TORONTO (AP) -After nine straight losses, the Toronto Blue Jays needed a break. They got a big one when Boston slugger David Ortiz missed a grand slam by inches.
Scott Rolen and Rod Barajas each had two RBIs, right-hander Casey Janssen won for the first time in more than two years and Toronto snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 6-3 victory Friday night.
“It’s a relief,” Janssen said. “Against Boston, it’s big for us.”
The Blue Jays returned home after a winless trip to Boston, Atlanta and Baltimore that dropped them from first to third in the AL East. Toronto won its fifth straight at Rogers Centre, where it is 17-6 overall, and ended a four-game skid against Boston.
Things might have gone differently had the slumping Ortiz got any more of the ball on a first-inning, bases-loaded drive to center. Vernon Wells turned Boston away empty-handed with a warning-track catch.
“I can’t swing the bat better than that,” Ortiz said. “Things just aren’t happening.”
n the fifth and flied to left in the eighth.
“All I can do about myself right now is laugh because I ain’t going to cry,” Ortiz said. “Laugh, keep on swinging and wait for the good luck charm to show up, because there’s nothing else I can do.”
Janssen (1-1), who missed last season after shoulder surgery, started for the second time since being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas. He allowed three runs and 11 hits in seven innings to win for the first time since May 24, 2007, at Baltimore.
“It’s been a while,” Janssen said. “It’s good to be back.”
Brandon League worked a perfect eighth, and Scott Downs closed it out for his sixth save in seven opportunities.
Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield (6-3) allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings, matching his shortest outing this season.
“I didn’t have a clean inning today, which hurt,” Wakefield said.
Rangers 6, Athletics 3, first game
Rangers 5, Athletics 2, second game
At Arlington, Texas, Scott Feldman allowed five hits over six innings to help Texas complete a doubleheader sweep. In the first game, Andruw Jones hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth.
urth save. Wilson (2-2) won the opener, pitching a perfect eighth.
In the opener, Frank Francisco pitched the ninth for his 11th save and 16th in a row over the last two seasons.
Yankees 3, Indians 1
At Cleveland, Andy Pettitte pitched five scoreless innings before leaving because of a stiff back in the sixth.
The Yankees have won 13 of 16 since May 13.
Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 10th save. It was the 58th time he saved a win for Pettitte (5-1). That’s the most for a pitching combo since the save became an official stat in 1969, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley saved 57 wins by Bob Welch for Oakland.
Orioles 7, Tigers 2
At Baltimore, Luke Scott had a grand slam and a solo shot off Dontrelle Willis (1-2), and rookie Brad Bergesen (2-2) allowed two runs and seven hits over eight-plus innings in Baltimore’s fifth straight victory.
Since coming off the 15-day disabled list, Scott has five home runs and 12 RBIs in three games. Many in the crowd of 42,704 came to see the major league debut of Baltimore catcher Matt Wieters, who went 0 for 4.
Mariners 5, Angels 2
At Anaheim, Calif., Jason Vargas (2-0) allowed two runs on four hits in 6 1-3 innings and Seattle’s anemic offense got to John Lackey (1-1) early.
off a 6-1 victory in Oakland, have won consecutive games for the first time since beating Los Angeles on April 24-25.
Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki was 2 for 5 with an RBI single and extended his hitting streak to 22 games – the third-longest of his big league career.
David Aardsma finished for his seventh save.
Angels left fielder Juan Rivera was 3 for 4 with a home run in the fifth inning and robbed Russell Branyan of a home run in the eighth – two pitches before Jose Lopez lofted his fourth home run just beyond Rivera’s reach.
Rays 5, Twins 3
At St. Petersburg, Fla., Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford homered, helping Tampa Bay end a five-game losing streak.
James Shields (4-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven-plus innings to get his first win since May 3. The right-hander gave up a solo homer to Michael Cuddyer in the sixth and a second run that scored on Justin Morneau’s RBI double off reliever J.P Howell in the eighth. Randy Choate pitched the ninth for his first major league save.
Longoria boosted his major league-leading RBI total to 54 with his three-run homer off Scott Baker (2-6). Minnesota’s Joe Mauer had a single, double and triple to boost his average to .417.
White Sox 11, Royals 2
trounced Kansas City.
Everyone in Chicago’s starting lineup had at least one hit and scored at least one run. Clayton Richard (2-0) went seven innings, allowing six hits.
Add A Comment