NEW YORK (AP) — Kevin Jepsen got Alex Rodriguez to pop out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels took advantage of New York’s baserunning follies to beat the Yankees 10-8 Sunday.
With seemingly no lead safe recently at Yankee Stadium, Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer off Ernesto Frieri to make it 10-7 in the ninth.
After a walk to Nick Swisher, Scott Downs relieved with a 1-0 count to Raul Ibanez. Ibanez knocked the glove off Downs and reached for an infield single. Andruw Jones struck out, Russell Martin had a fielder’s choice and Derek Jeter walked to load the bases.
Downs then walked Curtis Granderson to make it 10-8 before Jepsen came on and retired Rodriguez for his first save since 2009, helping the Angels avoid their first threegame sweep in New York since 1995.
Albert Pujols and Erick Aybar hit consecutive home runs off Ivan Nova (10-4) in the first inning for Los Angeles. The American League rivals combined for eight homers on an ideal day for the long ball.
Jered Weaver (11-1) pitched seven innings to get the win.
Tigers 4, Orioles 0
BALTIMORE (AP) — Justin Verlander returned to form after his uncharacteristic start in the All-Star game, allowing three hits in eight innings to carry Detroit to the win.
Verlander (10-5) struck out eight and walked two in his first appearance since yielding five runs in one inning for the AL in an 8-0 loss Tuesday night. The reigning Cy Young Award winner retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced before leaving after 117 pitches.
Jose Valverde worked the ninth to complete the four-hitter.
Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera homered for the Tigers, who took two of three from the Orioles. Detroit has won seven of eight overall.
Baltimore’s Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) gave up three runs, six hits and five walks over 5.2 innings.
White Sox 2, Royals 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chris Sale scattered a seasonhigh 10 hits over eight innings and Adam Dunn homered for the third consecutive game, pushing the White Sox to the win.
Sale (11-2) allowed one run, struck out four and walked none, improving to 8-0 with a 1.61 ERA in 10 starts since his last loss on May 12 against Kansas City. The All-Star lefthander lowered his season ERA to 2.11, second in the American League.
Dunn, who leads the league with 28 home runs, drilled a 2- 0 pitch from Luis Mendoza (3- 6) just inside the right-field pole for a solo shot in the first inning. Alex Rios scored when Alexei Ramirez grounded into a double play in the second.
Addison Reed worked a scoreless ninth for his 14th save in 16 opportunities.
Chris Getz had an RBI single for Kansas City.
Athletics 9, Twins 4
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Yoenis Cespedes had his first career four-hit game, including a homer and three RBIs, and Oakland completed a three-game series sweep.
Jonny Gomes, Chris Carter and Seth Smith also homered for the A’s, who have won nine of 11 to climb back into the wild-card conversation in the American League. Jarrod Parker (6-4) gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings.
Brian Duensing (1-6) gave the Twins another dreadful start, lasting just two innings and getting tagged for six runs and seven hits.
Gomes finished with three hits and two RBIs.
Rangers 4, Mariners 0
SEATTLE (AP) — Matt Harrison tossed a five-hitter, Adrian Beltre had three hits and two RBIs, and the Rangers won for the fourth time in five games spanning the All-Star break.
Harrison’s 12th win kept him even with Tampa Bay’s David Price for the most in the American League and continued his streak against the Mariners. Harrison (12-4) has won eight straight starts against Seattle and is 5-0 at Safeco Field.
It was Harrison’s second shutout of the season and No. 4 for his career. He threw 114 pitches and allowed just four singles and Brendan Ryan’s two-out double in the fifth inning.
Ian Kinsler hit his 10th homer of the season on the first pitch of the fifth inning by Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma (1-2).
Mariners rookie Jesus Montero singled in the first inning to snap an 0-for-23 skid.
Blue Jays 3, Indians 0
TORONTO (AP) — Carlos Villanueva struck out a career-best eight in six innings and Jose Bautista had two hits for Toronto.
Making his third start of the season after working in relief for much of the year, Villanueva (4-0) allowed three hits and walked five as the Blue Jays earned their first series win since taking two of three at Miami from June 22-24.
Jason Frasor worked the seventh and Darren Oliver pitched the final two innings for his first save as the Blue Jays wrapped up their seventh shutout of the season.
Derek Lowe (8-7) allowed three runs and three hits, struck out five and walked four in six innings for Cleveland.
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