AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Boston Red Sox gained breathing room in the American League wildcard race when they beat the Chicago White Sox 6-1 behind a pair of home runs and Jon Lester’s strong pitching on Sunday.
The win, coupled with the Texas Rangers’ 7-0 loss to Baltimore, pushed the Red Sox three games in front of Texas in the wildcard chase. It also ended a two-game skid by the Red Sox and a four-game winning streak by the White Sox.
Mike Lowell and Victor Martinez each hit home runs to power the victory as Lester (12-7) won his first start in Chicago.
Lester shut out the White Sox for seven innings while allowing four hits and two walks. His eight strikeouts boosted his total to 204 for the season, making him just the 10th Red Sox pitcher to post more than 200 strikeouts in a single season.
Lowell connected on a two-run homer in the fourth and Martinez broke open the game with a three-run shot in the ninth.
“I was just trying to make sure I was really specific on trying to get a pitch to drive there, because you really don’t want to beat his [starter John Danks’] cutter into the ground with a runner on first,” Lowell said. “He threw me a sinker in and I thought I hit it OK, but I wasn’t sure. I saw [left fielder Carlos] Quentin go back, and it was a pretty good feeling when it got over the fence.”
BLUE JAYS 14, YANKEES 8
At Toronto, rookie Randy Ruiz hit an RBI single during an eight-run fifth, then was hit in the face by a pitch later in the inning as Toronto beat New York.
Ruiz joined the growing list of hitters to get beaned in recent weeks. Down for a few minutes after being hit by Josh Towers, Ruiz walked off the field without assistance and left the game.
The Yankees made a season-high four errors, and outfielders Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera collided while making a catch but were not injured.
Derek Jeter had three hits, and is four away from breaking the Yankees record held by Lou Gehrig (2,721).
In other AL action it was:
• Tigers 5, Rays 3
• Angels 7, Royals 2
• Indians 3, Twins 1
• Orioles 7, Rangers 0
• Athletics 5, Mariners 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, DENVER, COLORADO
Chris Young’s three home runs for Arizona were not enough as Seth Smith connected twice and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 13-5 win and a three-game sweep in the National League on Sunday.
Ian Stewart and Carlos Gonzalez homered, helping Colorado extend its NL wild-card lead to two games over San Francisco.
PADRES 4, DODGERS 3
At Los Angeles, Kevin Kouzmanoff drove in San Diego’s first three runs and Adrian Gonzalez homered in a victory over Los Angeles.
Tim Stauffer (4-6) won his third straight start, allowing three runs and seven hits in six-and-two-third innings. Luke Gregerson struck out the side in the eighth after retiring pinch-hitter Matt Kemp on a flyball for the final out in the seventh, and Heath Bell worked a hitless ninth for his 35th save in 38 attempts.
The loss spoiled the return of Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda from the disabled list in his first outing since getting hit in the head with a line drive on Aug. 15 at Phoenix.
Taiwan’s Kuo Hong-chih pitched scoreless relief in a losing cause.
In other NL action it was:
• Nationals 5, Marlins 4
• Brewers 2, Giants 1, 12 inns
• Reds 4, Braves 2, 12 inns
• Pirates 6, Cardinals 5
• Mets 4, Cubs 2
• Astros 4, Phillies 3
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