Major League Baseball
Tigers’ Guillen, Verlander have big night ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Carlos Guillen hit for the cycle and rookie Justin Verlander won his seventh consecutive decision to become the major leagues’ first 14-game winner, leading the Detroit Tigers over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-4 on Tuesday night.
Guillen is the 10th Detroit player, and third since 1951, to complete the cycle. He had an RBI triple in the second, a solo homer in the third, a single in the sixth and a double in the eighth.
The last two Tigers to accomplish the feat were Damion Easley in 2001 and Travis Fryman in 1993.
Verlander (14-4) gave up three runs, eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts over five innings. He had gone six or more innings, and allowed one run or less in his each of his five previous starts.
Over his past nine starts, Verlander is 7-0 with a 2.04 ERA. His last loss was 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox on June 7.
Indians 6, Red Sox 3
BOSTON – C.C. Sabathia pitched eight solid innings and Casey Blake hit his third homer in two games as Cleveland snapped a three-game losing streak.
The Red Sox (63-42), who held sole possession of first place in the AL East since June 18, dropped percentage points behind the New York Yankees (62-41), who beat Toronto 5-1 Tuesday night.
Sabathia (8-7) scattered 10 hits, struck out eight and walked one as he won for the first time since July 7. Sabathia, who had lost his three previous starts, threw 111 pitches.
Yankess 5, Blue Jays 1
NEW YORK – Bobby Abreu, making his New York Yankees debut, worked out a nine-pitch walk that loaded the bases in the fourth inning, and Bernie Williams followed with a tiebreaking, three-run double.
With their sixth win in seven games, the Yankees (62-41) took over the AL East lead for the first time since mid-June, leading the Boston Red Sox (63-42) in percentage by .602 to .600.
Abreu, acquired from Philadelphia on Sunday, batted fifth and started in right field. He went 0-for-3, grounding out in the second, flying out in the sixth and grounding out in the seventh.
Williams’ double off A.J. Burnett (2-5) was his 442nd, tying Don Mattingly for second on the Yankees’ career list behind Lou Gehrig (535).
Jaret Wright (7-6) won for the first time in three starts.
Orioles 2, Mariners 0
BALTIMORE – Rodrigo Lopez took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, Melvin Mora and Nick Markakis each had an RBI for Baltimore.
The subject of trade talks in the days leading up to Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline, Lopez (8-11) allowed four singles in 7 2-3 innings. The right-hander struck out five, walked none and permitted only one runner past first base.
Chris Ray worked the ninth for his 27th save.
Kenji Johjima had two hits for the Mariners (52-54), who were bidding to reach the .500 mark for the first time since July 3.
Rangers 9, Twins 0
MINNEAPOLIS – Gary Matthews Jr. hit his second grand slam this season to highlight an eight-run fourth inning, and Adam Eaton pitched Texas Rangers past Minnesota.
Michael Young also homered for Texas, which won for only the second time in nine games.
Making his second start since having surgery on the middle finger of his pitching hand, Eaton (1-1) threw six impressive innings for his first win with the Rangers.
Eaton allowed four hits, walked four and struck out four. C.J. Wilson and Scott Feldman finished the five-hitter, Texas’ sixth shutout this year.
Scott Baker (3-7) did not help his chances to remain Minnesota’s fifth starter, allowing a career-high seven earned runs in 3 1-3 innings.
Marlins 6, Mets 5
MIAMI – Pinch-hitter Josh Willingham hit a two-run homer off Billy Wagner with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Florida rallied to beat New York 6-5 on Tuesday night.
Miguel Olivo singled on the first pitch to start the ninth and reached second on a sacrifice. Willingham pulled the first pitch over the scoreboard for his 16th homer and his first pinch hit of the season, snapping New York’s four-game winning streak.
Carlos Beltran hit his fifth home run in three games for the Mets and Jose Reyes had a tiebreaking shot in the seventh inning.
Dodgers 10, Reds 4
CINCINNATI – Rafael Furcal drove in four runs and Wilson Betemit added a two-run homer as Los Angeles extended its winning streak to four games.
The Dodgers, who lost eight straight and 13 of 14 before the current winning streak, broke a 4-all tie with five unearned runs in the seventh. Furcal, who extended his hitting streak to eight games in the first, capped the inning with a three-run double. He drove in a run with a single in the ninth.
Cubs 9, Diamondbacks 3
CHICAGO – Rich Hill pitched eight solid innings for his first major league win and Aramis Ramirez hit one of Chicago’s four homers.
Matt Murton, Michael Barrett and Jacque Jones also connected for Chicago, which has won seven of nine.
Making his 10th career start, Hill (1-4) allowed three runs and six hits. He had six strikeouts and walked one.
Eric Byrnes hit his 16th homer in the eighth inning for Arizona.
Cesar Izturis, playing his first game for the Cubs, doubled in his first at-bat in the first inning and then scored on Ramirez’s two-run homer off Arizona starter Claudio Vargas (8-8). It was Ramirez’s second homer in two days and his 25th of the season. Izturis was traded to the Cubs for four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux on Monday.