John Lackey came within two outs of a no-hitter, pitching Los Angeles past Boston 6-2 Tuesday on a big day for the American League West leaders. Hours after the Angels acquired slugger Mark Teixeira in a trade with Atlanta, Lackey didn't allow a hit until Dustin Pedroia grounded a sharp single through the left side with one out in the ninth. Kevin Youkilis followed with a home run to spoil the shutout bid, but Lackey finished the two-hitter to help the Angels (66-40) improve on what was already the best record in baseball. The right-hander nearly became the first visiting pitcher in 50 years to toss a no-hitter at Fenway, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Hall of Famer Jim Bunning did it for Detroit on July 20, 1958. Lackey (9-2) struck out four and walked two in his 12th career complete game and second this year. He missed the first six weeks of the season with a strained triceps. Garret Anderson hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Angels a 4-0 lead. Orioles 7, Yankees 6: At New York, Daniel Cabrera pitched into the eighth inning before being ejected, and Aubrey Huff had four RBIs for Baltimore, which beat New York for its third straight win. Kevin Millar homered as the Orioles clinched their first series win since they took two of three against the Cubs from June 24-26 at Wrigley Field. The Yankees scored three runs in the ninth to pull within one but George Sherrill struck out Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit with a runner on second to end the game. Alex Rodriguez hit his 22nd homer for New York, which has lost three straight after winning its first eight games following the All-Star break. Rodriguez led off the sixth with his 46th career homer against Baltimore - the most for any active player versus the Orioles - and Cabrera hit him with his first pitch when he came up in the eighth. Plate umpire Chad Fairchild promptly tossed Cabrera. Rays 3, Blue Jays 0: At Toronto, Matt Garza threw a five-hitter for his first career shutout, and Tampa Bay beat Toronto's Roy Halladay for the third time in three games this season. Tigers 8, Indians 5: At Cleveland, Brandon Inge homered and drove in three runs as Detroit downed Cleveland. Twins 6, White Sox 5: At Minneapolis, Justin Morneau's bases-clearing double capped a five-run fifth to help Minnesota rally from a four-run deficit and beat Chicago. Rangers 11, Mariners 10: At Arlington, Texas, Ramon Vazquez atoned for three errors with a two-run double in the ninth that gave Texas the win over Seattle. Royals 5, Athletics 2: At Oakland, California, John Buck and Mike Aviles hit home runs and Gil Meche allowed five hits over seven innings as Kansas City downed Oakland to win its fourth consecutive road game.
