Associated Press
The American League Roundup …
NEW YORK ó Joba Chamberlain mixed in some curveballs and changeups and moved one step closer to getting past the pitch-count limits that have held him back in his first two starts.
All Dan Giese got Sunday was the lineup card and a souvenir ball from a game he’ll never forget.
Chamberlain bounced back from a disappointing first start with the Yankees, pitching into the fifth inning to help New York beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3 for its fourth victory in five games.
“As a competitor, you want to be out there as long as you can go and as hard as you can go,” said Chamberlain, who opened the year in the bullpen and was limited to 78 pitches on a 95-degree afternoon. “But you also understand that it’s a transition. You have to be patient and learn from it and try to get better every time out.”
Giese (1-1) relieved Chamberlain and pitched 22/3 hitless innings to earn his first major league win.
Jason Giambi hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth and Bobby Abreu finished with an upper-deck home run and three RBIs for the Yankees. Johnny Damon got two more hits after going 6-for-6 with the game-winning single in New York’s victory Saturday.
Rangers 6, Rays 3
ARLINGTON, Texas ó David Murphy hit one of Texas’ three homers and the Rangers beat bickering Tampa Bay despite playing without ailing hitting stars Josh Hamilton and Michael Young.
German Duran and Ramon Vazquez also homered for the Rangers. The Rays missed out on their first road sweep this season with a loss that included a scuffle between pitcher Matt Garza and catcher Dioner Navarro.
In the fourth inning, after No. 9 hitter Duran hit a two-run homer for a 3-0 lead, Garza (4-3) and Navarro had heated words as pitching coach Jim Hickey came out to the mound. Hickey even appeared to shove Navarro.
When Garza and Navarro got in the dugout after the inning, television cameras caught them face-to-face in a tussle that spilled into the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. Manager Joe Maddon, Hickey and others could be seen rushing to break up the fracas. It wasn’t clear if any punches were thrown.
Jason Hammel took over on the mound in the fifth, while Navarro remained in the game.
White Sox 12, Twins 2
CHICAGO ó Nick Swisher and Alexei Ramirez homered as the Chicago White Sox routed the Minnesota Twins 12-2 Sunday for their sixth straight win.
The latest outburst came exactly one week after manager Ozzie Guillen lashed out at his struggling hitters. They responded with 54 runs during this streak, and have scored 10 or more in three consecutive games for the first time since July 15-17, 2000.
Red Sox 2, Mariners 1
BOSTON ó Justin Masterson pitched six strong innings and J.D. Drew hit a go-ahead homer for Boston, lifting the Red Sox over the Seattle Mariners.
Tigers 5, Indians 2
DETROIT ó Curtis Granderson homered and Placido Polanco hit a key two-run single as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians.
Armando Galarraga (5-2) picked up the win, allowing two runs in 5 2-3 innings. Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 10th save.
Jeremy Sowers (0-1) took the loss.
Blue Jays 5, Orioles 4
TORONTO ó Roy Halladay won his fourth straight start, Vernon Wells homered and the Toronto Blue Jays snapped a four-game losing streak.
Marco Scutaro drove in two runs for Toronto, which avoided a three-game sweep.
Athletics 7, Angels 3, 12 innings
OAKLAND, Calif. ó Mark Ellis hit a grand slam with two outs in the 12th inning, and Oakland ended Los Angeles’ season-best seven-game winning streak.