MLB roundup

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on April 29, 2009 1:46 PM

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The Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- Justin Morneau hustled to beat out a potential double play and allow the winning run to score in the ninth inning and hit an early two-run homer, leading the Minnesota Twins past the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 Tuesday night.

Ben Zobrist's pinch-hit homer tied the game in the top of the ninth against Twins closer Joe Nathan (1-0). Zobrist came in from right field for a fifth infielder with one out in the bottom half after reliever J.P. Howell (0-2) gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases.

Morneau hit a grounder to second for an easy force, but the relay was a hair late as the winning run scored. First base coach Jerry White jubilantly jumped in the air, and Morneau coolly tossed his helmet toward the mound as his teammates rushed at him.

Yankees 11, Tigers 0

DETROIT -- Phil Hughes went six innings in his first start and left fielder Josh Anderson's error led to a 10-run seventh inning as the New York Yankees ended a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Indians 9, Red Sox 8

CLEVELAND -- Mark DeRosa had four hits and scored from second base on an error with two outs in the ninth inning as the Indians beat the Red Sox, snapping their 11-game winning streak.

White Sox 2, Mariners 1, Game 1

Mariners 9, White Sox 1, Game 2

CHICAGO -- Yuniesky Betancourt drove in five runs, Russell Branyan had a career-high five hits and the Mariners salvaged a doubleheader split with the White Sox.

In the opener, Bartolo Colon pitched seven strong innings and Paul Konerko hit a two-run double, leading Chicago to a brisk victory. At 1 hour, 52 minutes, it was the fastest game in the majors this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Angels 7, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE -- Joe Saunders allowed two earned runs in six innings, Howie Kendrick homered, and the Angels beat the Orioles to secure their first winning streak of the season.

Rangers 5, Athletics 4

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning to make up for a costly error, and the Rangers beat the Athletics.

Blue Jays 8, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Scott Richmond pitched seven sharp innings, Vernon Wells drove in three runs and the Blue Jays beat the Royals.

Aaron Hill, who leads the majors with 36 hits and has a hit in all but one game this year, had three hits, raising his average to .371, and two RBI.

Brewers 6, Pirates 5

MILWAUKEE -- Trevor Hoffman saved his first game with the Brewers and Bill Hall and Rickie Weeks homered in the sixth inning to rally Milwaukee to a victory over the Pirates.

The Brewers trailed 5-1 before they scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth on Hall's solo homer to start the inning off Pirates starter Paul Maholm and Weeks' go-ahead, two-run shot off Jesse Chavez.

Braves 2, Cardinals 1

ATLANTA -- Matt Diaz drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single off Kyle McClellan in the eighth inning, rallying the Braves to a win over the Cardinals.

Kyle Lohse pitched six scoreless innings and left with a 1-0 lead, but he was denied his fourth straight win as the Braves took advantage of McClellan's shaky eighth.

Phillies 7, Nationals 1

PHILADELPHIA -- Chase Utley homered twice and drove in three runs, Pedro Feliz added a three-run shot and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night for their fifth straight victory.

Marlins 7, Mets 4

NEW YORK -- Jorge Cantu homered twice and drove in five runs and the Marlins ended one of the wilder rides in baseball history, beating the Mets to snap a seven-game losing streak.

The Marlins' skid started immediately after they'd won seven in a row.

Astros 8, Reds 3

CINCINNATI -- Wandy Rodriguez allowed one run in seven innings and Ivan Rodriguez homered and doubled, helping the Astros extend their three-year winning streak at Great American Ball Park over the Reds.

Padres 4, Rockies 3

DENVER -- Luis Rodriguez laced a run-scoring pinch-hit single through a drawn-in infield in the ninth, lifting the Padres to a win over the Rockies.

Nick Hundley began the inning with a triple into the corner off reliever Manuel Corpas (0-2), scoring easily when Rodriguez's one-out hit scooted through the right side of the infield.

Cubs 11, Diamondbacks 3

PHOENIX -- Carlos Zambrano fell a triple shy of the cycle and pitched seven sharp innings, and the Cubs routed the Diamondbacks.

Alfonso Soriano and Mike Fontenot also homered for the Cubs, who won for only the second time in seven games.

Dodgers 5, Giants 3

SAN FRANCISCO -- Andre Ethier doubled in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning and the Dodgers beat the Giants, avoiding their longest losing streak of the season.

Manny Ramirez had three doubles and James Loney drove in two runs for the Dodgers, who had lost their previous two games.