Associated Press
The AL roundup…
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó Jeremy Hellickson pitched seven strong innings and Tampa Bay took advantage of sloppy New York defense to score two runs that gave the Rays a 3-2 victory over the Yankees on Tuesday night.
Hellickson (9-7) retired 13 of 15 batters after giving up a two-run homer to Robinson Cano in the third inning, helping his team stay close until the sputtering Rays offense could finally break through against Bartolo Colon.
Robinson Chirinos and Sean Rodriguez singled, chasing Colon (6-6) with one out in the seventh. Thatís when things really awry for New York.
Center fielder Curtis Granderson lost pinch-hitter Justin Ruggianoís fly ball in the Tropicana Field roof for a single off Boone Logan that loaded the bases. It looked as though the Yankees might escape the jam when the next batter ó pinch-hitter Elliot Johnson ó hit a tailor-made, double-play grounder back to the mound, but the ball glanced off Loganís glove for an error that enabled the Rays to tie it at 2.
Rodriguez raced home from third for the go-ahead run on Johnny Damonís sacrifice fly to shallow center. Granderson charged in to make a sliding catch, scrambled to his feet but threw wildly to the plate.
Orioles 6, Red Sox 2
BALTIMORE ó Jeremy Guthrie allowed two runs in seven innings in an effort that belied his title as the losingest pitcher in the majors, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Boston 6-2 Tuesday night to end a seven-game losing streak against the Red Sox.
Derrek Lee and Mark Reynolds hit successive homers in the eighth inning off Alfredo Aceves to turn a shaky one-run lead into a more comfortable cushion for the Orioles, who lost their previous seven games against Boston this season by a combined score of 61-32.
Royals 4, White Sox 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Danny Duffy returned from the minors to toss seven sharp innings, Matt Treanor delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth and the light-hitting Kansas City Royals hung on to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Twins 2, Indians 1
MINNEAPOLIS ó Danny Valencia hit a two-run single off closer Chris Perez in the ninth inning, sending the Minnesota Twins to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
Perez (2-5) is in the middle of a solid year but the Twins got to him for a big win. He walked Joe Mauer and gave up a double to Michael Cuddyer. Jim Thome was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Valencia followed with a bloop single.
Tigers 8, Aís 3
DETROIT ó Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen each hit a two-run homer in Detroitís six-run fifth inning, and the Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics 8-3 on Tuesday night.
The Tigers trailed 3-1 before they grabbed control in the fifth against Guillermo Moscoso (3-5).
After Magglio Ordonez brought Detroit to within a run with a sacrifice fly, Cabrera hit his 20th homer of the season, putting the Tigers ahead to stay.
It was his 600th career extra-base hit.
Detroitís Rick Porcello (9-6) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings.
Moscoso (3-5) allowed six earned runs in 4 2-3 innings.
Detroitís Victor Martinez scored the first run of the game on a wacky play at home, sidestepping Kurt Suzukiís tag and then reaching back with his arm to touch the plate.
Moscoso hadnít allowed more than four earned runs in a game all season, but the middle of Detroitís batting order was more than he could handle in the fifth. Cabreraís homer went an estimated 422 feet over the left-field fence. Martinez followed with a double, and Jhonny Peraltaís RBI single made it 5-3.
Guillen then hit his first home run since Aug. 14 ó shortly before his 2010 season ended because of a left knee injury. Guillen didnít return to the lineup until Saturday. He reached base four times Tuesday.
Brennan Boesch hit his second double of the game in the sixth, driving in another run to make it 8-3.
The Tigers might have figured this was their night after Martinez showed impressive agility to score in the fourth inning. He was on first with two out when Guillen hit a hard grounder that handcuffed first baseman Conor Jackson for an error. The ball bounced over into foul territory down the right-field line, and Martinez tried to come all the way around.
David DeJesusí throw was in plenty of time but a bit wide of the plate on the first-base side. Suzuki caught it and dove back to tag Martinez, but the runner wasnít there yet.
Rather than slide, Martinez sidestepped the plate entirely. When Suzuki, almost on all fours at the plate, reached out again to make the tag, Martinez reached back with his left arm and touched home.
Oakland manager Bob Melvin came out to argue the safe call to no avail. It was 1-0 Tigers.
Oakland answered back immediately with three runs in the fifth. Ryan Sweeney hit an RBI single, and Hideki Matsui hit a two-run single.
NOTES: Guillenís homer was upheld after a review. Replays showed the ball hit a fan above the wall in right-center. … The Tigers agreed to terms with OF Tyler Collins, a sixth-round draft pick. … Oakland 3B Scott Sizemore left in the fourth after being hit in the left jaw by a pitch. Sizemore was squaring to bunt when he was beaned. X-rays were negative, and he is day to day. … Detroit CF Austin Jackson (sore left wrist) played for the first time since the All-Star break. He had two hits and scored twice. … Boesch had three hits, as did Oaklandís Cliff Pennington.