clearing triple by pinch-hitter Erick Aybar rallied the Los Angeles Angels to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 in the American League on Saturday. Aybar's hit highlighted a four-run seventh inning for the Angels, and improved a poor season for LA's pinch hitters, who had a sum of just five RBIs all year before Saturday. The Angels won their fourth straight game to move a season-high 21 games over .500 and extend their division lead over Oakland to eight games. The Angels have won a big league-leading 59 games, including four of five against the Red Sox, who swept them in the first round of the playoffs on their way to World Series championships in 2004 and 2007. Twins 14, Rangers 2: In Minneapolis, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau each homered and drove in eight runs between them as Minnesota crushed Texas. Morneau had a two-run homer and a three-run double. Mauer hit a two-run double and a solo shot. Minnesota moved within half a game of the AL Central leader Chicago. Rays 6, Blue Jays 4: In St. Petersburg, Florida, rookie All-Star Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam to key Tampa Bay's win over Toronto. Longoria has struggled recently, going 3-for-23 with no RBIs in his previous seven games. He broke out the slide in a big way with the bases-clearing drive to put the Rays ahead 5-0. Matt Garza pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings for the Rays, striking out six. Yankees 4, Athletics 3, 12 innings: In New York, Jose Molina was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, lifting New York over Oakland. New York prevailed in a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 34-degree (93F) heat. The Yankees, who stranded a whopping 21 runners, were down to their final out in the ninth before a double than a single drew them level. Royals 9, White Sox 1: In Chicago, Kansas City starter Gil Meche and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, steering the Royals past Chicago. Orioles 11, Tigers 10, 10 innings: In Baltimore, Luke Scott homered in the bottom of the 10th, completing the Orioles rally from a six-run deficit to beat Detroit. Indians 9, Mariners 6: In Seattle, Cleveland snapped a 10-game road losing streak by beating Seattle. Marlins beat Phillies The tight race for the National League's East division got a little bit tighter Saturday as the Florida Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-5. Rookie catcher John Baker drove in four runs Saturday and hit a homer for Florida, who squeezed within 1-1/2 games of NL East-leading Philadelphia, with New York between them. Baker's shot was one of three homers in the game for the Marlins, who lead the majors in that category with 138 from 97 games. Nationals 8, Braves 2: In Atlanta, Willie Harris shone with the bat against his old team as Washington beat Atlanta. Harris, a part-time starter for Atlanta last season, had three hits, two RBIs, a triple, a stolen base and scored three runs. Harris also made a diving catch of a line drive in center field to end the game, and has five hits in the first two games of this series. Washington ended a six-game road-losing streak. Astros 4, Cubs 1: In Houston, pitcher Wandy Rodriguez struck out seven as Houston again stifled Chicago's offense. Rodriguez allowed nine hits but the Cubs stranded seven runners and dropped their third straight game. The Astros have won four in a row. Reds 7, Mets 2: In Cincinatti, pitcher Josh Fogg extended his midseason resurgence by getting New York to hit into three double plays, as Cincinatti beat the Mets. Reds' first baseman Joey Votto had a run-scoring single, then broke the game open with a two-run triple in the seventh. The three double plays were just what Fogg needed to get his first victory since April, when he was in his first stint in the rotation. He has overcome a demotion to the bullpen and a stint on the disabled list before settling in. Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 2: In Phoenix, Dan Haren threw seven scoreless innings to steer Arizona past Los Angeles. Brewers 8, Giants 5: In San Francisco, Rickie Weeks hit a two-run double to cap a four-run sixth inning that turned the game as Milwaukee beat San Francisco. Cardinals 6, Padres 5: In St. Louis, the home side rallied from five runs down to beat San Diego and post a fourth straight win. Rockies 7, Pirates 1: In Denver, Scott Podsednik had three doubles among his four hits, leading Colorado comfortably past Pittsburgh.
