AL roundup: Sabathia nearly no-hits Boston

NEW YORK (AP) - CC Sabathia didn't allow a runner past second base while pitching into the eighth inning and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-0 on Saturday for their sixth consecutive win.

Derek Jeter hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Yankees, who extended their AL East lead to a season-high 5 1/2 games. Robinson Cano finished with three hits.

Jacoby Ellsbury lined a clean single to center with two out in the sixth for Boston's first hit off Sabathia (12-7), who improved to 4-1 in his last five starts. The big left-hander got a standing ovation from the sellout crowd, and promptly struck out Dustin Pedroia to end the inning.

Boston's one bright spot was Clay Buchholz (1-2), who allowed two runs and six hits over six solid innings.

Angels 3, Rangers 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Jered Weaver pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in his last 10 starts and matched a career high with his second straight 11-strikeout performance, and the Angels moved 4 1/2 games ahead of Texas in the AL West.

Vladimir Guerrero and Erick Aybar homered for the Angels, who beat Texas for only the third time in 11 meetings this season.

Weaver (12-3) won his fifth consecutive decision and eighth of nine overall, allowing two runs and five hits over 7 1-3 innings, including Hank Blalock's two-run homer in the fifth.

Eddie Guardado (1-2) came on in the seventh in relief of starter Kevin Millwood and gave up a go-ahead homer to Aybar.

Blue Jays 3, Orioles 2, 10 innings

TORONTO (AP) - Adam Lind hit a one-out double in the 10th inning to score the winning run, and the Blue Jays beat Baltimore.

Joe Inglett led off the inning with a single off Danys Baez (4-6), and after he was forced out at second on a bunt by Marco Scutaro, Aaron Hill singled just beyond the outstretched glove of second baseman Ty Wigginton. Lind followed with a double off the wall in left.

The victory snapped the Blue Jays' three-game losing streak while the Orioles lost for the 16th time in 22 games since the All-Star break.

Jason Frasor (6-2) got two outs for the win. Royals 12, Athletics 6

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Zack Greinke earned his first win over an American League club since May 26, Mike Jacobs and Billy Butler each drove in three runs and the Royals defeated Oakland.

Butler had three doubles and every Royals starter had at least one hit and scored a run. Jacobs and Miguel Olivo hit back-to-back home runs in a four-run fourth.

Although Greinke (11-7) leads the league with a 2.43 ERA, he was 0-5 and the Royals were winless in his previous nine starts against AL teams. Greinke went seven innings and yielded three runs on seven hits to pick up his first victory since June 28 at Pittsburgh. He struck out five and ranks second in the AL with 167.

A's right-hander Clayton Mortensen (0-1), who was making his first big league start, gave up eight runs on eight hits and three walks in four-plus innings. White Sox 8, Indians 5.

CHICAGO (AP) - Jim Thome hit a two-run shot for his 562nd career homer and Gordon Beckham had a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth, helping the White Sox rally from a three-run deficit.

D.J. Carrasco (4-1) pitched 2 1-3 innings of scoreless relief as the White Sox moved within two games of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central.

Indians reliever Tomo Ohka couldn't hold a 4-1 lead in the fifth. He walked Beckham, and Thome followed with a 442-feet drive to center on a 1-2 pitch. It was Thome's 21st of the season.

Jess Todd (0-1) was the loser. Twins 11, Tigers 0

DETROIT (AP) - Carl Pavano allowed only five hits over seven innings in his Minnesota debut, Denard Span went 5 for 5 and Joe Mauer homered and drove in three runs to lift the Twins.

Jose Mijares and Glen Perkins completed the six-hitter with an inning each for third-place Minnesota, which moved to within 4 1/2 games of first place Detroit in the A.L. Central.

It was the second time in a week that Pavano (10-8) handcuffed the Tigers. Last Sunday, while with the Cleveland Indians, Pavano allowed Detroit only a run on six hits in eight innings in an 11-1 win.

The Twins acquired him for a player to be named later on Friday.

Justin Verlander (12-6) allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings, walking two and striking out six.

Rays 10, Mariners 4

SEATTLE (AP) - Evan Longoria broke a 3-all tie with a 411-foot solo homer and Carlos Pena added a two-run shot in Tampa Bay's win over the Mariners.

Longoria's 24th homer came in the fifth inning and gave Tampa Bay a 4-3 lead. Two batters later, Pena went deep off Seattle reliever Chris Jakubauskas for his 28th homer of the season. Tampa Bay then cushioned its lead with four runs in the eighth, highlighted by Jason Barlett's two-run single.

James Shields (7-8) wasn't near as sharp as his last outing when he took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. But the Rays' righty lasted into the sixth and helped Tampa Bay rebound from Friday night's stunning 7-6 loss in 11 innings.