AL roundup: Angels prevail in emotional struggle
Published 12:00 am Monday, April 13, 2009
Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. ó Bobby Abreu hit a go-ahead two-run single and Vladimir Guerrero hit his first home run of the season, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a testy 5-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
Dustin Moseley (1-0) was charged with three runs and six hits in 52/3 innings, striking out three in the finale of a tragic and somber season-opening homestand for the two-time defending AL West champions. Brian Fuentes got three outs for his second save.
The Angels won the series opener on Friday night following an emotional tribute to teammate Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old rookie pitcher who was killed early Thursday along with two friends when the car they were in was broadsided by a van driven by a suspected drunken driver.
Josh Beckett (1-1) allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings for Boston.
Indians 8, Blue Jays 4
CLEVELAND ó Anthony Reyes pitched six innings and the Indians earned their first victory of the season.
Travis Hafner and Mark DeRosa each hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who avoided their worst start in 95 years. Cleveland lost its first six games in 1914.
Rays 11, Orioles 3
BALTIMORE ó James Shields pitched seven innings of three-hit ball, Evan Longoria hit his major league-leading fifth home run and Tampa Bay averted a three-game sweep. Longoria went 3-for-5 to up his batting average to .481. He has five straight multihit games and at least one RBI in five of his six starts.
Ben Zobrist, Jason Bartlett and Carlos Pena also homered for the Rays.
Mariners 1, Athletics 0
OAKLAND, Calif. ó Erik Bedard allowed three hits pitching into the ninth inning and Mike Sweeney doubled in a run in the seventh for Seattle.
White Sox 6, Twins 1
CHICAGO ó Jim Thome hit a two-run homer to break open a pitcher’s duel and Mark Buehrle was dominant into the seventh inning, leading the White Sox to the victory.
Carlos Quentin singled off Nick Blackburn in the sixth before Thome hit his second homer of the season, snapping a 1-1 tie.
Royals 6, Yankees 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó John Buck homered and drove in three runs, helping Kansas City rally to avoid a three-game sweep.
The Royals scored three runs with two outs in the eighth inning off Jose Veras and Phil Coke (0-1), spoiling a solid start by Joba Chamberlain in his season debut.
Tigers 6, Rangers 4
DETROIT ó Brandon Inge homered and hit a two-run single in a six-run eighth inning as the Tigers rallied to complete a three-game sweep.
Carlos Guillen also had a two-run double for Detroit, which trailed 4-0 after seven innings. Placido Polanco went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Miguel Cabrera had two hits.
Fernando Rodney got three outs for his second save in as many days.