 American League Game Capsules
2010-09-09 12:43:00
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - Nick Swisher's one-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth lifted the New York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over Baltimore in the finale of a three-game set. Koji Uehara (1-1) began the home ninth by giving up a single to Alex Rodriguez, then retired Robinson Cano on a deep fly to center. Swisher then lofted the game-winning blast over the wall in left-center to end the game. The hit made a winner of Joba Chamberlain (3-4), who struck out two in a scoreless top of the ninth. Brett Gardner added an RBI double for the Yankees, who stemmed a three-game slide and finished their homestand at 7-3. Matt Wieters slugged a two-run homer for the Orioles, whose four-game win streak came to a halt. Final Score: Detroit 5, Chicago 1
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Jeremy Bonderman pitched eight brilliant innings and Alex Avila hit a key two-run double, as the Detroit Tigers topped the Chicago White Sox, 5-1, in the continuation of a four-game series. Bonderman (8-9) turned in perhaps his best start of the season. He matched a season high in innings pitched and struck out eight, while allowing just one run on three hits and a walk. Avila's double came in a four-run fourth inning, during which Brandon Inge hit a two-run single. Ryan Raburn added two hits and scored twice for the Tigers, who have won the last two games in the set after dropping Monday's opener. John Danks (13-10) took the loss after allowing five runs -- two earned -- in six innings. He gave up eight hits and walked three. Omar Vizquel homered to provide the lone run for the White Sox.
Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 4, Cleveland 3 (16 innings)
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Jeff Mathis' sacrifice fly in the 16th inning won it, as the Los Angeles Angels outlasted the Cleveland Indians, 4-3, in one of the longest games in the majors this season. Torii Hunter went 2-for-5 with two walks and scored the game-winning run for the Angels, who snapped a five- game home losing streak and avoided the sweep. Mike Napoli and Jason Bourjos both homered in the victory. Matt Palmer (1-1) earned the win for three shutout innings. Scott Kazmir started and gave up one run, two hits and three walks while fanning six in six strong frames. Andy Marte homered for the Indians, who were seeking their first series sweep in Anaheim since 1999. Trevor Crowe went 3-for-6, while Michael Brantley, Jordan Brown, Luis Valbuena and Jason Donald each had two hits in defeat. Hector Ambriz (0-2) was the loser after giving up the game-winning run in 3 1/3 innings of relief work. Josh Tomlin allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in six innings in the start. This contest tied for the second-longest innings-wise in the majors this year, as Philadelphia and Houston also played a 16-inning affair in August. The Cardinals and Mets went 20 innings in April.
Final Score: Texas 8, Toronto 1
Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Ian Kinsler and Jeff Francoeur ignited the Texas offense, helping the American League West-leading Rangers snap a series of streaks with an 8-1 win over Toronto. Kinsler homered to begin the game and Francoeur went 3-for-4, including an RBI single in the first inning. Derek Holland (3-3) scattered three hits and equaled a season high with eight strikeouts over five scoreless frames. It was a far cry from his only previous start against Toronto, on August 31, 2009, in which he allowed a career-worst 10 runs. Not only did the Rangers avoid matching a season high with a sixth straight loss, the club halted a seven-game losing streak to the Blue Jays, a seven- game skid in Toronto and recorded its first win on an artificial surface this season. Texas had gone 0-5 at Rogers Centre and was winless in three games at Tropicana Field. Marc Rzepczynski (1-4), throwing on three days' rest for the first time in his young career, gave up three runs on seven hits and walked three in five innings for the Blue Jays.
Final Score: Boston 11, Tampa Bay 5
Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Tim Wakefield became the oldest pitcher in Red Sox history to record a win and Boston belted five home runs to top Tampa Bay, 11-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Marco Scutaro went 4-for-5 with a pair of homers and three RBI, while Victor Martinez, David Ortiz and Adrian Beltre also went deep for the Red Sox, who despite the win are 6 1/2 games behind the wild card-leading Rays. Wakefield (4-10), who had lost his previous four decisions, won for the first time since July 2 against Baltimore. The knuckleball specialist, making his first start since August 25, moved to 21-6 all-time against the Rays. He allowed six hits and five runs -- four earned -- over five innings. Wakefield, at 44 years and 37 days old, passed Dennis Eckersley as the oldest pitcher in club history to record a victory. Eckersley got his last Sox win on September 17, 1998 at Baltimore at 43 years, 349 days old. B.J. Upton homered for a second straight night, this time a three-run blast in the second inning, but the Rays fell 2 1/2 games behind the AL East-leading Yankees. New York rallied for a 3-2 win over Baltimore Wednesday afternoon. Matt Garza (14-8), who had won his last three decisions, was tagged for nine hits and six runs in 4 1/3 frames.
Final Score: Minnesota 4, Kansas City 3
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Denard Span punctuated a three-run fifth inning with a two-run triple, and the Minnesota Twins held on to beat Kansas City, 4-3, to complete a three-game sweep at Target Field. J.J. Hardy had two hits, including a solo home run, and scored twice for the Twins, who have won six games in a row and finished 8-1 on their nine-game homestand. Brian Duensing (8-2) pitched eight solid innings for Minnesota, giving up one run on six hits with seven strikeouts. Matt Capps picked up his 37th save of the season despite yielding two runs in the ninth. It was his 11th save with the Twins. Minnesota increased its lead in the AL Central over Chicago to 5 1/2 games after the White Sox lost to Detroit earlier Wednesday. Zack Greinke (8-12), who entered with an 0-3 record and a 10.29 ERA in three starts against the Twins this year, allowed four runs and five hits in a complete-game performance. Brayan Pena knocked in two runs for the Royals.
Final Score: Oakland 4, Seattle 3
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Coco Crisp belted a two-run homer and singled in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning, as the Oakland Athletics overcame an early deficit to beat Seattle, 4-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series. Gio Gonzalez (14-8) gave up three runs on six hits and struck out nine over 6 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight start for Oakland, which remains seven games behind AL West-leading Texas. Mariners starter Luke French (4-5) yielded four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
|
|
|
