MAJOR LEAGUES
A.J. Pierzynski and Mike Napoli had run-producing hits in the first inning against their former team on Sunday, as the Boston Red Sox took a winning average for the first time since three games into the season with a series-clinching 5-2 victory at Texas in the American League.
Napoli put the Red Sox permanently ahead with an RBI double, two batters before Pierzynski’s two-run single. Both went to Boston as free agents after stints in Texas, where Pierzynski was the Rangers’ primary catcher last season and Napoli played the previous two years.
John Lackey (5-2) struck out nine and allowed two runs over seven innings, as Rangers lefty Robbie Ross (1-4) made it through 6-2/3 innings and a career-high 112 pitches.
Also in the AL, Kansas City slugger Alcides Escobar hit a grand slam and Johnny Giavotella added a three-run shot to give the Royals a dramatic 9-7 comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Escobar gave the Royals a 4-0 lead in the second with his first career home run off starter Roenis Elias, but the Mariners rallied on the back of two homers from Dustin Ackley and one from Kyle Seager before Kansas City took the lead in the seventh, scoring four runs off reliever Danny Farquhar (1-1).
In other AL games, the Cleveland Indians edged the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5, the Houston Astros downed the Baltimore Orioles 5-2, the Los Angeles Angels downed the Toronto Blue Jays 9-3 and the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3.
In the National League, Pablo Sandoval and Hector Sanchez hit RBI singles in the 10th inning, as the San Francisco Giants recovered to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 after closer Sergio Romo gave up a tying homer to Hanley Ramirez.
Brandon Hicks hit a two-run shot off Clayton Kershaw and Buster Posey had an RBI single for the NL West leaders, who beat the defending division champions for the seventh time in 10 this season.
In other NL games, the Cincinnati Reds downed the Colorado Rockies 4-1, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-2, the New York Mets edged the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 over 11 innings, the San Diego Padres beat the Miami Marlins 5-4 and the Cardinals triumphed 6-5 over the Pirates.
In interleague play, the Brewers beat the Yankees 6-5, the Athletics crushed the Nationals 9-1 to complete a series sweep and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Chicago White Sox 5-1.
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