Mark Teixeira waited two years for his second career three-homer game. Cito Gaston waited much longer for another win managing the Toronto Blue Jays.
Teixeira connected from both sides of the plate, leading the Atlanta Braves to an 8-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. It was the first three-homer game for an Atlanta player at Turner Field.
“Teixeira blasted off today,” manager Bobby Cox said. “He’s just been waiting for that home run swing to come around, and it sure did today.”
The Blue Jays also got a win behind the long ball, with Scott Rolen and Adam Lind powering an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that gave Gaston his first victory as their manager in 11 years. Toronto snapped a seven-game losing streak and scored its most runs since a 9-8 loss to the New York Yankees on June 5.
“It was a big win for us,” Gaston said. “I thought overall everybody did a great job today. We scored some runs and (Pittsburgh) caught up with us, but they went back and battled again and scored some runs.”
In other games Sunday, it was the Los Angeles Angels 3, Philadelphia 2; Boston 5, St. Louis 3 in 13 innings; the Chicago Cubs 7, the Chicago White Sox 1; the New York Yankees 4, Cincinnati 1; Milwaukee 7, Baltimore 3; Minnesota 5, Arizona 3; Kansas City 11, San Francisco 10; Detroit 5, San Diego 3; the Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Cleveland 3; Oakland 7, Florida 1; Houston 3, Tampa Bay 2; and Texas 5, Washington 3.
In the only National League game, the New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies, 3-1.
With Chipper Jones sitting out with a strained right quadriceps, Atlanta’s other switch-hitting slugger came up with his best game in awhile. Teixeira drove in four runs for the third time this season.
He hit solo drives batting left-handed in the second and fourth innings, and a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh for his 13th homer of the season.
“I haven’t been very consistent,” said Teixeira, who began the day hitting only .264 with 10 homers and 51 RBIs. “For a game like that to help us win, it was very nice.”
Tim Hudson (8-5) allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.96 and finally win an interleague game with Atlanta. Before Sunday, Hudson was 0-10 with a 7.82 ERA in 12 interleague starts with the Braves. He was 0-3 with an 11.25 ERA against AL West teams.
“He was Huddy today,” catcher Brian McCann said. “We needed a big win and he stepped up and did it for us.”
Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells did the stepping up for Toronto, driving in two runs apiece to help avoid a sweep and the third 0-6 trip in franchise history. Joe Inglett went 3-for-4 and Marco Scutaro scored three runs.
“There’s not relief but happiness,” Inglett said. “It was good to see guys running around the bases laughing and having a good time again. … Hopefully that will continue.”
Gaston, who managed the Blue Jays from 1989-97 and won two World Series titles, took over again Friday when the club fired John Gibbons. He went 681-635 during his first stint before guiding the team to losses in the first two games of the series.
“It has been a long road trip, but hopefully this gets us going,” Overbay said. “The good thing about coming out of it is that we had good at-bats. We’re getting those quality at-bats, giving ourselves opportunities.”
Dustin McGowan (6-5) allowed four runs – three earned – and nine hits in five innings for Toronto. He improved to 4-1 in his past six starts.
B.J. Ryan pitched the ninth for his 15th save.
“We swung the bats well today,” Rolen said. “We were aggressive in the zone and put a lot of pressure on them.”
Cubs 7, White Sox 1
At Chicago, Ryan Dempster (9-2) won his ninth straight decision this season at Wrigley Field and Eric Patterson and Aramis Ramirez homered in the same inning for the Cubs, who finished a three-game sweep of the White Sox.
The Cubs, the owners of the best record in the majors (48-28), won their 14th straight home game to go 32-8 at Wrigley Field this season.
Red Sox 5, Cardinals 3, 13 innings
At Boston, Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer off Mike Parisi in the bottom of the 13th inning to help avoid the Red Sox’s first home sweep since last April.
Angels 3, Phillies 2
At Philadelphia, Jered Weaver held the Phillies in check, Casey Kotchman homered and Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep with Francisco Rodriguez getting his 30th save.
Yankees 4, Reds 1
At New York, Andy Pettitte ran his shutout streak to 19 innings helping the Yankees avoid a three-game sweep, despite Ken Griffey Jr. hitting his 601st home run.
Royals 11, Giants 10
At Kansas City, Mo., Mike Aviles had three RBIs and Joey Gathright drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, capping a rally from seven down.
Dodgers 4, Indians 3
At Los Angeles, Russell Martin capped a four-run first inning with a two-run homer and the Dodgers beat Cleveland to avoid a three-game sweep in the first series between the teams at Chavez Ravine.
Astros 3, Rays 2
At St. Petersburg, Fla., Carlos Lee hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Brandon Backe pitched into the seventh inning to stop a personal three-game losing slide
Twins 5, Diamondbacks 3
At Minneapolis, Brian Buscher had two hits and drove in two runs, helping the Twins beat struggling Brandon Webb and Arizona. Webb is 2-4 after starting the season 9-0.
Athletics 7, Marlins 1
At Oakland, Calif., Justin Duchscherer bounced back from a first-inning home run to win his fourth straight start, Emil Brown hit a two-run single and Oakland won the rubber game.
Rangers 5, Nationals 3
At Washington, Frank Catalanotto delivered a tiebreaking, pinch-hit single in the eighth inning, Vicente Padilla gave up three runs and five hits over seven innings and the Rangers rallied to beat the Nationals.
Brewers 7, Orioles 3
At Milwaukee, Prince Fielder hit two home runs, Corey Hart and Bill Hall also went deep and the Milwaukee beat Baltimore for its sixth win in seven games.
Tigers 5, Padres 3
At San Diego, Magglio Ordonez hit a two-run homer, Justin Verlander won his first road game of the season and Detroit beat San Diego in the rubber game of a three-game series.
Mets 3, Rockies 1
At Denver, Mike Pelfrey carried a shutout into the sixth, Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer and New York beat Colorado to wrap up a winning road trip under interim manager Jerry Manuel.
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