh finished their first sweep of an AL team in more than a decade by beating Kansas City.
McCutchen hit an RBI double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the third, giving Burnett (6-2) and three relievers enough support for the Pirates to win their fourth in a row.
Since May 25, the Pirates have the best record in the majors at 12-3.
Burnett took a no-hitter into the sixth and was charged with two runs in 7-1/3 innings. Burnett has won his past seven starts and he is 4-0 with a 1.27 ERA at home this season.
In other interleague action, it was:
‧ Cubs 8, Twins 2
‧ Rangers 5, Giants 0
‧ Angels 10, Rockies 8
‧ Indians 4, Cardinals 1
‧ Astros 11, White Sox 9
‧ Diamondbacks 4, Athletics 3
‧ Tigers 7, Reds 6
In NL action, it was:
‧ Brewers 6, Padres 5
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