Saturday American League Capsules.
TORONTO 7, NY YANKEES 6
BRONX, New York Gregg Zauns RBI groundout scored Adam Lind with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Toronto Blue Jays overcame a four-run deficit and pulled out an 7-6 victory over the New York Yankees.
For six innings, the Blue Jays managed just a two-run homer by Vernon Wells off Yankees starter Darrell Rasner in the fourth inning that tied the game. That was short-lived as Robinson Cano and Ivan Rodriguez hit back-to-back solo home runs off Toronto starter John Parrish in the bottom half and Hideki Matsui lined a two-run double in the fifth.
Toronto began chipping into its deficit in the seventh, catching a break when Cano was charged with a throwing error while trying to make a flip to Derek Jeter at shortstop on a double play attempt. The Blue Jays had runners at first and third following the miscue and began their comeback when Jose Bautista delivered an RBI single.
Rasner was done after issuing a walk to Zaun that loaded the bases, giving way to Brian Bruney, who gave up a two-run hit to Joe Inglett that made it a one-run game.
Bruney was replaced by lefthander Damaso Marte (0-3) after allowing a leadoff single to Wells in the eighth, and Marte saw runners move to first and second after giving up a base hit to Lind. He was then replaced following a sacrifice.
Edwar Ramirez entered the contest for New York and gave up an RBI single to Bautista to left field and then the go-ahead run when Zaun hit a slow grounder to third baseman Alex Rodriguez, whose throw barely reached second base for the forceout.
Brandon League (1-2) struck out the side in the seventh to earn the win. Scott Downs stranded pinch runner Brett
Gardner at second in the eighth and closer B.J. Ryan worked around a leadoff single to Derek Jeter and a walk to Bobby Abreu in the ninth by getting Alex Rodriguez to hit into a double play. Cody Ransom flew out to left on the next pitch as Ryan recorded his 25th save in 28 opportunities.
Before the bullpen imploded, the Yankees seemed headed to their third straight win. They scored more than five runs for just the sixth time in their last 24 games, going ahead 6-2 on Matsuis double.
TAMPA BAY 10, BALTIMORE 9
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida Rocco Baldelli and Carlos Pena teamed up to give the Tampa Bay Rays a dramatic victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Baldelli doubled into the corner in left field in the ninth inning to score Pena all the way from first base and lift the Rays to a 10-9 triumph over the Orioles.
After B.J. Upton struck out to start the inning, Pena drew a from Rocky Cherry (0-2). Baldelli followed with a shot just inside the left field line that kicked around in the corner long enough for Pena to beat a relay throw home.
SEATTLE 4, CLEVELAND 3 (10 INNINGS)
CLEVELAND Raul Ibanez delivered the go-ahead single in the 10th inning, lifting the Seattle Mariners to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Rookie Tug Hulett hit his first career homer for the Mariners, who saw closer J.J. Putz (6-4) squander a two-run lead in the ninth by allowing a dramatic two-run shot by Shin-Soo Choo.
One inning later, Ichiro Suzuki worked a leadoff walk and, after Jeremy Reed grounded into a fielders choice, Adrian Beltre singled to set the stage for Ibanezs decisive hit off Jensen Lewis (0-4). Jamie Burke added a run-scoring single two batters later.
Jhonny Peralta also drove in a run for Cleveland, which lost its second straight following a season-high 10-game winning streak.
BOSTON 8, CHI WHITE SOX 2
BOSTON Dustin Pedroia is proving that he and the Boston Red Sox can overcome just about anything and win.
With Kevin Youkilis and Coco Crisp out sick and J.D. Drew and Sean Casey injured, the red-hot Pedroia had four hits from the cleanup spot, and Mark Kotsay added three hits and drove in three runs as the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox, 8-2.
Pedroia posted his second straight four-hit game, becoming the first Red Sox player to accomplish the feat since Wade Boggs on June 8-10, 1989.
Righthander Michael Bowden (1-0) made his major league debut, yielding two runs and seven hits in five innings to notch the win after making just six starts at Class AAA Pawtucket. He filled the rotation spot vacated when Josh Beckett was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation on Friday.
Mark Buehrle (11-11) struggled from the start, allowing seven runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings as his personal three-game winning streak came to an end.
KANSAS CITY 13, DETROIT 3
DETROIT Billy Butler homered twice and drove in four runs as the Kansas City Royals halted a four-game slide with a 13-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
With the contest tied at 2-2, the Royals surged ahead with a four-run rally in the sixth that was highlighted by Butlers second blast of the game, a three-run shot to left field off Kenny Rogers (9-12). It capped the first career multi-homer effort for Butler, who also launched a solo shot in the second.
Mark Teahen belted a solo homer in the fifth and ignited a five-run eighth with an RBI double for Kansas City, which had lost 11 of its previous 12 games and 18 of 21.
Brandon Duckworth (2-0) benefited from the offensive outburst, picking up his second win in as many starts this season – both against Detroit. The righthander tossed six serviceable innings, allowing three runs and seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
Rogers suffered his sixth loss in seven outings, surrendering six runs and eight hits in six frames. The veteran lefthander walked two and struck out four.
Curtis Granderson doubled, tripled and scored a run for the Tigers, who have lost five of six.
LA ANGELS 4, TEXAS 3
ANAHEIM, California Francisco Rodriguez moved within four of the single-season record for saves by notching his 53rd as the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim edged the Texas Rangers, 4-3.
Rodriguez tossed a scoreless ninth to move closer to Bobby Thigpens record of 57 saves in a season. The righthander struck out two batters in the frame.
The Angels overcame a one-run deficit in the sixth, when Mark Teixeira and Vladimir Guerrero led off with hits and Torii Hunter tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI groundout. Juan Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly to score Guerrero and give Anaheim the lead.
OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 2
OAKLAND, California The Oakland Athletics capitalized on a throwing error by Joe Nathan in the ninth inning to score two runs and posted a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins brought Nathan in to preserve a 2-1 lead, but the closer failed to register an out. Bobby Crosby singled to open the ninth and Emil Brown was hit by a pitch.
Ryan Sweeney then attempted to sacrifice the runners along. Nathan fielded the bunt, but his throw to third was off the mark, allowing both runners to score.
Minnesota had taken a 2-0 lead in the fifth on a home run by Denard Span. But Jack Cust halved the deficit in the bottom of the inning with his 25th homer run.
Twins starter Francisco Liriano threw seven innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out six without a walk.
Oaklands Dallas Braden yielded seven hits and two runs in six frames. Huston Street (5-5) picked up the victory with two scoreless innings.
