American League roundup

Red Sox rolling after doubleheader sweep of Rays

[September 14, 2009]  BOSTON (AP) -- The Red Sox rotation is rolling just in time.

After a stretch of injury and inconsistency, Boston's starters have given up three runs or less in the last seven games. In the last three over a 24-hour span, they allowed a total of two runs in a three-game sweep of the slumping Tampa Bay Rays.

Now Boston has just 20 games left and a four-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the AL wild-card race.

Jon Lester allowed two singles in eight innings in a 4-0 win after Clay Buchholz gave up one run and five hits in a 3-1 victory in the opener of a split doubleheader Sunday. On Saturday night, Josh Beckett gave up four hits in a 9-1 win shortened by rain to five innings.

"I didn't show up today saying I was going to pitch better than Josh and Clay," Lester said. "I'm just trying to throw my game and execute pitches."

Lester (13-7) is 5-0 with a 2.23 ERA in his last 10 starts. Buchholz is 4-0 with a 3.00 ERA in his last six starts, bolstering a rotation after struggling veterans John Smoltz and Brad Penny were released and All-Star Tim Wakefield was sidelined by a back injury.

"The biggest difference in Clay this year is just his tempo and his confidence," Lester said. "It's like he knows that you're not going to hit this pitch."

Now the Red Sox hope Daisuke Matsuzaka can make it a quality quartet. Out of shape and ineffective, he went on the disabled list June 21. After three rehab starts, he returns Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

"We know how good he can be," said Jason Bay, whose 32nd homer was the last run of the second game. "He was a huge part of our team last year."

The Rays, last year's AL East champs and World Series losers, were eliminated from the division race with their 11th straight loss in Sunday's second game, the longest losing streak in the majors this year and their longest since 2007.

"It's embarrassing," said James Shields (9-11), the second-game loser. "Eleven straight losses. Not fun at all. Whether we're in the race or not, we've got to play better baseball."

Lester had given up hits to three of the first four batters on Friday night, but that game was rained out after he threw 23 pitches, bringing about Sunday's doubleheader.

"I was kind of surprised the way my body responded," said Lester, who struck out seven and walked three.

Yankees 13, Orioles 3

At New York, Hideki Matsui homered and drove in five runs, CC Sabathia became the AL's first 17-game winner and the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep.

Sabathia (17-7) held Baltimore to three runs and five hits in seven innings.

Angels 3, White Sox 2

At Anaheim, Calif., Torii Hunter hit a tiebreaking home run leading off the seventh inning against Mark Buehrle (12-8).

The AL West leaders took two of three from the White Sox, who dropped into third place in the AL Central. They are six games behind division-leading Detroit, and a half-game back of Minnesota.

Tigers 7, Blue Jays 2

At Detroit, Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge each had two RBIs, helping the Tigers snap a season-worst five-game skid.

Rick Porcello won a matchup with fellow rookie Ricky Romero. Porcello (13-8) gave up two runs on four hits in six innings to improve to 3-0 in his last four starts.

Romero (12-8) also went six innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits.

Royals 7, Indians 0

At Cleveland, Kyle Davies carried a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and won his fourth straight start.

Davies (8-9) held the Indians hitless until Shin-Soo Choo lined a single to center to open the sixth. The right-hander walked six and struck out three over six innings.

John Buck and Billy Butler each had two RBIs in the Royals' sixth win in seven games.

Twins 8, Athletics 0

At Minneapolis, Joe Mauer had three hits, including his 27th home run, and rookie Brian Duensing helped the Twins avoid a sweep.

Duensing (3-1) scattered eight hits and three walks over seven innings to win his third straight decision. He struck out six for the Twins, who remained 5 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Rangers 7, Mariners 2, 1st game

Mariners 5, Rangers 0, 2nd game

At Arlington, Texas, Ichiro Suzuki beat out an infield single to become the first player in major league history with at least 200 hits in nine straight seasons, Felix Hernandez (15-5) scattered four hits over seven shutout innings, and Seattle split a doubleheader.

In his second at-bat of the nightcap, Suzuki hit a slow roller to shortstop Elvis Andrus, beating his throw for No. 200 and driving in a run to make it 2-0.

Seattle got an RBI double from Jose Lopez off rookie Derek Holland (7-11) in the first inning of the second game, and Jack Wilson's run-scoring single in the fourth made it 3-0.

In the opener, Tommy Hunter threw a six-hitter for his first complete game and the Rangers hit three homers. Hunter (8-3), a rookie, struck out three and walked one in his 15th big league start.

Seattle rookie Doug Fister (2-2) gave up five runs and 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings.

[Associated Press; By HOWARD ULMAN]

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