American League roundup

[August 26, 2009]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Young and the Texas Rangers chased Joba Chamberlain early, then hung on for a nail-biting win at noisy Yankee Stadium.

If this was a first-round playoff preview, there's plenty to get excited about.

Rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus turned Melky Cabrera's line drive into a game-ending double play, and Texas held off the New York Yankees 10-9 on Tuesday night in a game of momentum swings that took 3 hours, 50 minutes.

"We believe we can beat anybody, no doubt about that. But to put 10 runs on the board, you feel like you should win that game, and that's what was big for us," Rangers starter Kevin Millwood said.

Young and Nelson Cruz homered for the Rangers, who scored seven two-out runs off Chamberlain (8-4) to overcome an early four-run deficit. They took a 10-5 lead into the ninth inning before New York started storming back against Texas' bullpen.

Robinson Cano's two-run single cut it to 10-9 and left runners at first and second with nobody out. But with the crowd of 46,511 roaring, Nick Swisher popped up a foul bunt attempt for the first out and Cabrera hit a low liner that Andrus caught on the fly.

Pinch-runner Jerry Hairston Jr. tried to scramble back to second base, but Andrus beat him by a half-step for the final out.

"My first idea was to let the ball hit the ground," Andrus said. "Right there you just want two outs any way you can."

Andrus also drove in a career-best three runs from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. About an hour after the game, he turned 21 years old.

"I don't think I'm going to do (anything). I'm pretty tired tonight," Andrus said with a smile. "I'll probably just go and have dinner with my sister."

Josh Hamilton had four hits and Millwood (10-8) rebounded from a rocky start, exemplifying the gritty pitching that's put the surprising Rangers in contention for their first postseason berth since 1999.

Texas took the opener of a three-game series against the AL East leaders and remained 1 1/2 games behind Boston in the wild-card race.

Young, the reigning AL player of the week, also had three RBIs.

Posada and Cano homered for the Yankees, who still own the best record in the majors at 78-47 -- but their division lead over the Red Sox was trimmed to six games.

Red Sox 6, White Sox 3

At Boston, Jason Bay hit a solo homer to break an eighth-inning tie, and Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits to go with his franchise-record 55th stolen base for the Red Sox.

Manny Delcarmen (5-2) got one out to escape a first-and-third jam in the eighth to earn the win. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 30th save.

Scott Linebrink (3-6) gave up three runs and three hits in one inning for Chicago, which lost its third straight and fell to .500 for the first time since July 29.

Tigers 5, Angels 3

At Anaheim, Calif., Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco hit back-to-back triples in the seventh inning, with Polanco driving in the go-ahead run for Detroit.

Jarrod Washburn (9-7) allowed eight hits over six innings, and Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who boosted their AL Central lead over Minnesota and Chicago to 4 1/2 games.

Howie Kendrick hit a three-run homer for the Angels and John Lackey (8-7) yielded a season high-tying 11 hits in his third loss in four starts.

Fernando Rodney earned his 28th save in 29 chances.

Rays 7, Blue Jays 3

At Toronto, Carlos Pena hit two two-run homers, giving him 200 for his career, and James Shields pitched 6 2-3 innings for Tampa Bay.

Pena went 2 for 5 with four RBIs and has more home runs (37) than singles (35) for the Rays, who have won eight of 10.

Toronto (57-67) has lost 10 of 13 and is a season-low 10 games below .500.

Shields (8-10) allowed three runs and eight hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Pena hit both homers off Brett Cecil (5-3).

Royals 6, Indians 2

At Kansas City, Mo., Zack Greinke struck out a team-record 15 in eight innings and the Royals ended a five-game skid.

Greinke (12-8) passed his career high with 12 strikeouts in the first six innings, then broke Mark Gubicza's 21-year-old team record of 14 by getting Andy Marte in the seventh.

Mike Jacobs drove in two runs and Miguel Olivo hit his career-high 17th homer off Justin Masterson (4-5), who allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Twins 7, Orioles 6

At Minneapolis, Delmon Young's fourth hit of the game scored Michael Cuddyer in the bottom of the ninth inning for the Twins, who won a season-best fifth straight.

Justin Morneau hit his 29th homer and Jose Mijares (2-2) pitched one inning for the win.

Michael Aubrey had a double and three RBIs for the Orioles, who led 5-3 going into the sixth.

Mariners 4, Athletics 2, 10 innings

At Seattle, Defensive-replacement Ryan Langerhans homered off Craig Breslow with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning for the Mariners.

Breslow (5-7) entered the game tied in losses among AL relievers.

Russell Branyan hit his 31st homer and Mark Lowe (2-6) pitched the 10th for the win after starter Ryan Rowland-Smith allowed nine hits and two runs in 6 1-3 innings.

[Associated Press; By MIKE FITZPATRICK]

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