Lackey's throwing error costly for Red Sox
Twins rally for four runs after pitchers errant pickoff throw to defeat Boston.
ONE costly error was all the visiting Minnesota Twins needed to rally against the Boston Red Sox.
Oswaldo Arcia hit a two-run homer and the Twins capitalized on a throwing error by Boston starter John Lackey to beat the struggling Red Sox, 5-3, last night.
Lackey's wild throw to second base on a potential inning-ending doubleplay gave the Twins another chance in the sixth and they responded with four unearned runs, including two on Arcia's homer, to take a 5-2 lead.
"I have to make that one play and we win the game," Lackey said. "One play ruined it all."
Minnesota wrapped up the four-game series with its third consecutive win while the Red Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games, falling out of first place for the first time this season.
Kevin Correia (4-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings, his second shortest outing in seven starts this season. But relievers Brian Duensing, Jared Burton and Glen Perkins held the Red Sox scoreless the rest of the way.
"To lose that first one, we could have very easily won that one, too," Correia said. "So to come back and win three is huge."
Lackey (1-3) pitched well until his error, then came back to pitch a perfect seventh before Koji Uehara took over in the eighth. Lackey allowed six hits and one walk and struck out eight.
In other AL games *
At St. Petersburg, Fla., Luke Scott drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The game was only the third time since the Cy Young Award was given in both leagues to feature a matchup of reigning winners, but the Rays' David Price and Blue Jays' R.A. Dickey were not involved in the decision. Previously, Atlanta's Tom Glavine beat the Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees, 6-2, on July 15, 1999, and the Mets' Frank Viola defeated the Dodgers' Orel Hershiser 1-0 on Aug. 28, 1989.
* At Baltimore, Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer homered in a four-run fourth inning, Jeremy Guthrie (5-0) pitched effectively against his former team and the Kansas City Royals beat the Orioles, 6-2.
* At Cleveland, Jason Kipnis, Nick Swisher and Mark Reynolds hit home runs, leading the Indians to a 9-2 win over the Oakland Athletics.
In an NL game *
At New York, centerfielder Juan Lagares robbed Andrew McCutchen of a go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth inning, then pinch-hitter Mike Baxter's single in the bottom half sent the Mets over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2.
In interleague games *
At Denver, CC Sabathia and five relievers held Colorado to four hits, Robinson Cano added a solo homer and the New York Yankees beat the Colorado Rockies, 3-1.
* At Washington, Ryan Mattheus, Drew Storen and Rafael Soriano combined for shutout relief after Dan Haren nearly squandered a four-run lead, and the Nationals beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-4.
Noteworthy *
One day after umpire Angel Hernandez and his crew failed to reverse what should have been called a game-tying home run by Oakland's Adam Rosales in the ninth inning following a video review, MLB executive vice president Joe Torre said an "improper call" was made in the game between the Indians and Athletics. But it will stand because it was a judgment call, Torre said.
* Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke is scheduled to make his first injury rehab start tonight for Class A Rancho Cucamonga at Lake Elsinore. Greinke had surgery last month to repair a broken left collarbone after he was hurt in a bench-clearing brawl with Carlos Quentin and the Padres.
* Righthander Daniel Tuttle, 22, a prospect in the Cincinnati Reds organization, was suspended for 100 games for a third violation for a drug of abuse under baseball's minor league drug program.
* The Indians activated starting centerfielder Michael Bourn (sliced finger) from the 15-day disabled list.
* The Orioles placed righthander Miguel Gonzalez on the 15-day DL with a right thumb blister.