Associated Press
The AL roundup …
CHICAGO ó Jhonny Peralta and Ryan Raburn ignited the Detroit Tigers offense with back-to-back homers in the second inning as the Detroit Tigers routed the Chicago White Sox 14-4 for their 10th straight win on Monday night.
Itís the Tigersí first 10-game streak since they won 11 in a row in September 1968 before going on to win the World Series that year.
Raburn finished the game with four hits and three RBIs and Peralta added two hits and three RBIs for the Tigers, who reduced their magic number to six in the AL Central.
Detroit starter Rick Porcello (14-8) coasted to an easy victory. He allowed three runs on six hits in 6 2-3 innings. He was tagged for one of Brent Morelís two home runs.
The Tigers began their win streak with a sweep of the White Sox during a lopsided three-game series Sept. 3-5 in Detroit. The Tigers outscored Chicago 35-11 to sweep that series and continued to embarrass their divisional rival with a 14-run explosion on Tuesday night.
The game was eerily familiar to the 18-2 loss on Sept. 4 for the White Sox. Chicago pitching allowed 21 hits Monday night compared to the 24 in the 18-2 loss.
White Sox starter John Danks (6-12) lasted five innings allowing eight runs, seven earned on 11 hits.
Trailing 1-0 in the second inning, Victor Martinez led off with a single against Danks. One out later, Peralta hit a two-run shot to left giving the Tigers lead. On the next pitch, Raburn hit another ball into left-field seats to make it 3-1.
Leading 3-2 in the third, Delmon Young led off with a single and advanced to third on Miguel Cabrera’s ground-rule double to right. Young scored on Alex Avila’s groundout and Cabrera scored on Peralta’s single. It was Peralta’s 19th of the season and Raburn’s 13th.
Rays 5, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE ó B.J. Upton was far more delighted with a victory than etching his name in the Tampa Bay record book ó twice.
Upton doubled twice and took two walks to set a team mark by reaching base in nine straight plate appearances, and the resurgent Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Monday night for their fifth straight victory.
Upton went 4 for 4 with a walk on Sunday against Boston, then reached base four successive times against the Orioles before striking out in the eighth inning. Eight times previously a Tampa Bay player got on base in eight straight plate appearances, the last one being Upton in May 2008.
The two walks made Upton the Raysí career leader with 375. Carlos Pena held the record with 373.
Upton was pleased with his accomplishment, only because it contributed to Tampa Bayís eighth win in nine games. The Rays moved within three games of idle Boston in the AL wild-card race after trailing by nine on Sept. 2.
ěI just want to help this team whether itís offensively or defensively, and right now it happens to be on the offensive end,î Upton said. ěI feel good right now, and Iíll just try to feel good as long as I can. The hits are just falling.î
And manager Joe Maddon is loving it.
ěThatís pretty impressive. Heís getting good at-bats,î Maddon said. ěHeís been taking his walks and when they come in the zone heís hitting it. Heís been fantastic, heís been really high-end of late, maybe as good as Iíve seen him. Heís playing with a lot of focus and intensity.î
Ben Zobrist had three hits and three RBIs for the Rays and Jeff Niemann (10-7) gave up two runs and six hits in 7 2-3 innings. Neimannís previous outing, a defeat against Texas on Sept. 6, was Tampa Bayís lone loss in nine games.
Joel Peralta worked the ninth for his third save.
After playing Baltimore twice more, the Rays head to Boston for a four-game series. They would love to arrive at Fenway Park down by three games or fewer.
ěIt will be more exciting,î Peralta said.
The victory assured the Rays (82-64) of their fourth consecutive winning season. Only the New York Yankees (19), Red Sox (14) and Philadelphia Phillies (9) have a longer current streak.
But Tampa Bay is looking for more, such as its third playoff appearance in four years.
ěThereís nothing to complain about right now,î Maddon said. ěWeíve worked ourselves back into a good spot.î
Matt Wieters homered for the Orioles, who have dropped three straight. Baltimore needs to go 5-11 the rest of the way to avoid the third 100-loss season since the team moved from St. Louis in 1954.
Rookie starter Zach Britton (9-10) gave up five runs, five hits and four walks in five innings. He was 3-0 in his last four starts.
ěIt starts and stops with fastball command,î manager Buck Showalter said. ěThatís one of the reasons Tampa is doing a good job with their starters. They have guys with good command of the fastball. Zach didnít have it tonight.î
The Rays went up 3-0 in the third. Brandon Guyer doubled and Upton walked before Zobrist hit a two-run double and scored on a two-out single by Sean Rodriguez.
Upton hit a leadoff double in the fifth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnny Damon for a 4-0 lead.
Robert Andino doubled in a run for Baltimore in the bottom half, and Wieters hit his 18th homer in the sixth.
Upton doubled off Jeremy Accardo leading off the seventh and Zobrist delivered an RBI single.
NOTES: The Rays have won 22 straight when scoring at least five runs. … Tampa Bay purchased the contract of LHP Matt Moore from Triple-A Durham, giving the Rays 32 players on the active roster. … Baltimore activated RHP Jason Berken (forearm strain) from the 15-day DL. … Tampa Bay is 6-1 in Baltimore and 3-6 against the Orioles at home. … The Rays send 12-game winner David Price to the mound Tuesday night against Baltimoreís Alfredo Simon, who is 1-0 lifetime in five appearances against Tampa Bay.