American League Game Capsules
(Saturday, May 18th)
Final Score: New York 7, Toronto 2
Bronx, NY (Sports Network) - For the Toronto Blue Jays, beating the Yankees in
New York is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube. It's a challenging task, and
the answer continues to elude them. Robinson Cano launched a pair of two-run
homers to back a solid outing from David Phelps, as the Yankees topped the
Blue Jays, 7-2, on Saturday afternoon. Phelps (2-2) overcame early struggles
to toss a career-high seven innings. He gave up one run on six hits and
matched a personal best with eight strikeouts. The Yankees have won nine
straight home games against the Blue Jays and 20 of their last 23. They also
improved to 8-1 in this year's season series. Brandon Morrow (1-3), making his
first start for Toronto since May 5 because of back and neck soreness, was
tagged for five runs on seven hits over five frames.
Final Score: Cleveland 5, Seattle 4
Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - The Cleveland Indians squandered a four-run
lead, but rebounded to beat the Seattle Mariners in walk-off fashion for the
second straight day. Mark Reynolds homered and finished with three RBI, as the
Indians edged the Mariners, 5-4, in the second test of a four-game set at
Progressive Field. Cleveland starter Zach McAllister was given a 4-0 lead
heading to the top of the eighth, but was removed after giving up a two-run
homer to Brendan Ryan. The Mariners then pulled even in the ninth when Raul
Ibanez and Justin Smoak hit back-to-back, two-out homers off closer Chris
Perez (2-0). Oliver Perez (1-1) didn't retire a batter in the bottom of the
frame for Seattle. Jason Kipnis, who crushed the game-winning, three-run homer
in the 10th inning of Friday's series opener, singled and Asdrubal Cabrera
doubled before an intentional walk to Nick Swisher loaded the bases. Following
a pitching change, Reynolds chopped Yoervis Medina's 0-1 offering to short.
Ryan made a nice diving stop to his right and fired home. His throw beat
Kipnis home, but the Cleveland second baseman was called safe because catcher
Jesus Montero didn't have his foot on the plate.
Final Score: Tampa Bay 10, Baltimore 6
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Matt Joyce's two-run double was the go-ahead
hit in a six-run ninth inning, as Tampa Bay rallied past Baltimore, 10-6, in
the middle test of a three-game set from Camden Yards. Jim Johnson (1-4)
entered with a two-run lead, but Kelly Johnson's one-out homer made it 6-5.
Jose Lobaton and Yunel Escobar both walked and a Desmond Jennings single
loaded the bases. Joyce stepped in and roped a double to the gap in right
center for a 7-6 contest, and Darren O'Day came on, only to be greeted with a
Ben Zobrist RBI double. Evan Longoria reached second on a hot shot behind
first base, and James Loney drew a free pass ahead of Luke Scott's walk which
forced in Zobrist to make it 10-6. Johnson then grounded into a double play to
end the threat. Josh Lueke stranded a runner on second to close out the
contest. Alex Torres (1-0) tossed four hitless relief innings for the win.
Joyce ended with three hits, including a two-run homer and five RBI for the
Rays, who won their second straight in the series and eight of 10 overall.
Adam Jones slugged a two-run homer and drove in three for the Orioles, who saw
their franchise-record 109-game win streak when leading after seven innings
evaporate.
Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 12, Chicago 9
Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - Alberto Callaspo hit a three-run homer and
drove in five runs as the LA Angels of Anaheim took a 12-9 win over the
Chicago White Sox in the third of a four-game set. Mark Trumbo went 2-for-4
with a solo home run, two RBI and three runs scored, while Albert Pujols added
two hits and scored two runs for the Angels, who snapped a three-game slide.
Joe Blanton lasted just 4 1/3 innings in the start for Anaheim, giving up four
runs on 11 hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. Robert Coello (1-0)
pitched 1 2/3 flawless frames to pick up the win. Hector Gimenez was 4-for-5
with a three-run homer and two runs scored for the White Sox, who had a four-
game winning streak stopped. Alex Rios and Adam Dunn each drove in two runs.
Chicago starter Hector Santiago gave up three runs on four hits with four
walks over 3 1/3 innings. Nate Jones (0-4) picked up the loss after getting
tagged for four runs on three hits with a pair of walks in 3 1/3 innings of
work.
Final Score: Boston 12, Minnesota 5
Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - David Ortiz smacked a pair of homers
against his former team and accounted for six RBI, as the Boston Red Sox
topped the Minnesota Twins, 12-5, at Target Field. Daniel Nava added a two-run
blast and drove in three for the Red Sox, who won their fourth straight game.
Ryan Dempster labored through 4 2/3 innings by throwing 127 pitches. The
right-hander allowed eight hits, six walks and five runs. Craig Breslow (1-0)
threw 1 2/3 shutout frames to get credit for the win. Scott Diamond (3-4)
yielded eight hits and six runs over 4 1/3 innings and Pedro Florimon had a
pair of RBI for the Twins, losers of four in a row. Ortiz, who played his
first six seasons in the majors for the Twins, is hitting .332 with 15 homers
and 43 RBI in 53 games against his former club.
Final Score: Texas 7, Detroit 2
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Elvis Andrus had a career-high five hits to
go with three runs scored and two RBI as the Texas Rangers downed the Detroit
Tigers, 7-2, at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday. Andrus had a
double, triple and also stole two bags as Texas won for the fourth time in its
last five contests to up its record to a major league-best 28-15. Lance
Berkman went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Mitch Moreland hit his 10th home run
of the season in the triumph. Justin Grimm (3-3) matched a career-high with
105 pitches and snapped a three-game losing skid by tossing 6 2/3 innings of
seven-hit, two-run baseball. Anibal Sanchez (4-4) took the loss after Texas
produced nine hits and six runs -- five earned -- in just 2 2/3 innings off
the Tigers' starter.
Final Score: Oakland 2, Kansas City 1
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Brandon Moss tripled in the go-ahead run in the
sixth inning and Tommy Milone got his first win in more than a month, as the
Oakland Athletics edged the Kansas City Royals, 2-1, in the middle portion of
a three-game series. Milone (4-5) dropped his previous five starts, with the
A's scoring a total of six runs in those games. But on Saturday, the left-
hander was able to barely get enough support when the hosts came through with
two runs in the sixth. Milone, who pitched despite an upset stomach, gave up
five hits, walked three and fanned four. Grant Balfour worked around a leadoff
walk to Eric Hosmer in the ninth and notched his eighth save of the year.
Jed Lowrie's sacrifice fly to center plated Eric Sogard to tie the game in the
sixth for the A's, who have won both games of this series by identical scores.
Billy Butler singled in Alex Gordon in the opening inning for the Royals, who
have dropped six of their last eight contests. Ervin Santana's (3-3) bid for
his 100th career win was derailed despite the righty giving up only four hits
and a pair of runs in seven frames. He fell to 14-6 lifetime against the A's.
Final Score: Houston 4, Pittsburgh 2 (11 innings)
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Matt Dominguez and J.D. Martinez drove in
the deciding runs in the top of the 11th inning as the Houston Astros defeated
the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2, in the middle test of a three-game set at PNC
Park. Jose Altuve and Chris Carter each drove in one run for the Astros, who
had lost seven of eight coming in. Jose Cisnero (1-0) earned the win after
tossing 3 2/3 shutout innings of relief, while Jose Veras picked up his sixth
save of the season with a perfect bottom of the 11th. Mark Melancon blew a 2-1
Pittsburgh lead in the eighth, allowing Carter to tie the game with an RBI
single. Bryan Morris (1-2) absorbed the loss after allowing both runs in the
11th as the Pirates had a four-game win streak snapped.
05/19 00:27:45 ET

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