Yankees Outlast A’s In 12 Innings
NEW YORK — Jose Molina was hit by Lenny DiNardo’s pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, and the New York Yankees outlasted the Oakland Athletics for a 4-3 victory Saturday.
Robinson Cano had four hits and David Robertson earned his first major league win as New York pulled out a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 93-degree heat.
The Yankees, who stranded a whopping 21 runners, were down to their final out in the ninth when Cano doubled off Huston Street. Wilson Betemit tied it with an opposite-field single to left-center on an 0-2 pitch, handing Street his fifth blown save in 22 chances.
Long after Joba Chamberlain was lifted, Ryan Sweeney put Oakland ahead 3-2 with an RBI single off Mariano Rivera in the ninth. The All-Star closer struck out three straight batters with a runner on second to keep it a one-run game.
Indians 9, Mariners 6
SEATTLE — One-time Seattle prospect Shin-Soo Choo homered and doubled in his first two at-bats, Jeremy Sowers picked up his first win of the season and Cleveland beat the Mariners to snap a 10-game road losing streak.
Choo led the way with his fourth homer, three RBI and added another double in the eighth. But he certainly wasn’t alone in providing the Indians offense with some pop, as Cleveland had 10 hits in the first five innings.
Angels 4, Red Sox 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Pinch hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, and the Angels rallied for a victory over the defending World Series champions. Los Angeles pinch hitters were just 6-for-38 with five RBI this season before Aybar’s clutch hit.
The Angels, going for their fourth AL West title in five years, won their fourth straight game including an 11-3 triumph over the Red Sox on Friday night to move a season-high 21 games over .500 and extend their division lead over Oakland to eight games.
Rays 6, Blue Jays 4
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Rookie All-Star Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam during a five-run sixth and Matt Garza threw 7 2-3 scoreless innings to help the AL East-leading Tampa Bay past Toronto.
Garza (8-5) allowed two hits — coming on singles in the third by Scott Rolen and Marco Scutaro during the seventh — and struck out six. The right-hander was coming off a start on July 12 when he gave up seven runs and 11 hits in five innings of an 8-4 loss at Cleveland.
Royals 9, White Sox 1
CHICAGO — Gil Meche and three relievers combined on a two-hitter while John Buck and Billy Butler homered to help Kansas City beat Chicago.
One night after the White Sox had seven hits in the first inning against Zack Greinke, Meche (7-9) shut down the AL Central leaders, allowing the two hits and a run in 6 1-3 strong innings.
Twins 14, Rangers 2
MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each went deep and drove in eight runs between them, as Minnesota heaped four home runs on its usual small-ball approach to beat Texas.
Lost in the shuffle of a 16-hit barrage by the home team was another win for Livan Hernandez (10-6), who was flawless for seven innings and matched his season low of five hits allowed. Minnesota is 14-7 when he starts, despite an ERA he reduced to 5.29.
