Boston – Billy Butler doubled in the go-ahead run in a four-run fifth inning and the Kansas City Royals battered Julian Tavarez for a 6-5 victory over the struggling Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
After managing just one hit in the first three innings, the Royals scored twice in the fourth, then went ahead 6-4 in the fifth when they chased Tavarez after his third straight poor performance.
In his past five starts, Tavarez is 0-4 with a 7.71 ERA and has allowed 42 hits in 23 2/3 innings. He didn’t make it past the fifth inning in four of those outings. In his previous seven starts, he was 3-0 with a 3.07 ERA and gave up 37 hits in 44 innings.
The loss cut Boston’s AL East lead to seven games over the New York Yankees.
Odalis Perez (5-8) went five innings, allowing all five Boston runs, to win for the first time in his last five starts. Octavio Dotel pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 13 chances.
YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 1 at New York: Alex Rodriguez hit a go-ahead double in the seventh inning, and surging New York won its fifth straight game.
Roger Clemens pitched out of trouble for six gritty innings to keep New York close, and Andy Phillips delivered another clutch hit as the Yankees (48-44) moved a season-high four games above .500.
By winning 11 of 14 overall, the Yankees have trimmed Boston’s AL East lead to seven games – the closest they’ve been since after games of May 12.
TIGERS 3, TWINS 2 at Minneapolis: Magglio Ordoñez homered and drove in all three runs against Johan Santana (11-7), lifting Detroit to a win and ending Santana’s five-start winning streak.
Andrew Miller (5-3) threw five innings for the win, which was finished by Todd Jones for his 25th save in 29 attempts.
ATHLETICS 6, RANGERS 0 at Oakland, Calif.: Lenny DiNardo (4-6) pitched seven shutout innings, and Oakland ended its nine-game losing streak.
DEVIL RAYS 7, ANGELS 2 at St. Petersburg, Fla.: Ty Wigginton homered and Carlos Peña hit a three-run double to lead Tampa Bay past Los Angeles.
WHITE SOX 5, INDIANS 1 at Cleveland: Mark Buehrle (7-5) walked one and struck out three in 6 1/3 innings, and Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer to lead Chicago.
MARINERS 6, ORIOLES 5 at Seattle: Adrian Beltre’s bases-loaded walk with two outs in the eighth inning scored Jose Vidro with the go-ahead run for Seattle.
