Nova pitches Yanks past Reds
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CINCINNATI — Alex Rodriguez started New York’s four-run first inning with an RBI single, and rookie Ivan Nova handled the NL’s most prolific offense for eight innings, leading the Yankees to a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.
The Yankees have won nine of 11, moving a season-best 13 games over .500 at 42-29. Their high-powered offense has led the way.
New York started fast against left-hander Travis Wood (5-5), who made an unexpected start. Originally scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, he was moved up a day when Johnny Cueto showed up with a stiff neck.
Nova (7-4) won his third straight start, allowing a run and four singles without walking a batter.
Braves 2, Blue Jays 0
ATLANTA — Tim Hudson pitched eight scoreless innings and hit his second career home run in the Atlanta Braves’ victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hudson (6-6) allowed two hits, one walk and struck out a season-high eight, including the 1,600th of his career. He took Ricky Romero (6-7) deep to make it 2-0 with two outs in the sixth.
Toronto has lost two straight and five of seven.
Hudson retired 20 straight batters before Mike McCoy walked to lead off the ninth and advanced to second on Yunel Escobar’s infield single.
Closer Craig Kimbrel struck out Corey Patterson, Jose Bautista and Adam Lind to earn his 20th save in 25 chances.
Rockies 8, Indians 7
CLEVELAND — Jason Giambi’s gigantic three-run homer in Colorado’s six-run fifth inning off Fausto Carmona sent the Rockies to a win over Cleveland, the Indians’ first loss in seven interleague games this season.
Giambi’s 440-foot shot — his 422nd career homer — against Carmona (4-9) helped the Rockies win for the fifth time in six games and get back to .500 for the first time since May 25. The 40-year-old Giambi will get more at-bats with the Rockies on the road in AL ballparks for the next five games.
This weekend, he’ll be back in Yankee Stadium, where he starred in pinstripes from 2002-08.
Matt Lindstrom (2-1), the second of five Rockies relievers, got the win. Huston Street worked the ninth for his NL-leading 21st save in 23 chances.
Orioles 8, Pirates 3
PITTSBURGH — Nick Markakis had three hits and Jake Arrieta moved into a tie for the American League lead in wins as the Baltimore Orioles pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Arrieta (9-4) gave up three runs over five innings and even added his first major league hit to became the first Orioles pitcher to reach nine wins by June 20 since Sidney Ponson in 2003.
Though Arrieta wasn’t dominant, he didn’t have to be thanks to an offense that springs to life whenever he’s on the mound.
The Orioles average 6.5 runs per game when Arrieta starts. They needed just two innings to top that mark against struggling starter Charlie Morton (7-4) to hand the Pirates their fourth straight loss.
Red Sox 14, Padres 5
BOSTON — Adrian Gonzalez drove in three runs with a single and double in a 10-run seventh inning against his former team and the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox rolled to a win over the struggling San Diego Padres.
Gonzalez boosted his major league-leading RBI total to 67 since the Padres, unable to give him a lucrative contract, traded him to the Red Sox in the offseason for three top prospects. He went 3 for 5 to increase his batting average to .353, also the best in the majors.
Tied at 3 going into the seventh, Gonzalez drove in the go-ahead run with a one-out double. After Kevin Youkilis flied out, the Red Sox scored nine more runs.
Rangers 8, Astros 3
ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Hamilton hit a two-run triple, Adrian Beltre had a pair of RBI singles and the Texas Rangers opened the Lone Star Series with a victory over the Houston Astros.
The AL West leaders scored in each of the first three innings to build a quick 7-0 lead.
Mitch Moreland led off the eighth with a homer that landed halfway up in the second deck of seats in right field, a drive estimated at 455 feet.
Derek Holland (6-2) pitched into the eighth for his first win at home in nearly two months. J.A. Happ (3-9) lost his fifth straight decision in a span of seven starts.
Cubs 6, White Sox 3
CHICAGO — Carlos Zambrano kept his cool this time after a tough first inning, Carlos Pena hit a three-run homer and Starlin Castro drove in three runs as the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the White Sox.
The first matchup of six this season between the crosstown rivals with losing records drew a crowd of 36,005 at U.S. Cellular Field on a 75-degree night. White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was ejected in the sixth inning after apparently arguing that a ball hit near the plate by Alexei Ramirez should have been ruled foul.
