Lester stifles Yanks
NEW YORK — Jon Lester received key help from relievers Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon in ending his career-worst four-game skid, and the Boston Red Sox salvaged a series split by beating the New York Yankees 2-1 Monday.
Boston took the finale of the wraparound series that had four different start times because of national TV demands. The win ensured the third-place Red Sox remained six games behind AL East-leading New York, their standing when the set began.
The Yankees went 3-4 on their homestand. They head to Texas for a showdown between first-place teams.
Lester (12-7) didn't give up a hit until Austin Kearns singled with one out in the fifth inning, and was lifted for Bard with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh — and Derek Jeter and Nick Swisher due up.
Bard pumped six pitches past the Yankees Nos. 1 and 2 hitters, reaching 99 mph several times while striking them out.
Orioles 3, White Sox 2Brian Roberts hit his first home run of the season leading off the 10th inning, and the Orioles continued their uncanny run of success under new manager Buck Showalter with a victory over the White Sox.Baltimore is 6-1 since Showalter made his debut last Tuesday. Earl Weaver is the only other manager in the history of the Orioles to win six of his first seven games.
Rays 6, Tigers 3Matt Joyce homered and the Rays snapped their five-game losing streak with a win over the Tigers.Tampa Bay got within 1½ games of first-place New York, and Detroit lost for the eighth time in 10 games to stay nine behind Chicago in the AL Central.
Mariners 3, Athletics 1Last-place Seattle welcomed new interim manager Daren Brown by getting its first triple play in 15 years in a win over the Athletics.Brown moved up from Triple-A Tacoma earlier Monday when Seattle fired first-time manager Don Wakamatsu after 1½ seasons.Brown became the 10th of Seattle's 17 managers to win their first game.
Angels 6, Royals 4Bobby Abreu had three hits and drove in four runs to help the Angels defeat the Royals.The Angels hung on to win for just the third time in their last seven games after blowing most of a 5-0 lead.Ervin Santana (11-8) allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked one.
Giants 4, Cubs 3Carlos Zambrano matched his career high with seven walks in his first start since a June 25 dugout blowup and ensuing banishment, and his short-handed Chicago Cubs lost to the San Francisco Giants 4-3 in 11 innings Monday night long after he left the game.Pat Burrell hit a game-ending sacrifice fly off loser Marcos Mateo (0-1), who made his major league debut after being called up earlier in the day.
Cardinals 7, Reds 3Skip Schumaker hit his first career grand slam during St. Louis Cardinals' biggest inning of the season, supplying more than enough runs for right-hander Chris Carpenter.The Cardinals provided a lopsided start to their showdown for first place in the NL Central, trimming Cincinnati's lead to one game.
D'Backs 7, Brewers 4Stephen Drew hit a two-run single and Ryan Church added a pinch-hit RBI in the 10th inning as Arizona rallied against Trevor Hoffman.
Astros 10, Braves 4Hot-hitting rookie Chris Johnson drove in three runs, including two in Houston's six-run seventh inning, and the Astros took advantage of sloppy play by Atlanta.
