Rays hold on to top homer-happy Jays

TORONTO - Evan Longoria scored the go-ahead run on a throwing error by shortstop Yunel Escobar in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-8, Friday night after blowing a seven-run lead.

B.J. Upton and Ben Zobrist hit solo homers for the Rays, who won for just the second time in six games.

Tampa Bay led 8-1 in the fourth before the Blue Jays rallied. Jose Bautista's second homer of the game, a two-run shot in the seventh, tied it at 8.

Bautista, whose major-league-leading homer total is now 46, was joined in the Toronto longball parade by shots from Adam Lind (his 21st) and John Buck (his 18th).

The Rays won it with an unearned run in the ninth against Toronto closer Kevin Gregg (1-5). After back-to-back walks to Longoria and Carlos Pena, Sean Rodriguez hit a grounder to first. Lyle Overbay threw to second to force Pena, but Escobar's return throw sailed wide, allowing Longoria to score.

Tampa Bay 610 100 001 – 9 9 1

Toronto 100 220 300 – 8 9 2

Tampa Bay AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Toronto AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

B.Upton cf 5   1   2   1   .239      Wise rf 4   1   0   0   .271

Bartlett ss 4   2   1   0   .253      Y.Escobar ss 4   2   2   0   .285

Crawford lf 5   1   2   1   .305      J.Bautista 3b 4   2   2   4   .266

Longoria 3b 4   2   2   2   .294      V.Wells cf 4   0   1   1   .269

C.Pena 1b 4   0   0   0   .201      Overbay 1b 4   1   1   0   .249

S.Rodriguez 2b 4   1   0   0   .259      A.Hill 2b 4   0   0   0   .213

Baldelli dh 2   1   1   2   .250      Lind dh 4   1   1   2   .229

a-Jaso ph-c 2   0   0   0   .279      J.Buck c 4   1   1   1   .275

Zobrist rf 2   1   1   2   .247      Snider lf 4   0   1   0   .243

Shoppach c 3   0   0   0   .183      Totals 36   8   9   8      

b-Joyce ph 0   0   0   0   .238

Benoit p 0   0   0   0   ---

R.Soriano p 0   0   0   0   ---

Totals 35   9   9   8      

b-walked for Shoppach in the 8th. E: Longoria (14), J.Buck (2), Y.Escobar (8). LOB: Tampa Bay 7, Toronto 2. 2B: Bartlett (24), Baldelli (1), Snider (18). 3B: Crawford (11). HR: Zobrist (10), off Cecil; B.Upton (17), off Roenicke; Lind (21), off J.Shields; J.Bautista (45), off J.Shields; J.Buck (18), off Choate; J.Bautista (46), off Benoit. RBIs: B.Upton (53), Crawford (76), Longoria 2 (98), Baldelli 2 (4), Zobrist 2 (65), J.Bautista 4 (110), V.Wells (78), Lind 2 (66), J.Buck (58). SB: Zobrist (24). RLSP: Tampa Bay 4 (S.Rodriguez, Crawford, Bartlett, Jaso). RA: Y.Escobar. GIDP: Zobrist. DP: Tampa Bay 1 (Zobrist, Zobrist, Shoppach); Toronto 1 (Overbay, Y.Escobar, Overbay).

Tampa Bay walks (8): Bartlett, Longoria, C.Pena, S.Rodriguez, Baldelli, Zobrist 2, Joyce.

Toronto walks (1): Wise.

Tampa Bay strikeouts (7): B.Upton 2, C.Pena 2, Baldelli, Shoppach 2.

Toronto strikeouts (10): Wise 2, A.Hill 2, Lind, J.Buck 3, Snider 2.

Tampa Bay IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

J.Shields 5   7   5   4   0   4   83   4.98

Choate (H 16) 11/3   1   2   2   1   3   26   4.69

Qualls (H 8) 1/3   0   0   0   0   0   2   6.39

Benoit (W 1-2) (BS 3) 11/3   1   1   1   0   0   16   1.58

R.Soriano (S 42-44) 1   0   0   0   0   3   13   1.63

Toronto IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Cecil 2   8   7   7   2   3   54   4.12

Roenicke 3   1   1   1   0   2   29   4.58

Janssen 2/3   0   0   0   2   1   18   3.52

Carlson 1/3   0   0   0   0   0   2   3.86

Frasor 1   0   0   0   0   0   10   4.12

Camp 1   0   0   0   2   1   26   2.94

Gregg (L 1-5) 1   0   1   0   2   0   20   3.18

Cecil pitched to 1 batter in the 3rd. IR-S: Qualls 1-0, Benoit 1-1, Roenicke 1-0, Carlson 2-0. WP: J.Shields. Umpires: Home, Chad Fairchild; first, Eric Cooper; second, Mike Reilly; third, Bill Miller.

T: 3:01. A: 14,305 (49,539).

Indians 2, Twins 0

CLEVELAND - Fausto Carmona pitched a three-hitter for his first shutout in more than two years, slowing Minnesota's September surge and leading Cleveland to the win.

Carmona (12-14) had lost his last six decisions, falling 1-0 in a complete-game start against Seattle his last time out. The righthander dominated the Twins, who just completed an 8-1 homestand and lost for only the second time in nine games this month.

Carmona retired the final 16 batters, striking out four of the final six. It was Carmona's third career shutout and first since blanking Toronto on May 12, 2008.

Matt LaPorta hit his 10th homer, a solo shot in the second inning, for Cleveland.

The Indians' other run came in the fifth inning on Asdrubal Cabrera's sacrifice fly, which brought home Jason Donald.

Minnesota 000 000 000 – 0 3 0

Cleveland 010 010 00x – 2 6 0

Minnesota AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Cleveland AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

Span cf 4   0   1   0   .267      Brantley cf 4   0   1   0   .233

O.Hudson 2b 4   0   0   0   .279      A.Cabrera ss 3   0   0   1   .269

Mauer dh 3   0   0   0   .323      Choo rf 3   0   1   0   .290

Kubel rf 3   0   1   0   .257      Hafner dh 3   0   0   0   .272

Cuddyer 1b 3   0   0   0   .272      J.Nix 3b 3   0   0   0   .243

Delm.Young lf 2   0   0   0   .300      A.Marte 3b 0   0   0   0   .211

Valencia 3b 3   0   0   0   .338      LaPorta 1b 3   1   1   1   .228

Hardy ss 3   0   1   0   .267      Crowe lf 3   0   1   0   .246

Butera c 2   0   0   0   .184      Donald 2b 3   1   1   0   .255

a-Tolbert ph 1   0   0   0   .239      Marson c 3   0   1   0   .190

Totals 28   0   3   0         Totals 28   2   6   2      

a-struck out for Butera in the 9th. LOB: Minnesota 2, Cleveland 4. 2B: Marson (12). 3B: Span (9), Brantley (2). HR: LaPorta (10), off Pavano. RBIs: A.Cabrera (24), LaPorta (35). CS: Choo (6). SF: A.Cabrera. RLSP: Minnesota 1 (O.Hudson); Cleveland 2 (Hafner, Choo). GIDP: Cuddyer, Butera. DP: Cleveland 2 (Carmona, A.Cabrera, LaPorta), (J.Nix, Donald, LaPorta).

Minnesota walks (1): Delm.Young.

Cleveland walks (1): Choo.

Minnesota strikeouts (7): Span 2, O.Hudson, Delm.Young, Valencia, Butera, Tolbert.

Cleveland strikeouts (3): Choo, Hafner, J.Nix.

Minnesota IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Pavano (L 16-11) 8   6   2   2   1   3   104   3.47

Cleveland IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Carmona (W 12-14) 9   3   0   0   1   7   108   3.86

Umpires: Home, Paul Nauert; first, Angel Campos; second, Brian Gorman; third, Tony Randazzo.

T: 1:57. A: 26,207 (45,569).

Orioles 6, Tigers 3

DETROIT - Matt Wieters hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to atone for an earlier error, and Baltimore beat Detroit.

The game marked the reunion of Tigers starter Armando Galarraga and umpire Jim Joyce for the first time since Joyce's missed call with two out in the ninth cost Galarraga a perfect game on June 2.

Baltimore 010 020 021 – 6 8 1

Detroit 100 002 000 – 3 10 1

Baltimore AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Detroit AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

B.Roberts 2b 3   0   0   1   .277      A.Jackson cf 5   1   3   0   .306

Wigginton 3b 4   0   1   0   .250      Rhymes 2b 4   0   0   0   .303

1-Lugo pr 0   1   0   0   .251      Damon dh 4   1   1   0   .273

J.Bell 3b 1   0   0   0   .218      Mi.Cabrera 1b 3   1   2   3   .335

Markakis rf 4   1   1   0   .289      Raburn lf 4   0   2   0   .268

Scott dh 3   1   1   0   .284      Boesch rf 4   0   0   0   .262

Wieters c 3   0   1   1   .255      Jh.Peralta ss 4   0   1   0   .254

Ad.Jones cf 3   1   1   1   .277      Inge 3b 4   0   1   0   .254

Pie lf 3   0   0   0   .271      Avila c 4   0   0   0   .213

J.Fox 1b 4   1   2   2   .224      Totals 36   3   10   3      

2-Patterson pr 0   1   0   0   .270

Bran.Snyder 1b 0   0   0   0   ---

C.Izturis ss 4   0   1   0   .234

Totals 32   6   8   5      

1-ran for Wigginton in the 8th. 2-ran for J.Fox in the 9th. E: Wieters (5), A.Jackson (6). LOB: Baltimore 5, Detroit 9. 2B: J.Fox (9), Mi.Cabrera (43), Raburn (20). 3B: A.Jackson (10). HR: J.Fox (7), off Galarraga; Mi.Cabrera (34), off Millwood. RBIs: B.Roberts (14), Wieters (52), Ad.Jones (58), J.Fox 2 (21), Mi.Cabrera 3 (113). S: Rhymes. SF: B.Roberts, Wieters. RLSP: Baltimore 1 (Pie); Detroit 5 (Raburn 2, Jh.Peralta 2, Avila). GIDP: J.Bell, Ad.Jones. DP: Detroit 2 (Rhymes, Jh.Peralta, Mi.Cabrera), (Rhymes, Jh.Peralta, Mi.Cabrera).

Baltimore walks (3): B.Roberts, Scott, Pie. Detroit walks (2): Damon, Mi.Cabrera. Baltimore strikeouts (2): B.Roberts, Scott. Detroit strikeouts (6): Rhymes 2, Raburn 2, Boesch, Inge.

Baltimore IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Millwood 6   8   3   2   1   3   106   5.30

Da.Hernandez (W 6-8) 1   1   0   0   1   2   16   4.46

Ji.Johnson (H 7) 1   1   0   0   0   0   13   5.06

Uehara (S 8-9) 1   0   0   0   0   1   10   2.62

Detroit IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Galarraga 7   4   3   3   2   2   103   3.89

Coke (L 7-5) 2/3   2   2   2   1   0   15   2.93

Weinhardt 1/3   2   1   1   0   0   6   7.33

Schlereth 1   0   0   0   0   0   14   4.76

Weinhardt pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. IR-S: Weinhardt 2-1, Schlereth 1-1. IBB: off Da.Hernandez (Mi.Cabrera), off Coke (Scott). HBP: by Galarraga (Ad.Jones). WP: Millwood 2, Coke. Umpires: Home, Jim Joyce; first, Marvin Hudson; second, Derryl Cousins; third, Mike Estabrook. T: 2:53. A: 28,575 (41,255).

White Sox 4, Royals 3

CHICAGO - A.J. Pierzynski hit a go-ahead, two-run double with two out in the eighth inning and Chicago rallied to beat Kansas City.

Chicago stopped a three-game slide and pulled within five games of AL Central-leading Minnesota, which lost, 2-0, at Cleveland.

J.J. Putz (7-5) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to get the win and rookie Chris Sale worked the ninth for his second save.

Brent Morel hit his first career homer for the White Sox, who returned home after a 7-3 road trip.

Kansas City 000 102 000 – 3 8 3

Chicago 001 000 03x – 4 6 1

Kansas City AB   R   H   BI   Avg.      Chicago AB   R   H   BI   Avg.   

G.Blanco cf 4   0   1   0   .236      Pierre lf 4   0   1   0   .275

Aviles 2b 5   0   1   0   .287      Al.Ramirez ss 4   1   0   0   .278

B.Butler 1b 4   0   0   0   .310      Rios cf 4   1   1   1   .290

Fields 3b 4   0   0   0   .333      Konerko 1b 4   0   1   0   .316

Betemit dh 4   0   0   0   .297      M.Ramirez dh 3   0   0   0   .259

B.Pena c 4   1   2   0   .245      1-Llbrdge pr-dh 0   1   0   0   .279

Ja.Miller rf 4   1   1   0   .250      Pierzynski c 4   0   2   2   .267

Bloomquist lf 4   1   2   2   .266      Quentin rf 3   0   0   0   .236

Y.Betancourt ss 3   0   1   1   .263      An.Jones rf 0   0   0   0   .226

Totals 36   3   8   3         Beckham 2b 3   0   0   0   .253

Morel 3b 3   1   1   1   .167

Totals 32   4   6   4      

1-ran for Man.Ramirez in the 8th. E: Fields 2 (4), Y.Betancourt (15), Al.Ramirez (18). LOB: Kansas City 8, Chicago 6. 2B: Bloomquist 2 (10), Rios (27), Konerko (28), Pierzynski (28). HR: Morel (1), off Chen. RBIs: Bloomquist 2 (17), Y.Betancourt (69), Rios (82), Pierzynski 2 (51), Morel (1). SB: Ja.Miller (1). CS: Pierre (17). RLSP: Kansas City 4 (G.Blanco 2, Y.Betancourt, Fields); Chicago 4 (Beckham, Al.Ramirez 2, Quentin). RA: Pierre.

Kansas City walks (2): G.Blanco, Y.Betancourt.

Chicago walks (2): Man.Ramirez, Quentin.

Kansas City strikeouts (5): Betemit 3, Ja.Miller 2.

Chicago strikeouts (5): Al.Ramirez, Rios, Quentin, Beckham 2.

Kansas City IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Chen 7   4   1   1   1   4   115   4.67

Tejeda (L 3-4) (BS 5-5) 1   2   3   0   1   1   19   3.12

Chicago IP   H   R   ER   BB   SO   NP   ERA   

Buehrle 7   7   3   3   2   4   110   3.99

Putz (W 7-5) 1   0   0   0   0   1   13   2.63

Sale (S 2-2) 1   1   0   0   0   0   19   0.61

Balk: Buehrle 2. Umpires: Home, Angel Hernandez; first, Dan Bellino; second, Rob Drake; third, Joe West.

T: 2:24. A: 27,009 (40,615).