AL roundup: Beckett nearly throws no-hitter

DETROIT (AP) " Josh Beckett did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the seventh inning and David Ortiz hit a two-run double, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 10-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night.

The Red Sox, though, lost Kevin Youkilis to a freak injury in the eighth inning. Youkilis was stretching for a throw at first when Josh Anderson appeared to step on the back of his right ankle.

Beckett (6-2) gave up a single to Curtis Granderson with two outs in the seventh to end the no-hit bid. Beckett retired 18 straight batters after walking Placido Polanco with one out in the first until he walked Magglio Ordonez with one out in the seventh. Miguel Cabrera hit a fly to the warning track in right-center before Granderson singled to right.

The Tigers broke up the shutout with five unearned runs in the eighth.

Armando Galarraga (3-6) fell to 0-6 in seven starts since May 1, allowing four runs " three earned " on six hits and two walks in seven innings.

Angels 8, Blue Jays 1

TORONTO (AP) " Jered Weaver had a career-high 10 strikeouts, Bobby Abreu homered and Los Angeles beat Toronto.

Chone Figgins had three hits, drove in a run and scored twice for the Angels, who finished with seven extra-base hits.

Weaver (5-2) allowed one run and three hits in seven innings to win back-to-back starts for the first time this season. The right-hander has an ERA of 1.64 in his past six.

Casey Janssen (1-2) allowed five runs and seven hits in four innings.

Weaver didn't allow a hit through the first four innings but doubles by Adam Lind and Lyle Overbay gave Toronto a run in the fifth.

Jason Bulger and Jose Arredondo finished with an inning each and the Angels moved back above .500 at 26-25.

Rays 9, Royals 0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) " Jeff Niemann took a perfect game into the fifth inning and wound up with a two-hitter, and Ben Zobrist hit a grand slam to help lead Tampa Bay.

Niemann (5-4) retired the first 14 batters before Mark Teahen lined a two-out single to center in the fifth. The right-hander struck out a career-high nine and walked one in his first complete game.

Kansas City closer Joakim Soria got two outs in the eighth in his first outing since being sidelined May 7 with a right rotator cuff strain.

Brian Bannister (4-3) gave up eight runs, nine hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings for the Royals.

Rangers 4, Yankees 2

NEW YORK (AP) " Scott Feldman pitched into the seventh inning to win his third consecutive start and Texas leapfrogged New York for the best record in the American League.

Feldman (5-0) allowed two runs, one earned, and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Jorge Posada homered for the second straight day for New York, which had won five of six and 16 of 20. Andy Pettitte (5-2), who left his previous start with a stiff back, looked shaky over five innings. The Yankees were without first baseman Mark Teixeira, scratched with a bruised right ankle.

Frank Francisco got three outs for his 12th save.

Athletics 5, White Sox 3

CHICAGO (AP) " Bobby Crosby and Landon Powell hit back-to-back homers, Jason Giambi also connected for Oakland.

Joshua Outman (3-0) earned the win, allowing seven hits and three runs " two earned " over 6 2-3 innings. Andrew Bailey got five outs for his third save in six chances.

Chicago starter Clayton Richard (2-1) gave up seven hits and five runs and surrendered all three of Oakland's homers.

Chicago's Jermaine Dye lined his 14th homer, a two-run shot, over the center-field wall in the first.

Indians 10, Twins 1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) " Cliff Lee received some run support for a change and cruised through eight innings for Cleveland.

Lee (3-6) turned in his 10th straight quality start, six innings or more and three runs allowed or less, picking up only his second victory since April 16. The left-hander was handed just 30 runs over his first 11 appearances from the third-highest scoring team in the league.

He scattered seven hits, one walk and a hit batter, striking out five.

Jhonny Peralta's three-run homer against rookie Anthony Swarzak (1-2) was the big hit, part of a two-out, five-run surge in the third inning.

Mariners 3, Orioles 2

SEATTLE (AP) " Franklin Gutierrez tripled with one out in the bottom of the ninth before Adrian Beltre singled him home, sending Seattle to a win over Baltimore.

Gutierrez's drive banged off the top of the wall in left-center just beyond the reach of leaping center fielder Adam Jones. Jim Johnson (2-3) then intentionally walked both Ichiro Suzuki, who had earlier extended his hitting streak to 27 games, and Russell Branyan to load the bases for Beltre.

Johnson fell behind 3-1 on 96 mph fastballs before the crowd of 18,650 stood and roared. On a third 3-2 pitch, Beltre lined a single into left field out of the reach of drawn-in shortstop Cesar Izturis.