Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox are back on top in the AL East, just as they were at last year’s All-Star break. They’re hoping this season ends the same way.
Matsuzaka pitched six scoreless innings and the Red Sox reclaimed the division lead, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 Sunday.
The Red Sox moved a half-game ahead of Tampa Bay and took the lead in the East for the first time since June 28. The World Series champs trailed by a season-high five games last weekend, then won five of six while the Rays lost seven in a row.
And David Ortiz’s return is on the horizon.
“I was talking trash to my teammates to make sure they got back in first place before I came back,” Ortiz said. “I can’t wait to start playing again and I am feeling good.”
Ortiz has missed 39 games because of an injured wrist. The All-Star slugger is expected to return in time for a series against the rival New York Yankees on July 25.
In other AL games, it was: Cleveland 5, Tampa Bay 2; Detroit 4, Minnesota 2; Toronto 4, New York Yankees 1; Texas 12, Chicago White Sox 11; Los Angeles Angels 4, Oakland 3, and Seattle 4, Kansas City 3.
At Fenway Park, Matsuzaka (10-1) struggled with his control, but worked around four hits and five walks. Jonathan Papelbon escaped in the ninth for his 28th save of the season and 100th of his career.
“I would’ve liked to have done it without giving up a run,” Papelbon said. “One hundred down and hopefully 3(00), 400 more to go.”
Daniel Cabrera (6-5) fell to 2-10 lifetime against Boston. He somehow managed to only allow one earned run despite permitting 13 runners in 4 1-3 innings.
Indians 5, Rays 2
At Cleveland, Tampa Bay lost its seventh straight game, sending baseball’s feel-good story into the All-Star break on a sour note.
Jhonny Peralta drove in three runs to help Cleveland complete a four-game sweep.
Peralta’s two-run homer off Scott Kazmir (7-5) gave Cleveland a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning and helped knock the Rays out of first place in the AL East.
The Indians entered the series having lost 10 straight, their worst streak since 1979, but outscored the Rays 31-8 to extend their home winning streak over Tampa Bay to 13. The Rays have not won in Cleveland since Sept. 29, 2005.
Tom Mastny (1-2) pitched two perfect innings to earn the win and Masa Kobayashi worked the ninth for his fifth save.
Tigers 4, Twins 2
At Detroit, Justin Verlander tossed seven sharp innings and Detroit beat Minnesota to avoid a four-game sweep.
Verlander (7-9) allowed two runs and four hits, improving to 5-0 in his last seven starts.
Clete Thomas hit his first major league homer for the Tigers, who had lost 10 of their last 12 games to the Twins.
Miguel Cabrera put Detroit ahead 3-2 with a run-scoring groundout in the fifth and Matt Joyce hit his ninth homer in the eighth.
Thomas’ second-inning drive off Nick Blackburn (7-5) gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead and came after a disputed call allowed Marcus Thames to reach first.
Blue Jays 4, Yankees 1
At Toronto, A.J. Burnett came within two outs of a shutout, Marco Scutaro hit a three-run homer and Toronto beat New York for its fifth win in six games.
Pitching on three days’ rest for the third time in his career, Burnett (10-8) allowed one run and six hits. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA when pitching on three days’ rest.
Jason Giambi spoiled Burnett’s shutout bid with a home run in the ninth, his 19th. Jorge Posada followed with a single before B.J. Ryan replaced Burnett. Ryan got Robinson Cano to ground into a double play to record his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
Andy Pettitte (10-7) gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings for New York.
Rangers 12, White Sox 11
At Arlington, Texas, All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler extended his majors-best hitting streak to 25 games with three hits and drove in three runs for the Rangers, who held on for a wild victory.
Marlon Byrd hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh that finally put Texas ahead to stay and Michael Young, one of four Rangers going to Yankee Stadium for the All-Star game, added a two-run single to push his hitting streak to 15 games.
Carlos Quentin and Jermaine Dye homered for Chicago, which had a season-high 22 hits. Boone Logan (2-2) got the loss.
Chicago scored three times in the ninth against closer C.J. Wilson before Jim Thome and Paul Konerko both took called third strikes to end the game.
Jamey Wright (6-4), the third of five Rangers pitchers, allowed a run over 1 2-3 innings.
Angels 4, Athletics 3
At Oakland, Calif., Erick Aybar’s infield single drove in the winning run with two outs in the ninth, leading Los Angeles to the victory.
Casey Kotchman hit a home run and Howie Kendrick drove in two runs to help the Angels record their 19th comeback win and improve to a major league-best 36-19 in games decided by two runs or fewer.
Francisco Rodriguez got out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his major league-leading 38th save in 41 chances.
Huston Street (2-3) got the loss, allowing two runs and three hits in the ninth inning.
Jose Arredondo (3-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.
Mariners 4, Royals 3
At Kansas City, Mo., Adrian Beltre scored the go-ahead run on an error in the ninth, enabling Seattle to close out a disappointing first half of the season with a victory.
Beltre doubled, went to third on a sacrifice bunt, but then got caught when Willie Bloomquist grounded back to Joakim Soria.
Soria threw back to catcher John Buck and Beltre was trapped in a rundown, but a bad throw by Buck went over third baseman Alex Gordon’s head. Beltre dashed home and Bloomquist sped to second.
The run was unearned off Soria (1-2), the Royals’ lone All-Star. Sean Green (2-2) got the win and Brandon Morrow got the final two outs for his ninth save in 11 chances.
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