Boston – Josh Beckett didn’t make a very good case to be the AL starter in the All-Star Game.
The Red Sox right-hander coughed up a four-run lead, giving up Sammy Sosa’s 602nd career homer to break a fifth-inning tie as the Texas Rangers beat Boston 5-4 on Saturday night.
“When they give me four early runs like that, I’ve got to go out and shut the door,” said Beckett, who gave up five runs and 10 hits in five innings. “I started missing over the plate with some good hitters, and you can’t do that.”
The all-star rosters for the July 10 game in San Francisco will be announced today.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the game,” said Brad Wilkerson, whose two-run double was part of a four-run fourth that tied it.
One day after striking out with the bases loaded in the Rangers’ 2-1 loss, Sosa lined a solo shot off the front row of the Monster Seats to break a 4-4 tie.
INDIANS 8, DEVIL RAYS 6 at Cleveland: C.C. Sabathia became the majors’ first 12-game winner and Cleveland, with baseball’s best home record at 29-12, won for the fifth time in six games, while Tampa Bay has lost six straight and 13 of 17.
MARINERS 8, BLUE JAYS 3 at Seattle: Miguel Batista pitched into the seventh inning, Ben Broussard tied a career-high with four hits and Seattle won its seventh straight.
It’s Seattle’s longest win streak since a nine-game win streak from May 27 to June 5, 2003. Also, Seattle snapped Roy Halladay’s win streak. The former Cy Young winner had not lost since May 10 against Boston, going 5-0 in his last six starts.
ATHLETICS 7, YANKEES 0 at New York: Chad Gaudin combined with Rich Harden on a one-hitter, and Johnny Damon’s single in the sixth was the only hit for New York (37-40), which has dropped eight of 10 after an 11-1 stretch.
ORIOLES 6, ANGELS 3 at Baltimore: Brian Burres took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, Ramon Hernandez hit a three-run homer and Baltimore improved to 6-4 under interim manager Dave Trembley.
TWINS 8, TIGERS 5 at Detroit: Kevin Slowey (3-0) outpitched fellow rookie Andrew Miller (3-2) to get the win and Detroit has lost four of its last five.
WHITE SOX 3, ROYALS 1, (10) at Kansas City, Mo.: Tadahito Iguchi poked a two-run single into right field with two out in the 10th, helping Chicago snap Kansas City’s five-game win streak.
