AL roundup: Blaock's second homer give Rangers win

Rangers 9, Angels 7

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Hank Blalock's second homer of the game, a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth inning, gave Texas a 9-7 victory over Los Angeles on Wednesday night and moved the Rangers within one-half game of the Angels in the AL West.

Juan Rivera's three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth off Frank Francisco (2-1) tied the game at 7-all as the Angels erased a six-run deficit.

Michael Young singled off Justin Speier (3-2) leading off the Texas ninth. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout Blalock, who homered in the fourth, hit the first pitch into the grassy area beyond the fence in center field.

Texas improved to 5-1 against Los Angeles this season. The teams meet again for a three-game set next week in Los Angeles.

The Angels scored three runs in both the seventh and ninth to tie the game.

Francisco pitched the ninth in a save situation for the first time since coming off the disabled list June 20.

Yankees 4, Mariners 2

NEW YORK (AP) - Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer and Andy Pettitte pitched seven strong innings in New York's seventh straight victory.

Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera also went deep for the Yankees, who overcame Ken Griffey Jr.'s 621st home run to win their 10th straight home game against Seattle since Sept. 4, 2007.

Mariano Rivera saved his third consecutive game, increasing his career total to 502 and getting his 20th in 21 chances this season.

Pettitte (8-3) outpitched fellow lefty Jarrod Washburn (4-6) in a game that took just 2 hours, 17 minutes. The Yankees (45-32) are a season-high 13 games over .500.

Rodriguez hit a two-run drive in the sixth, No. 566 of his career. He is three behind Rafael Palmeiro for 10th place.

White Sox 6, Indians 2

CLEVELAND (AP) - Jose Contreras got a rare road win, pitching eight superb innings as Chicago won its fifth straight.

Contreras (3-7) improved to 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Charlotte after a monthlong demotion. The right-hander, who was 1-6 in his previous 10 road starts, allowed two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and a walked.

Cleveland has dropped five straight and 13 of 15.

Chicago backup catcher Ramon Castro hit a three-run homer off Jeremy Sowers (2-6) in a four-run sixth as the White Sox improved to 12-4 since June 13 to move within three games of first-place Detroit.

The White Sox completed their first three-game sweep of Cleveland since the final weekend of the 2005 season.

Red Sox 6, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE (AP) - Boston used a four-run ninth inning to pull even, Julio Lugo singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th and Jonathan Papelbon became the franchise's career saves leader.

Papelbon got three outs in the 11th for his 20th save this season and 133rd with the Red Sox, breaking the team record held by Bob Stanley. Less than 24 hours earlier, Papelbon yielded the key hit in the eighth inning of a game in which Boston blew a 10-1 lead before losing 11-10.

In this one, Red Sox pitchers retired the final 24 batters. Ty Wigginton hit a leadoff homer in the fourth off Josh Beckett to put the Orioles up 5-1, but that would be Baltimore's final baserunner.

Ramon Ramirez (5-2) worked the 10th for the Red Sox, who took two of three from Baltimore for their seventh straight series win.

Danys Baez (4-2) was the loser. Blue Jays 5, Rays 0

TORONTO (AP) - Ricky Romero pitched four-hit ball over eighth innings, Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered and the Blue Jays ended Tampa Bay's seven-game winning streak.

Romero (6-3) matched the longest outing of his career in winning his third straight start. He walked four, struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 2.85. Romero allowed just two hits through the first six innings.

Toronto snapped a four game losing streak thanks to a trio of solo home runs off James Shields (6-6).

Twins 5, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Joe Mauer went 3 for 3, raising his average to .392 and backing pitcher Glen Perkins in Minnesota's victory over the Royals.

After walking in the first inning, Mauer stroked three consecutive singles, driving in one run and scoring another as the Twins completed a 6-3 trip that began in Milwaukee and St. Louis. He was walked intentionally in the eighth.

Perkins (4-4) allowed one run for the second straight start, scattering 10 hits in seven innings. Joe Nathan got the final out for his 21st save in 23 opportunities.

Gil Meche (4-8), whose "dead arm" the previous two starts had created concern among the Royals, gave up three runs - two earned - six hits and five walks in six inning.

Athletics 5, Tigers 1

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Jason Giambi and Jack Cust broke out of funks with two-run homers, Dallas Braden ended a four-start winless stretch and the Athletics beat Detroit.

Giambi's drive in the sixth off Justin Verlander (8-4) was home run No. 407, tying him with Duke Snider for 43rd place. Giambi, who has been dealing with sore legs and entered the game with an American League-low .197 batting average, was in a 2-for-28 stretch before the homer after striking out in his first two at-bats.

Cust had been 4 for 24 with 13 strikeouts in his previous seven games.

Braden (6-7) pitched seven strong innings to win for the first time in five starts since beating Baltimore on June 5.