By The Associated Press
Boston – Russ Adams hit a sacrifice fly to break an eighth-inning tie as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Red Sox 7-5 on Tuesday night, splitting a day-night doubleheader and spoiling Boston’s chance to take the lead in the East.
Tim Wakefield pitched seven strong innings to give Boston a 3-1 victory in the day game. But with the Fenway Park fans paying as much attention to the New York Yankees’ game in Baltimore as the one in front of them, the Red Sox lost the nightcap and remained even in the division after New York lost 17-9 to the Orioles.
The Red Sox also are tied in the wild-card race with the Cleveland Indians, who lost 5-4 to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Frank Catalanotto had four hits, and Adams had two hits to go with sacrifice flies in the eighth and ninth innings to snap Boston’s four-game winning streak. Jason Frasor (3-5) struck out two in 1 1/3 innings as five relievers combined for 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Miguel Batista got two outs for his 31st save in 39 chances, getting David Ortiz on a grounder for the final out.
Wakefield (16-11) left after seven innings so he will be rested for his next start – on three days’ rest – in the crucial weekend series against the Yankees.
“I probably could have finished the game, but I don’t think that’s a smart move,” he said after holding the Blue Jays to one unearned run on three hits. “It’s a pennant race. Every game is pretty much a must-win.”
Tigers 3, White Sox 2
Detroit – Chicago left 12 runners on base and its lead in the Central remained at two games.
“If you leave that many on base, you aren’t going to win many games,” manager Ozzie Guillen said. “It keeps happening, and I don’t know why. We had opportunities, and didn’t take them.”
Nate Robertson (7-15) ended a five-start losing streak, allowing one run on five hits and five walks in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five in his first win since Aug. 23.
Chris Spurling pitched 1 2/3 innings, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, before the White Sox got a run in the ninth off Fernando Rodney.
Juan Uribe led off with a walk, took second on Tadahito Iguchi’s one-out walk and moved to third when Aaron Rowand grounded into a force at second. Paul Konerko followed with an RBI single to make it 3-2 before Rodney got Jermaine Dye to fly to center for his ninth save.
Brandon McCarthy (2-2) lost for the first time in six starts, dating to May 27. He gave up three runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
“I wasn’t sharp,” he said. “I had a lot of little problems. Everyone is a little down right now after two disappointing losses, but we’ll figure it out.”
Devil Rays 5, Indians 4
Cleveland – Scott Kazmir allowed one run in six innings, and Julio Lugo hit a three-run homer as Tampa Bay prevented Cleveland from gaining ground on Chicago in the Central.
Former Indians pitcher Danys Baez got Ronnie Belliard to hit into a game-ending double play with the tying run on third, handing Cleveland consecutive losses for the first time since Sept. 3-4 at Minnesota.
Baez allowed Victor Martinez’s RBI single to center in the ninth before earning his 40th save in 48 chances.
Kazmir (10-9) walked five but worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second and left another two stranded in the third.
Twins 3, Royals 1
Minneapolis – Johan Santana allowed six hits over seven innings, and Minnesota snapped its four-game losing streak.
Santana (15-7) struck out six, running his major league-leading total to 229, and walked two before being relieved by Juan Rincon in the eighth inning. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 40th save.
