American League roundup

[September 03, 2009]  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Elvis left the yard after Josh Hamilton left the game. Hours after the playoff-chasing Rangers learned injured third baseman Michael Young will be out at least two weeks, and an inning after slugger Hamilton came out because of a sore lower back, rookie Elvis Andrus hit a go-ahead two-run homer that pushed Texas to a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

"It was the biggest hit of the night," manager Ron Washington said.

After losing two All-Star players, the victory on the field got Texas within 3 1/2 games of the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels and 2 1/2 games of wild-card leader Boston after both lost. It is the closest the Rangers have been in the division since Aug. 9.

"We have got to keep going," said Marlon Byrd, whose scheduled night off got cut short when he replaced Hamilton in center field to start the fifth. "We've got to keep winning games."

Even without Young and maybe Hamilton.

Young strained his left hamstring running out a grounder Tuesday night in the second game of a doubleheader sweep, the same game Hamilton hit two homers to break a span of 99 at-bats over 23 games without going deep.

But Hamilton, whose back has bothered him since playing on the turf in Minnesota last weekend, left after he had a leadoff double in the fourth, sliding headfirst into second and then scoring on a single by Nelson Cruz to get Texas within 3-2.

When Hamilton got to the dugout after scoring, Washington asked if he was OK.

"I told him I was," Hamilton said. "I went to run out to center field and just couldn't really do it."

Texas has a day off before playing in Baltimore on Friday night. Hamilton said he was hopeful that with treatment he will be ready to play.

Andrus, the 21-year-old shortstop moved from ninth to second in the order with Young out, hit his sixth homer to make it 4-3 in the fifth. Andrus flipped his bat away as soon as he hit the ball, and fellow rookie Julio Borbon looked back laughing while trotting around the bases.

"I started jogging and smiled," Borbon said. "It was a good feeling, especially that time of the game."

Yankees 10, Orioles 2

At Baltimore, CC Sabathia allowed one run in seven innings to earn his AL-leading 16th victory, Alex Rodriguez got his 2,500th hit and drove in four runs, and the Yankees completed a three-game sweep.

Eric Hinske homered and Johnny Damon had four hits for the Yankees, who scored seven runs in the ninth inning. New York has won six straight and is 34-11 since the All-Star break.

Sabathia (16-7) struck out nine, gave up seven hits and walked one.

Rays 8, Red Sox 5

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Pat Burrell snapped an eighth-inning tie with a RBI single and Evan Longoria followed with a two-run homer to help Tampa Bay keep pace in the playoff race.

J.P. Howell (7-4) pitched an inning to earn the victory, and Dan Wheeler got the final two outs for his second save for the Rays, who moved within five games of wild card-leading Boston.

White Sox 4, Twins 2

At Minneapolis, Gordon Beckham and Paul Konerko hit consecutive home runs off Joe Nathan with two outs in the ninth inning to lead Chicago.

Nathan (2-2) has his fifth blown save this season in 40 chances ruined rookie Brian Duensing's seven shutout innings. In their final game at the Metrodome, the White Sox rallied for just their second victory in 10 games on their current road trip.

D.J. Carrasco (5-1) got the last out of the eighth and Bobby Jenks picked up his 28th save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Tigers 4, Indians 2

At Detroit, Magglio Ordonez had three hits, and the Tigers took advantage of five Cleveland errors to open a 4 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.

Rookie Rick Porcello (12-8) got the win, giving up two runs on five hits in seven-plus innings. The 20-year-old rookie has won more games than any Tigers pitcher before the age of 21.

Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 32 tries.

Mariners 3, Angels 0

At Seattle, Felix Hernandez pitched eight scoreless innings to spoil Scott Kazmir's Angels debut.

Hernandez (14-5) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out six to lower his ERA to 2.65 -- second best in the AL.

Kazmir (8-8), acquired Friday from Tampa Bay, gave up one run and three hits in 6 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out eight. He retired 18 straight before Mike Sweeney opened the seventh with a walk.

David Aardsma pitched the ninth for his 33rd save in 37 chances.

Athletics 10, Royals 4

At Oakland, Calif., Landon Powell hit his first career grand slam and Trevor Cahill (8-12) won consecutive starts for the first time in more than two months.

Powell homered off Yasuhiko Yabuta, pitching in relief after Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (7-12) left because of shoulder fatigue in the second.

Mike Jacobs homered for the Royals, who lost two of three against Oakland without manager Trey Hillman. Hillman left the team on Monday to be with his family following the death of his father-in-law.

White Sox 4, Twins 2

At Minneapolis, Gordon Beckham and Paul Konerko hit consecutive home runs off Joe Nathan with two outs in the ninth inning to lead Chicago.

Nathan (2-2) has his fifth blown save this season in 40 chances ruined rookie Brian Duensing's seven shutout innings. In their final game at the Metrodome, the White Sox rallied for just their second victory in 10 games on their current road trip.

D.J. Carrasco (5-1) got the last out of the eighth and Bobby Jenks picked up his 28th save with a scoreless ninth inning.

Tigers 4, Indians 2

At Detroit, Magglio Ordonez had three hits, and the Tigers took advantage of five Cleveland errors to open a 4 1/2-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.

Rookie Rick Porcello (12-8) got the win, giving up two runs on five hits in seven-plus innings. The 20-year-old rookie has won more games than any Tigers pitcher before the age of 21.

Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 32 tries.

Mariners 3, Angels 0

At Seattle, Felix Hernandez pitched eight scoreless innings to spoil Scott Kazmir's Angels debut.

Hernandez (14-5) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out six to lower his ERA to 2.65 -- second best in the AL.

Kazmir (8-8), acquired Friday from Tampa Bay, gave up one run and three hits in 6 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out eight. He retired 18 straight before Mike Sweeney opened the seventh with a walk.

David Aardsma pitched the ninth for his 33rd save in 37 chances.

Athletics 10, Royals 4

At Oakland, Calif., Landon Powell hit his first career grand slam and Trevor Cahill (8-12) won consecutive starts for the first time in more than two months.

Powell homered off Yasuhiko Yabuta, pitching in relief after Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (7-12) left because of shoulder fatigue in the second.

Mike Jacobs homered for the Royals, who lost two of three against Oakland without manager Trey Hillman. Hillman left the team on Monday to be with his family following the death of his father-in-law.

[Associated Press; By STEPHEN HAWKINS]

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