Sunday American League Capsules.
TORONTO 6, NY YANKEES 2
BRONX, New York Roy Halladay dealt the New York Yankees already fading playoff hopes another blow.
Halladay tossed seven effective innings as the Toronto Blue Jays posted a 6-2 victory over the Yankees, who began the day 7 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League wild card race.
The righthander improved to 4-1 against the Yankees this season, allowing only a pair of solo home runs and eight hits in seven innings with no walks and three strikeouts. In five starts against New York this year, Halladay has an ERA of 2.50. On July 11, he tossed a two-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Yankees.
On Sunday, the Blue Jays gave Halladay enough support before he even took the mound, scoring three runs off Andy Pettitte (13-11) in the top of the first on an RBI single by Vernon Wells and a two-run double by Rod Barajas.
Pettitte continued to struggle and suffered his second straight loss, yielding six runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Yankees seem to come out flat following Saturdays disappointing 7-6 loss to the Blue Jays in which they squandered a four-run lead in the eighth inning.
New York was blanked until Alex Rodriguez, who has encountered all kinds of problems with runners in scoring position, hit a solo home run in the fourth.
The Yankees closed to 4-2 on Jason Giambis solo blast in the sixth, but the Blue Jays tacked on a pair in the seventh to put it away.
TAMPA BAY 10, BALTIMORE 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida James Shields tossed seven strong innings and Jason Bartlett led an offensive attack with four hits and two RBI as the Tampa Bay Rays toppled the Baltimore Orioles, 10-4, to complete a three-game sweep.
Shields (12-8) has thrown six or more frames in eight of his last nine outings and this one was no different. The righthander held the lowly Orioles to one run and six hits, but recorded a season-low one strikeout.
Bartlett capped a third-inning rally with an RBI single to increase the Rays bulge to 5-0. After they scored three more in the sixth, Bartlett lifted a solo homer in the seventh.
Baltimore starter Brian Burres (7-9) surrendered seven runs and nine hits over five innings.
DETROIT 4, KANSAS CITY 2
DETROIT Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in all four runs for the Detroit Tigers in a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
After tying the game in the sixth with a two-run homer to right, Cabrera outdid himself two innings later against Kansas City reliever Kip Wells (1-3). With the bases loaded and one out, Cabrera lined a hard grounder down the left field line for a double, scoring a pair to lead the Tigers to just their second victory in their last seven games.
Gary Glover (2-3) pitched a perfect eighth inning to pick up the victory. Detroit starter Armando Galarraga went seven strong innings, giving up two runs and eight hits while striking out eight and issuing one walk.
Jose Guillen hit his 18th home run of the season for the Royals, who wasted a strong effort from Gil Meche. The righthander essentially matched Galarragas performance, giving up two runs and five hits over seven innings. He struck out six and did not register a walk.
SEATTLE 6, CLEVELAND 4
CLEVELAND Adrian Beltre belted two home runs and Ryan Rowland-Smith pitched 6 1/3 strong innings as the Seattle Mariners held on for a 6-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Rowland-Smith (4-2) held the Indians to two runs – one earned – on seven hits. He struck out two batters en route to his second consecutive win.
Miguel Batista pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Rory Corcoran got a game-ending double play with the bases loaded in the ninth for his second save.
Beltre blasted a solo home run off of Zach Jackson in the second to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead and capped Seattles five-run fifth with a two-run shot for his 19th career multi-homer game.
CHI WHITE SOX 4, BOSTON 2
BOSTON Jim Thome hit a two-run homer and Gavin Floyd tossed 6 2/3 strong frames to help the Chicago White Sox avoid a sweep with a 4-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
The White Sox entered the game losers of three straight, having been outscored 27-5 over that span. But Thome helped turn the tide early, following a double by Carlos Quentin with two outs in the first with a lined shot into the right field stands for an early 2-0 advantage.
The blast tied Thome with Mickey Mantle for 14th all-time at 536 career homers.
Floyd (15-6) made the early lead stand up, scattering one run and seven hits while walking two and striking out five. The righthander has not suffered a loss since July 19.
TEXAS 4, LA ANGELS 3
ANAHEIM, California Joaquin Arias delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning that proved to be the difference as the Texas Rangers recorded a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Josh Hamilton and Marlon Byrd each hit home runs for the Rangers, who averted a four-game sweep with the win and closed a seven-game road trip with a 4-3 record.
Arias single to right-center field plated Nelson Cruz and gave Texas a 4-2 lead.
Kevin Millwood (9-7) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and did not allow a walk to win his third straight start.
MINNESOTA 12, OAKLAND 4
OAKLAND, California After twice squandering opportunities to pass the Chicago White Sox with walk-off losses to the Oakland As this weekend, the Minnesota Twins salvaged a series split as Alexi Casilla and Justin Morneau homered in a 12-4 win over the Athletics.
The Twins (77-60) remained one-half game behind the White Sox (77-59) in the AL Central and gained a game on Boston (79-57) in the chase for the wild card. The Twins are now 5-6 on their season-long 14-game road trip.
Justin Morneau opened the scoring in the first inning after singling home Nick Punto and Minnesota added two more in the second inning after Casilla homered off losing pitcher Greg Smith (6-14).
Oakland cut into the deficit after Jack Hannahans opposite-field line drive spun away from left fielder Delmon Young, allowing Daric Barton to score from first. Hannahan was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
