American League roundup

[August 31, 2009]  BOSTON (AP) -- Paul Byrd was pitching to kids a little less than a month ago. He felt like one after his return to the majors.

Making his first major league start and appearance since last September, the 38-year-old Byrd pitched six shutout innings on Sunday and the Boston Red Sox completed a three-game sweep with a 7-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

"I got the game ball today," Byrd said. "I'm like a kid. (Takashi) Saito gave it to me. It's a real nice gesture. I just forgot to put it down and here it is."

Byrd was pitching batting practice to a 13-and-under team when the Red Sox called to ask if he was interested in trying a comeback. And what a return it was. He struck out one and walked three, mixing speeds to keep the Blue Jays' off-balance.

Byrd (1-0), who finished last year with the Red Sox, signed a minor league contract on Aug. 5.

"He was good," Boston catcher Jason Varitek said. "His stuff hasn't changed."

The win was the sixth in seven games for Boston, which moved 3 1/2 games ahead of Texas in the AL wild-card race after the Rangers lost to Minnesota, 5-3, on Sunday.

Scoring a run in each of the first four innings, the Red Sox sent Roy Halladay (13-8) to a third consecutive loss for the first time since last April.

"I felt fine. It's a good offensive team. We make a couple mistakes here or there and you don't score runs, it's tough," Halladay said. "Early runs cost you games like that."

The Blue Jays, who lost their 11th in 14 games, fell to 0-6 at Fenway Park this season and were swept in a three-game series by the Red Sox for the second time this month.

Billy Wagner, acquired Tuesday from the New York Mets, pitched one scoreless inning with three strikeouts and one hit in his Red Sox debut.

Kevin Youkilis had an RBI double and a sacrifice fly, and Rocco Baldelli homered into the seats above the Green Monster to extend Boston's club record to 50 homers in August.

Byrd escaped a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the fourth when Jose Bautista flied out to the right-field warning track. Byrd pumped his fist into his glove when he walked off after striking out Adam Lind to end the fifth.

"That was my first strikeout in 11 months," he said.

Yankees 8, White Sox 3

At New York, Mark Teixeira homered and drove in four runs, Johnny Damon also went deep and the Yankees finished a three-game sweep.

Alfredo Aceves (9-1) provided stellar relief after Joba Chamberlain's abbreviated outing, and the streaking Yankees won for the 20th time in 26 games.

Derek Jeter scored three times for the AL East leaders, who boosted baseball's best record to 82-48. They are 31-11 since the All-Star break, also the top mark in the majors.

Orioles 5, Indians 2

At Baltimore, Brian Matusz pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Felix Pie homered, and the Orioles earned a split of the four-game series.

Making his sixth major league start, Matusz (3-2) allowed one run and had a career-high eight strikeouts.

Tigers 4, Rays 3

At Detroit, Placido Polanco hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lift the Tigers.

Third baseman Brandon Inge sealed the victory, leaping to snag B.J. Upton's high hopper down the line with a runner on first and throwing across the diamond for the final out.

Justin Verlander (15-7) gave up three runs, six hits and four walks over eight innings and struck out four. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 30 chances.

Twins 5, Rangers 3

At Minneapolis, pinch-runner Carlos Gomez scored the go-ahead run and the Twins rallied with three runs in the eighth inning.

Trailing 3-2 in the eighth, the Twins used a walk, three singles, Nelson Cruz's error, and a fielder's choice to rally against reliever C.J. Wilson (4-6).

The rally allowed Minnesota reliever Jon Rauch (1-0) to pick up the victory in his first appearance for the Twins after being acquired from Arizona on Friday.

Angels 9, Athletics 1

At Anaheim, Calif., John Lackey pitched eight innings of five-hit ball for his 100th career victory, Torii Hunter and Kendry Morales hit three-run homers, and the Angels salvaged a split of the four-game series.

Lackey (9-7) became the fifth pitcher to win 100 games with the Angels. The right-hander limited Oakland to one unearned run while retiring 13 of his final 15 batters, improving to 16-4 in his career against the A's.

Brett Anderson (7-10) remained winless in his last four starts for Oakland, allowing seven hits over six innings.

Royals 3, Mariners 0

At Seattle, Zack Greinke pitched a one-hitter, allowing only a second-inning single by Kenji Johjima, for the Royals.

Greinke (13-8) retired the final 22 batters after Johjima's two-out single up the middle.

Greinke leads the majors with three shutouts and six complete games, and his 2.32 ERA is best in the AL. He walked one and struck out five.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.