Major League Baseball
Rodriguez homers twice to lead Yankees past Twins NEW YORK (AP) – Alex Rodriguez homered twice and drove in three runs Friday night in New York’s 8-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Rodriguez homered in the second inning off Carlos Silva (8-13) to put the Yankees ahead, had a bases-loaded single in the four-run fifth, then hit his 29th homer off the season in the seventh against Matt Guerrier. It was just the third multihomer game of the year for A-Rod, the first since July 2.
He was in a 1-for-24 slump before getting three hits Thursday, including a home run. He earned a pair of standing ovations Friday from Yankees fans, who have repeatedly booed him this season.
In a matchup with implications on the pennant and batting races, Derek Jeter went 3-for-5 to raise his average to .342.
Red Sox 2, Blue Jays 1
BOSTON – Kyle Snyder allowed two hits in seven innings and Mike Lowell homered for the second straight game to lead the Boston Red Sox.
Snyder (4-3) struck out a career-high eight batters, allowed just two runners past first base and retired the last nine batters he faced before being replaced by Keith Foulke.
Indians 7, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas – Grady Sizemore went 3-for-3 with a homer and Jake Westbrook pitched seven strong innings to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Texas Rangers.
The Indians got a scare in the eighth inning when Travis Hafner left the game after he was hit on the right hand by a pitch from Rangers left-hander C.J. Wilson.
Hafner was struck on the back of the hand on an inside pitch with the bases loaded, raising a visible bruise, and he was removed from the game.
It was Hafner’s 110th RBI of the season as a designated hitter, breaking the club record of 109 at that position set by Andre Thornton in 1982.
Royals 7, White Sox 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mark Teahen hit a two-run homer to highlight a six-run fourth inning and the Kansas City Royals held off the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox threatened in the ninth, loading the bases twice. Tadahito Iguchi drew a one-out walk, Jermaine Dye doubled and Jim Thome walked before Paul Konerko made it 7-5 with a sacrifice fly. A.J. Pierzynski walked to load the bases again, but Joe Crede flew out to left for the final out.
Five of the Royals’ run in the fourth were unearned thanks to three errors by the White Sox.
Teahen hit a two-run homer into the Royals’ bullpen in right field with two out in the inning. Teahen, who leads the Royals with 18 home runs, hit the first pitch from White Sox right-hander Jose Contreras (11-7). David DeJesus, who has safely in 10 of the past 11 games, also had a two-run double in the inning.
Tigers 9, Angels 0
DETROIT – Kenny Rogers and two relievers combined on a five-hitter to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Los Angeles Angels.
Omar Infante also drove in two runs for A.L. Central-leading Detroit, which had only won two of its previous eight games. It was also the Tigers’ major league-leading 15th shutout of the season.
Rogers (15-6) allowed four hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out one in winning his fourth straight start.
Los Angeles starter Ervin Santana (13-7) lasted four innings, giving up five runs and seven hits. He walked one and had seven strikeouts.
Devil Rays 2, Mariners 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Pinch-hitter Ty Wigginton’s game-winning single with two outs in the ninth inning gave the Tampa Bay Devil Rays a victory and handed the Mariners their 12th straight road loss.
Dioner Navarro drew a two-out walk in the ninth off George Sherrill (2-3). Navarro went to third on Jorge Cantu’s double against reliever Jon Huber.
Wigginton, who came off the 15-day disabled list before the game after missing a month with a broken bone in his left hand, singled to left off Eric O’Flaherty.
Cubs 6, Giants 2
CHICAGO – Rich Hill allowed five hits in eight strong innings and Matt Murton and Ryan Theriot homered as the Chicago Cubs ended a six-game losing streak.
The Giants started the day 21/2 games back in the NL wild-card race and 51/2 behind first-place Los Angeles in the NL West.
Hill (4-6), who pitched shutout ball for seven innings, walked one and struck out six. Murton and Theriot connected into the wind against Giants starter Noah Lowry (7-8), who gave up eight hits and six runs in five innings.
Barry Bonds, batting .538 with three homers in his previous nine games, got the day off to rest.
Marlins 3, Brewers 2
MILWAUKEE – Rookie Anibal Sanchez pitched seven strong innings and Cody Ross hit a two-run home run to help Florida hand the Brewers their eighth straight loss.
Sanchez (6-2) gave up just one run and five hits for Florida, while striking out a career-high seven. He retired the first 11 batters he faced, including four on strikeouts, before Prince Fielder hit a broken bat single in the fourth inning.
Taylor Tankersley pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Joe Borowski gave up a solo homer to Laynce Nix before getting the final three outs for his 32nd save in 36 chances. It was his first homer of the season.
Mets 8, Astros 7
HOUSTON – Pinch hitter Jose Valentin hit an RBI double to break an eighth inning tie and Tom Glavine pitched five innings in his first start since being sidelined by a blood clot, leading the Mets over Houston.
The game was tied at 6 when Valentin’s hit to the corner in left off Russ Springer (1-1) scored David Wright, who had three RBIs. Endy Chavez followed with an RBI-single to extend the lead.
The loss ended a season-high six-game winning streak for the Astros who are looking to make a push for the playoffs.