Sun, Sep 20, 2009 page19

• Suzuki leads Mariners past Yankees

  MAJOR LEAGUES The Japanese ace scored his 10th homer of the season in a 3-2 win over the Yankees. Scott Kazmir meanwhile picked up his first win with the Angels

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  AMERICAN LEAGUE

  AP, SEATTLE

  Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Seattle Mariners a dramatic 3-2 win over the New York Yankees on Friday.

  Pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney kept the ninth inning alive with a two-out double. Suzuki then jumped on the first pitch from Yankees closer Mariano Rivera for his 10th homer of the season and second straight day with a game-winning hit.

  It was Suzuki’s third career hit off Rivera, and the only the second blown save of the season for the New York closer.

  ANGELS 2, RANGERS 0

  In Arlington, Texas, Los Angeles moved a step closer to securing the AL West title by beating their closest rival, Texas.

  Scott Kazmir pitched six scoreless innings to get his first victory for the Angels, which moved 7.5 games above the Rangers with only 15 to play.

  Vladimir Guerrero led off the third inning with a 408-foot blast into the left-field seats to put Los Angeles ahead 2-0.

  TWINS 3, TIGERS 0

  In Minneapolis, Minnesota tightened the fight for the AL Central crown by defeating leaders Detroit.

  Michael Cuddyer’s two-run homer off Rick Porcello helped the Twins move within three games of the Tigers — the closest they’ve been in six weeks. Brian Duensing pitched 6-1/3 scoreless innings.

  RED SOX 3, ORIOLES 1

  In Baltimore, Boston won its sixth straight game over Baltimore.

  Clay Buchholz pitched six scoreless innings for the Red Sox, who have won eight of nine to take a seven-game lead in the AL wild-card race.

  Jason Bay hit his team-high 34th home run for Boston.

  RAYS 11, BLUE JAYS 4

  In St Petersburg, Florida, pitcher James Shields won at home for the first time in more than three months, steering Tampa Bay to a comfortable win over Toronto.

  Shields had been 0-5 in his previous 10 starts at Tropicana Field. He gave up four runs in six innings.

  Eight Rays batters reached base to start a six-run third inning.

  ROYALS 11, WHITE SOX 0

  In Chicago, Luke Hochevar pitched his first career shutout as Kansas City thumped Chicago.

  Hochevar allowed just three ­singles and struck out five in his first start since July and won his first game in his past eight decisions.

  ATHLETICS 2, INDIANS 1

  In Oakland, California, Brett Anderson pitched six shutout innings and had a career-high 10 strikeouts to help Oakland edge Cleveland and win their fifth straight.

  Cleveland fell to 0-5 on their current seven-game road trip.

  NATIONAL LEAGUE

  AP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  Ryan Howard homered twice and Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run shot as the Philadelphia Phillies overcame a shortened start by rookie J.A. Happ to end Atlanta’s seven-game winning streak with a 9-4 victory in the National League on Friday.

  Philadelphia, which has won six straight, snapped the Braves’ longest stretch of consecutive victories since July 2006, dropping Atlanta 8.5 games back in the NL East and hurting their fading wild-card chances.

  Howard’s 39th and 40th homers came off Tim Hudson (1-1), who gave up six hits, three runs and one walk with three strikeouts in seven innings.

  Rollins’ 19th homer and Ben Francisco’s fifth homer, a solo shot, accounted for Philadelphia’s four-run ninth against Vladimir Nunez.

  GIANTS 8, DODGERS 4

  At Los Angeles, Eugenio Velez and Pablo Sandoval homered, and pinch-hitter Fred Lewis doubled home the go-ahead run as San Francisco defeated Los Angeles.

  The Giants’ 80th victory — their most since winning 91 in 2004 — moved them 2.5 games behind Colorado in the NL wild card race. The Rockies lost 7-5 at Arizona and still trail the first-place Dodgers by five games in the NL West.

  Ramirez homered and drove in three runs as the Dodgers’ three-game winning streak ended.

  Also on Friday, it was:

  • Diamondbacks 7, Rockies 5

  • Marlins 4, Reds 3

  • Nationals 6, Mets 5

  • Pirates 5, Padres 1

  • Brewers 3, Astros 2

  • Cardinals 3, Cubs 2
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