American League roundup

[August 28, 2009]  BOSTON (AP) -- The Chicago White Sox needed a quick turnaround after falling below .500 for the first time in two months.

They got it with six solid innings from John Danks and a 14-hit attack led by Carlos Quentin's two-run homer and Jayson Nix's three RBIs that helped them avoid a four-game sweep by the Boston Red Sox with a 9-5 win Thursday night.

"This one was very important," Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen said. "You take a lot of stress out of the guys. You take a lot of pressure off the guys and, hopefully, this game helps us continue to swing the bat the way we did."

Now the White Sox head to New York for three games against the Yankees then to Minnesota for another three-game series as they try to gain ground in the playoff race.

They're in second place in the AL Central, four games behind the Detroit Tigers, and trail Boston by 9 1/2 games in the wild-card race with 34 left.

"It helps us relax a little bit," said Danks (12-8). "We have plenty of time but, at the same time, we can't be digging ourselves a hole."

Boston remained six games behind the Yankees in the AL East and dropped to 1 1/2 games ahead of Texas in the wild-card standings.

Boston rookie Junichi Tazawa (2-3) allowed four runs in both the first and second innings and left trailing 9-0 after four.

"I caught too much of the plate quite often," he said.

Back-to-back homers by J.D. Drew and Alex Gonzalez cut the lead to 9-2 in the fifth.

But with a seven-run deficit and relievers Takashi Saito and Billy Wagner unavailable, Boston manager Terry Francona gave infielder Nick Green his first chance to pitch in a game since he did it in junior college about 10 years ago.

And he did quite well -- no runs, no hits and three walks in the eighth and ninth innings.

"I didn't really want to do it, but because of the situation today I had to do it. When he told me Manny (Delcarmen) was going to work two, Ramon (Ramirez) one, I said, `I'm going in in the eighth inning? Who's going to pitch the ninth?'" Green said. "I didn't know what to expect. I haven't thrown a strike to a batter in like 11 years."

He threw only 13 strikes in 35 pitches Thursday, but Guillen was impressed.

"I think they're going to make a change," he joked. "They might start him and put (Tazawa) back in the bullpen."

Green even did better than Chicago closer Bobby Jenks, who allowed Drew's 18th homer of the year in the ninth. That was Boston's 48th homer of the month, surpassing the club record of 46 in August, 2003.

But that was hardly enough against a lineup that had five batters with at least two hits.

"That's a pretty big win," Guillen said, "just for the momentum, to get this fire up, get this energy back."

Athletics 2, Angels 0

At Anaheim, Calif., rookie Trevor Cahill and two relievers combined on a three-hitter and Ryan Sweeney came within a double of hitting for the cycle to lead Oakland.

Sweeney, who came in 4 for 9 lifetime against Angels starter Ervin Santana (7-7), homered, singled and tripled in his three at-bats against the right-hander to help the A's recover from a three-game sweep at Seattle.

Cahill (7-12) held the AL West leaders to a two-out single by Vladimir Guerrero in the fourth inning and a leadoff double by Jeff Mathis in the sixth.

Rangers 7, Yankees 2

At New York, Ian Kinsler homered twice and the Texas bullpen pitched shutout ball as the Rangers became the first visitors to win a series at Yankee Stadium since mid-June.

Kinsler and Chris Davis both had three-run homers for Texas, which took two of three from the club with the best record in the majors. Jason Grilli (2-2), C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco combined for 5 1-3 innings of two-hit relief.

A.J. Burnett (10-8) lost despite striking out a season-high 12 in six innings.

Indians 5, Orioles 4

At Baltimore, Andy Marte hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth for Cleveland.

Jim Johnson (3-5) got the first two outs in the ninth before allowing a single to Matt LaPorta. After going 3-0 on Marte, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, Johnson worked the count full before Marte hit a liner that barely cleared the 7-foot wall in left field. It was his second home run in 69 at-bats this season.

Royals 8, Mariners 4

At Seattle, Yuniesky Betancourt, Brayan Pena, Alberto Callaspo and David DeJesus homered for the Royals in their first four-homer game this season. The last time they hit four was May 23, 2007, against Cleveland.

Kyle Davies (5-9) went six innings to earn the victory. He allowed five hits and two runs, walking three and striking out five.

In the fifth, Betancourt, in his first game in Seattle since the Mariners traded him to the Royals on July 10, hit his third homer with his new team.

Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki missed his fourth straight game with tightness in his left calf.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD ULMAN]

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