American League roundup

Davis hurls Rays over Orioles 3-0 for 4-game split

[September 18, 2009]  BALTIMORE (AP) -- Wade Davis put a positive finish on a miserable road trip for the Tampa Bay Rays.

The rookie right-hander threw a four-hit shutout to earn his first major league win, and the Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-0 Thursday night to salvage a four-game split.

Tampa Bay went 2-9 against AL East foes New York, Boston and Baltimore. But Davis' 124-pitch gem promised to make the flight home a lot more tolerable.

"To end the road trip with a win, it's good for us, very good, for the spirit of this team," second baseman Ben Zobrist said. "We've been down lately."

Davis gave the Rays a reason to smile -- and celebrate. After he struck out the side in the ninth to cap his first career complete game, Davis got a shaving-cream pie to the face from teammates Matt Garza and Evan Longoria. That was followed by a beer shower in the clubhouse.

"It's fun," Davis said. "It's supposed to be."

Baseball hasn't been much for the Rays lately. Tampa Bay fell out of contention with an 11-game losing streak, and had lost 13 of 14 before Davis made things right.

"It will be good to get back home. Everyone's looking forward to getting back home and getting in our own beds and getting back to the Trop," Zobrist said. "We're just thankful that Wade pitched a great game for us."

Making his third big league start, Davis (1-1) struck out 10 and walked two. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, then permitted only one runner past first base over the final eight innings.

The 24-year-old was coming off a horrid outing in Boston in which he yielded eight runs in 2 2-3 innings. His effort against the Orioles lowered his ERA from 8.38 to 4.34.

"I didn't get to watch too much film and maybe I should have," said Baltimore's Nick Markakis, who went 0 for 4. "I don't know. You've got to tip your hat. He threw a great game."

Davis outdid seven Baltimore pitchers, led by Mark Hendrickson (5-5), who gave up two runs and five hits over 3 1-3 innings in his first start since May 12. The left-hander was removed from the rotation after going 1-4, then made 42 relief appearances before returning as a starter in place of rookie Brian Matusz, who has been shut down for the remainder of the season.

Michael Aubrey had two hits for the Orioles, who failed for the 10th time this season to win a four-game series. They're 0-5-5.

Baltimore wasted an opportunity to grab an early lead. After a walk, a double and another walk loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, Nick Markakis hit into a forceout at the plate, Melvin Mora struck out and Luke Scott hit a routine fly to right.

"The first inning, you couldn't have scripted it any better, the way we started the game," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. "But then when you get nothing out of it, boy, he's got to take a deep breath and go, 'OK, here we go. Lady Luck's on my side tonight.'"

Red Sox 4, Angels 3

At Boston, Howie Kendrick homered and added an RBI blooper to break a ninth-inning tie, and Brian Fuentes protected the lead for Los Angeles.

One night after Fuentes presided over a collapse with two outs in the ninth, he helped the Angels snap the Red Sox's seven-game winning streak and hand them their first loss at Fenway in 11 games. Kevin Jepsen (6-3) got four outs, then Fuentes got the last two batters to earn his 42nd save and end Los Angeles' three-game losing streak.

Royals 9, Tigers 2

At Detroit, Zack Greinke lowered his major league-leading ERA to 2.14 with five scoreless innings for Kansas City.

Greinke (14-8) allowed three hits, struck out eight and walked two. He has allowed only one earned run in his past four starts, lowering his ERA from 2.43.

The Tigers (78-68) AL Central lead over second-place Minnesota (74-72) was cut to four games. Detroit starts a three-game series at the Metrodome on Friday.

Mariners 4, White Sox 3, 14 innings

At Seattle, Ichiro Suzuki hit a game-ending single to center in the bottom of the 14th inning, leading the Mariners over the White Sox. Jose Lopez and Bill Hall each homered off Chicago closer Bobby Jenks in the ninth to tie it and deny the White Sox a chance to gain on AL Central-leading Detroit. Chicago, third in the division, trails the Tigers by 6 1/2 games and Minnesota by 4.

Athletics 5, Indians 2

At Oakland, Calif., Kurt Suzuki hit a three-run homer and Oakland beat Cleveland.

Adam Kennedy doubled twice and drove in a run for the A's, who have won four straight and nine of 11. Clayton Mortensen (2-2) pitched five innings to win his second consecutive start.

[Associated Press; By DAVID GINSBURG]

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