July 20, 2012 - 1:07 AM
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - David Price became the AL's first 13-game winner, B.J. Upton had three RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Indians 6-0 on Thursday.
Price (13-4) allowed two hits over seven innings. The All-Star left-hander had seven strikeouts and three walks. Wade Davis pitched the final two innings and completed a two-hitter for the Rays.
Upton hit a three-run double off Ubaldo Jimenez (8-9) during a four-run sixth that put the Rays up 5-0. After getting two outs, Jimenez loaded the bases before giving up Upton's shot down the third-base line. Upton scored on Carlos Pena's RBI single.
Jimenez allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. He struck out five and walked five.
ATHLETICS 4, YANKEES 3
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes hit a two-run homer in the first inning, A.J. Griffin shut down one of baseball's best lineups for five innings and Oakland snapped a nine-game skid at home to New York.
Seth Smith added a two-run single in the third for the A's, who won for the 11th time in 13 games to move a season-best four games over .500 at 48-44 — the first time the club has been there since it was 28-24 on May 31, 2010.
Griffin (2-0) allowed two runs on four hits in six innings, struck out four and didn't walk a batter for the first time in his fifth career start.
Freddy Garcia (4-3) loss for the first time since April 28 against Detroit. Garcia's nine hits allowed in 5 2-3 innings matched his most of the season.
All-star closer Ryan Cook surrendered Nick Swisher's one-out homer in the ninth before recovering for his 10th save in 13 chances.
TIGERS 5, ANGELS 1
DETROIT (AP) — Max Scherzer struck out nine and got plenty of run support as Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila homered to lead Detroit.
The Tigers won the four-game series and have 10 victories in their last 12 games. The Angels have won just five of their last 13 games.
Scherzer (9-5) gave up only one run — on Mike Trout's homer in the sixth inning — three hits and four walks over seven innings.
Jerome Williams (6-7) allowed five runs and nine hits over six-plus innings. Williams has lost five straight starts for the first time in his career.
ORIOLES 4, TWINS 3
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mark Reynolds' two-run single in the eighth inning backed a strong performance from Wei-Yin Chen and rallied Baltimore past Minnesota.
Chen (8-5) gave up three runs and six hits with five strikeouts in seven innings for his first win since June 17, and Jim Johnson picked up his 28th save in 30 chances for the Orioles.
Cole De Vries allowed one run and five hits with five strikeouts in six innings for the Twins, who led 3-2 going into the eighth inning. But Minnesota's normally reliable bullpen faltered, with Anthony Swarzak giving up a soft single to Reynolds that put Baltimore in front.
The Twins had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the frame, but Brian Dozier popped out with a runner on third to end the inning.
MARINERS 6, ROYALS 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Felix Hernandez won his fourth straight decision and Jesus Montero homered and drove in four runs to lead Seattle.
Hernandez (8-5) is 4-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his past seven starts since a loss to San Diego on June 12. While he leads the majors with 143 strikeouts, Hernandez struck out only three, tying his season low. He allowed one run and eight hits, throwing only 89 pitches in eight innings.
Hernandez worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth, striking out Alcides Escobar and retiring Billy Butler on a grounder.
Will Smith (1-3), just recalled from triple-A Omaha, gave up four runs on eight hits in 6 1-3 innings, while walking two and striking out five
RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 1
BOSTON (AP) — Cody Ross hit a three-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give Boston the win.
On Wednesday, Ross hit three-run homers in consecutive innings of a 10-1 win.
Boston took three of four games in the series and is 5-2 since the All Star break.
It was the fifth loss in 13 games for AL Central-leading Chicago, which opens three-game series at second-place Detroit on Friday night.
Matt Thornton (2-6) got one out, but left with runners on first and second before Addison Reed faced Ross, who hit a 1-1 pitch into the Green Monster seats.
Alfredo Aceves (1-6) pitched one inning for the win.
Boston's Clay Buchholz had a solid start, allowing one run and six hits, striking out six and walking one in eight innings.
Chicago rookie left-hander Jose Quintana pitched eight shutout innings and allowed five hits, striking out two without a walk.
News from © The Associated Press, 2012