American League roundup

[August 19, 2009]  TORONTO (AP) -- With ace Josh Beckett on the mound and a matchup with Toronto's Roy Halladay looming, this was a game the Boston Red Sox felt they needed to win.

It didn't come easy, but they got it done.

David Ortiz homered and scored three times, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the Red Sox held on to beat the Blue Jays 10-9 on Tuesday night.

The victory, coupled with Minnesota's win at Texas, moved the Red Sox into a tie with the Rangers for the AL wild card race.

"We've got to try to win some games," Ortiz said. "We're against the ropes. It's all about winning games right now. That's it."

Left-hander Hideki Okajima (4-0) pitched one perfect inning for the win.

"That was a game that we really had to have," said Jason Bay, who hit his 26th homer. "We had Josh (Beckett) going and obviously they've got Halladay going (Wednesday)."

Marco Scutaro hit a two-run single off Jonathan Papelbon in the eighth but the Boston closer held firm to earn his 29th save in 32 chances.

"There's something to be said for persistence," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "That was a very loseable game and it would have been heartbreaking. Because of the way the guys played, we ended up with a very difficult win."

Originally scheduled for a day off, Ortiz was pressed into action when catcher Jason Varitek was scratched because of muscle spasms in his neck. Ortiz finished 2 for 3 with two walks and three RBIs.

"It's nice to see," Francona said. "It shows you what I know. I didn't even have him in there to begin with."

Staked to an early four-run lead, Josh Beckett's bid to become baseball's first 15-game winner ended when he gave up a game-tying, two-run homer to Rod Barajas in the sixth. He allowed seven runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.

"I didn't have much and they knew it," Beckett said. "They were attacking me."

Twins 9, Rangers 6

At Arlington, Texas, Joe Mauer homered twice and Delmon Young hit a tiebreaking two-run shot in the seventh inning for Minnesota.

Young also had a tying two-run double for the Twins, who piled up 12 hits and eight runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to rally from a 5-0 deficit.

Ian Kinsler hit a three-run homer for the Rangers, who dropped into a tie with Boston for the AL wild-card lead.

Reliever Jesse Crain (4-4) got the win, and Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth for his 30th save.

Yankees 7, Athletics 2

At Oakland, Calif., Derek Jeter had his third straight three-hit game and knocked in the go-ahead run to help CC Sabathia win in Oakland for the first time in six years.

Jeter's RBI single in the sixth against Jay Marshall (0-1) broke a 2-all tie and the Yankees went on to add four more runs that inning to snap a two-game losing streak.

Sabathia (14-7) had a 1-4 record and 7.12 ERA in eight starts in Oakland before Tuesday. He won his 10th straight August start and first in Oakland since July 30, 2003, with Cleveland.

Sabathia gave up solo homers in the first two innings to Kurt Suzuki and Tommy Everidge. He allowed five hits and struck out seven in eight innings.

Tigers 5, Mariners 3

At Detroit, Miguel Cabrera hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning and Rick Porcello had a career-high eight strikeouts for the Tigers.

Seattle starter Felix Hernandez left with a hamstring cramp after he struck out nine and gave up only a run through seven innings.

Bobby Seay (3-2) picked up the win after allowing one run in the eighth and Fernando Rodney closed for his 25th save in 26 chances.

Angels 5, Indians 4

At Cleveland, Trevor Bell got his first major league win, helping Los Angeles to its fourth straight win.

Bell (1-0) gave up three runs and nine hits over 5 1-3 innings in the second start of his career. Brian Fuentes, the Angels' fourth pitcher, worked a perfect ninth for his 35th save, tying the Yankees' Mariano Rivera for the AL lead.

Fausto Carmona (2-8) gave up three earned runs and 10 hits over five innings.

Royals 5, White Sox 4

At Chicago, Billy Butler doubled three times, had two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run for the Royals on Alberto Callaspo's fifth-inning single.

The White Sox fell three games behind Detroit in the AL Central.

Gil Meche (6-9) labored through five innings for the win, allowing four runs and eight hits.

Freddy Garcia (0-1) allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings in his season debut.

Rays 5, Orioles 4

At St. Petersburg, Fla., Gabe Gross hit a two-run homer, and Pat Burrell and B.J. Upton added solo shots for Tampa Bay.

Gross gave the Rays a 3-2 lead with his fourth-inning drive. Burrell and Upton homered in the sixth to make it 5-2.

Rays left-hander David Price (6-5) threw 102 pitches in five innings, allowing two runs and seven hits. J.P. Howell pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

Baltimore starter Jason Berken (2-11) gave up five runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings.

[Associated Press]

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