NEW YORK — Jeff Samardzija gave the bullpen a day off by throwing a complete game as the Chicago White Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 at US Cellular Field in their American League outing Thursday. Samardzija (6-4) struck out five, walked one and allowed just four hits. Toronto right-hander R.A. Dickey (3-10) took the loss despite allowing only two runs in seven innings. Yankees 6, Athletics 2 Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka pitched into the eighth inning for his first win in five starts and Brett Gardner homered as New York defeated Oakland 6-2. Tanaka (5-3) allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits in a season-high 7-2/3 innings for his first win since June 9. He struck out six, walked one and threw a season-high 114 pitches. Royals 8, Rays 3 Lorenzo Cain and Salvador Perez each hit two-run homers as Kansas City swept the four-game series against Tampa Bay with an 8-3 win. The Rays lost for the 11th time in 12 games and are 3-15 since June 21, when they were a season-high 10 games above .500. Indians 3, Astros 1 Rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, and four Cleveland pitchers combined on a four-hitter, as the Indians beat the Houston Astros 3-1 at Progressive Field. Rookie right-hander Cody Anderson (2-1) pitched into the seventh inning to get the win. Through his first four MLB starts Anderson has a 0.89 ERA. Tigers 4, Twins 2 Ian Kinsler knocked in three runs and left-hander David Price pitched seven quality innings as the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 at Target Field. Mariners 7, Angels 2 The Los Angeles Angels' sudden push toward the top of the American League West was put on hold by Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners Thursday. Hernandez threw seven scoreless innings, and the Mariners ended the Angels' five-game winning streak with a 7-2 win at Safeco Field. National League Marlins 2, Reds 0 Right-hander Jose Fernandez pitched seven scoreless innings and second baseman Dee Gordon stole three bases and scored both runs, leading the Miami Marlins to a 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Marlins Park. Fernandez (2-0) got the win in just his second start since missing nearly 14 months after Tommy John elbow surgery. He gave up six hits — five singles and one double — walked none and struck out nine. Cardinals 4, Pirates 1 Carlos Martinez pitched 7-1/3 innings as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 in the opener of a four-game series between teams with two of the best records in MLB. Martinez (10-3) improved to 7-1 with a 1.20 ERA in his last 10 starts after allowing four hits with five strikeouts and three walks. Dodgers 6, Phillies 0 Zack Greinke blanked the Philadelphia Phillies for eight innings and extended his career-high scoreless streak to 35-2/3 frames in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 6-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez and right fielder Yasiel Puig homered as the Dodgers (49-38) captured three of four from the Phillies (29-59). Puig knocked in four runs. Rockies 5, Braves 3 Colorado Rockies right-hander David Hale faced his former teammates for the first time Thursday and came away the winner in the Rockies' 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves. — Agencies
