NEW YORK, N.Y. – Hiroki Kuroda tied a career high by striking out 11 and the New York Yankees backed him with three home runs, beating the White Sox 4-0 on Saturday and ending Chicago’s four-game winning streak.
A day after outfielder Dewayne Wise was perfect in his pro pitching debut during a mop-up role, he was perfect at the plate. He had three hits and homered, with Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano also connecting.
Kuroda (8-7) pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and walked one in the matchup of AL division leaders.
Jake Peavy (6-5) struck out 11 without a walk in his fourth complete game this year.
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BLUE JAYS 11, ANGELS 2
TORONTO (AP) – Yunel Escobar homered during a seven-run burst in the second inning and Brett Lawrie of Langley, B.C., later added a three-run shot, leading the Toronto Blue Jays over the Los Angeles Angels.
Lawrie also doubled and singled. He drove in three runs and scored three before leaving after the seventh.
The Angels lost consecutive games for the first time since June 3-4.
Los Angeles rookie Mike Trout, who came in leading the AL with a .342 average, was held hitless for the first time in 12 games. He finished 0 for 4, dropping his average to .336.
Henderson Alvarez (5-6) worked seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time since May 10.
Garrett Richards (2-1) lost for the first time in five starts this season. He allowed 10 runs, five of them unearned, and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings.
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INDIANS 11, ORIOLES 5
BALTIMORE (AP) – Shin-Soo Choo went 4 for 5 with a homer, scored four runs and collected three RBIs to lead the Cleveland Indians past the Baltimore Orioles.
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Shelley Duncan also homered for the Indians, who had a season-high 19 hits – eclipsing their previous high of 16, set Friday night in a 9-8 loss at Camden Yards.
Chris Davis connected for the Orioles, who have lost eight of 11. During the game, Baltimore announced the acquisition of slugger Jim Thome from Philadelphia for two minor leaguers.
Jose Lopez had five hits and drove in three runs for the Indians, Asdrubal Cabrera had three hits and two RBIs, and Lou Marson had four hits, scored three runs and finished a homer short of the cycle.
Cleveland’s Josh Tomlin (4-5) allowed five runs and seven hits in six innings. Baltimore starter Dana Eveland (0-1) gave up five runs in 3 2/3 innings.
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TWINS 7, ROYALS 2, 1st GAME
TWINS 5, ROYALS 1, 2nd GAME
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Joe Mauer homered, rookie Cole De Vries threw six strong innings and the Minnesota Twins swept a day-night doubleheader against the Kansas City Royals.
Josh Willingham and Chris Parmelee also homered for the Twins, who finished June with a 14-13 record – their first winning month in almost a year.
The Twins took the opener 7-2 as Scott Diamond pitched eight solid innings and Trevor Plouffe homered.
Pitching in front of his hometown fans, De Vries (2-1) struck out a career-high six and held the Royals to five hits. Kansas City’s lone run against him came on Billy Butler’s homer leading off the second.
Luke Hochevar (5-8) allowed five runs and eight hits, including Minnesota’s three homers.
In the opener, Diamond (7-3) allowed two runs and six hits to give Minnesota a big lift. Jonathan Sanchez (1-4) didn’t fare nearly as well Diamond, issuing six walks and leaving after 4 1-3 innings.
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TIGERS 6, RAYS 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Rick Porcello allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Austin Jackson hit a three-run homer and the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays.
Porcello (6-5) struck out four in winning for the third time in four starts.
Jackson put the Tigers up 4-0 with his eighth homer in the eighth off Joel Peralta, who returned after serving an eight-game suspension for having pine tar on his glove.
Rays starter Jeremy Hellickson (4-4) left in the third after being struck in the lower right leg by Prince Fielder’s liner. The Rays said Hellickson, who missed his previous two starts because of right shoulder inflammation, has a bruised shin and X-rays were negative.
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ATHLETICS 7, RANGERS 2
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer to cap a big fifth inning, Martin Perez won his first career start and the Texas Rangers extended their winning streak to five games.
Hamilton drove in four runs to help Texas (50-29) become the first team in baseball to reach 50 victories. The Rangers have won 17 of 21 games since June 8.
The 21-year-old Perez (1-0) allowed two runs and struck out five in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander gave up six hits and walked one.
Oakland’s Tommy Milone (8-6) gave up six runs – only one earned – in five innings.
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MARINERS 3, RED SOX 2, 11 innings
SEATTLE (AP) – Chone Figgins’ sacrifice fly in the 11th inning was deep enough for Dustin Ackley to beat Cody Ross’ throw to the plate and the Seattle Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox.
With the Red Sox’s infield playing in and expecting a possible squeeze bunt from Figgins, Seattle manager Eric Wedge let his little-used utility player hit. Figgins came through with a line drive off Boston closer Alfredo Aceves (0-5) that Ross caught cleanly in right field. He made a strong throw, but the ball bounced before getting to the plate and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia could not pick it cleanly.
Ackley started the rally with a one-out single and advanced to third on Miguel Olivo’s base hit.
Shawn Kelley (2-2) pitched the 11th for the victory, but the bigger performance was Seattle closer Tom Wilhelmsen working two scoreless innings.
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