Major League Baseball: American League Roundup
Published 12:00 am Saturday, July 4, 2009
Associated Press
The American League roundup …NEW YORK ó Jorge Posada hit a game-winning RBI single in the 12th inning to lift the New York Yankees to a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday.
With one out and runners on first and second, Posada lined a 1-1 pitch from Shawn Camp into center field. Alex Rodriguez scored without a play as the Yankees poured out of the dugout to congratulate Posada.
The Yankees have won nine of 10 to move a season-best 14 games above .500 and pull within a game of AL East-leading Boston.
Mariners 3, Red Sox 2
BOSTON ó Chris Woodward’s bases-loaded pop up in the ninth inning dropped behind a partially draw-in infield to score the go-ahead run and lift the Mariners over the Red Sox.
Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer for Boston, which also lost Friday’s series opener. The Red Sox had won their previous seven series overall. It was just their third series loss in their last 12 in Fenway Park.
Royals 6, White Sox 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Alberto Callaspo drove in three runs and the Kansas City Royals eclipsed their run total from their previous four games in a victory over the White Sox that snapped Chicago’s seven-game winning streak.
Callaspo hit an RBI triple off Gavin Floyd (6-6) in the fifth for Kansas City’s first run in 13 innings.
Twins 4, Tigers 3
MINNEAPOLIS ó Justin Morneau had four hits, including a homer and the tying single in the seventh inning, and the Twins came back to beat the Tigers.
Magglio Ordonez’s three-run homer in the seventh spoiled an otherwise stellar start by Francisco Liriano, but Morneau capped the rally with his hit in the bottom of the inning.
Matt Guerrier (4-0) pitched one inning for the win, and Joe Nathan wrapped it up with his 22nd save to pull the Twins within three games of the first-place Tigers.
Indians 5, Athletics 2
CLEVELAND ó Carl Pavano earned his first win in five starts, helping the Indians to a victory over the Athletics.
Ben Francisco and Grady Sizemore hit homers off Vin Mazzaro (2-4) for Cleveland, which won consecutive games for the first time since June 11-12.
Rangers 12, Rays 4
ARLINGTON, Texas ó Andruw Jones homered and drove in four runs, Michael Young added a three-run double and the Texas Rangers roughed up David Price to win their fourth in a row.
Nelson Cruz, who had three hits, connected for his 20th home run of the season in support of Rangers starter Derek Holland (2-5), who won for the first time as a starter.
Angles 11, Orioles 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. ó Vladimir Guerrero hit his third home run of the season and had four RBIs, and the Los Angeles Angels used a late rally to beat the Baltimore Orioles.
Guerrero’s three-run shot in the eighth brought some of the Fourth of July fireworks out early. He hit it off reliever Brian Bass to left field and came out for a curtain call after fans cheered for him. The Angels set off celebratory fireworks after the homer.