BOSTON — Daniel Nava’s long single to center field capped a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Boston Red Sox stung the Seattle Mariners 8-7 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.
BOSTON — Daniel Nava’s long single to center field capped a six-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Boston Red Sox stung the Seattle Mariners 8-7 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.
One night after winning in 15 innings for their major league-leading 10th walkoff victory, the Red Sox did it again to open a one-game lead in the AL East over idle Tampa Bay.
Henry Blanco hit a grand slam and Felix Hernandez pitched seven innings of six-hit ball to help Seattle take a 7-1 lead after five innings. But Boston scored once in the eighth and six more in the ninth against three relievers who recorded just one out.
Steven Wright (2-0) pitched three scoreless innings in relief of Ryan Dempster. Oliver Perez (2-3), who blew a seventh-inning lead on Wednesday, took the loss.
ORIOLES 6, ASTROS 3
BALTIMORE — One day after being acquired from Houston, Bud Norris dominated his former teammates over six innings in his Orioles debut, and Baltimore got a home run from Chris Davis to beat Houston.
The only runs Norris (7-9) allowed were on solo homers by Brett Wallace and Mark Krauss.
The right-hander gave up four hits, walked two, and his season-high eight strikeouts included three by cleanup hitter Chris Carter.
Jim Johnson worked the ninth for his 37th save.
Davis hit his major league-leading 39th home run in the seventh, a solo shot that gave him 100 RBIs for the season.
He is the 39th player in club history to reach the 100-RBI mark and the first since Nick Markakis in 2009.
Jordan Lyles (4-5) took the loss.
ROYALS 7, TWINS 2
MINNEAPOLIS — The Kansas City Royals won their ninth straight game, stretching their longest winning streak in more than a decade by beating Minnesota behind Billy Butler’s hitting and Lorenzo Cain’s highlight reel catch in center field.
The Royals last won nine straight when they opened the 2003 season at 9-0. The last time Kansas City won more in a row was a 10-game string in 1994, STATS said.
Butler had two hits and drove in two runs. Justin Maxwell had a hit and an RBI a day after being acquired in a trade with Houston.
James Shields (6-7) gave up two runs on five hits and five walks in six innings for the Royals.
Scott Diamond (5-10) gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings and was sent to Triple-A. Justin Morneau homered and doubled for the Twins.
INDIANS 6, WHITE SOX 1
CLEVELAND — Ryan Raburn homered twice and drove in four runs and the Cleveland Indians won their eighth consecutive game, topping the Chicago White Sox.
The Indians have won 13 of 17 and completed a four-game sweep of the reeling White Sox, who have dropped seven in a row and are 26 games under .500 for the first time since 1980.
Justin Masterson (13-7) outpitched Chris Sale (6-11) in a matchup of All-Stars.
RANGERS 7, D’BACKS 1
ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish struck out 14, matching the most in his 50 major league starts, and the Texas Rangers hit three solo homers and beat Arizona in a makeup game.
Darvish (10-5) had no walks and scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings. It was his major league-leading eighth game this season with at least 10 strikeouts.
Darvish struck out 10 of the first 13 batters.
A.J. Pierzynski, Mitch Moreland and David Murphy all homered off Zeke Spruill (0-1), who went four innings in his first major league start.
ANGELS 8, BLUE JAYS 2
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mark Trumbo homered in the Angels’ four-run first inning, Garrett Richards allowed four hits over seven strong innings, and Los Angeles snapped its six-game losing streak.
J.B. Shuck drove in three runs for the Angels, who avoided their longest skid in more than three years by pounding Toronto starter Josh Johnson for 10 hits in the opener of a four-game series between underachieving clubs expected to be AL contenders.