ST LOUIS — John Lackey shut down the Kansas City Royals in his last six innings to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 4-3 win in an Inter-League game Thursday. Lackey (9-5) allowed six hits and two runs in seven innings and 110 pitches, walking two and striking out five. He had given up two runs in the first inning then gave up just three hits afterwards, mowing down 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced. Starter Chris Young (8-6) lasted just three innings for Kansas City (57-37), yielding five hits and four runs with a walk and a strikeout. American League Blue Jays 5, Athletics 2 R.A. Dickey won a battle of replacement starting pitchers over Drew Pomeranz, throwing 8-1/3 innings in the Toronto Blue Jays' 5-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics. Pomeranz was summoned out of the bullpen when Oakland dealt scheduled starter Scott Kazmir to the Houston Astros a few hours before the game. Dickey, meanwhile, was pushed up a day in the rotation when Drew Hutchison withdrew because of an illness. The knuckleballer overcame two early runs and was two outs from his second complete game of the season before hitting designated hitter Billy Butler with a pitch. Dickey allowed just one walk and struck out six. Mariners 3, Tigers 2 (12 innings) Mike Zunino ripped a go-ahead double in the top of the 12th inning as the Seattle Mariners held on for a 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Zunino, who entered the game at catcher in the 10th inning, drove in shortstop Chris Taylor, who had reached on a leadoff single against Ian Krol (1-3). Fernando Rodney (3-4) pitched an inning of scoreless relief to get the victory. Yankees 9, Orioles 3 Masahiro Tanaka pitched into the eighth inning while center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury drove in four runs as the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles. Tanaka (7-3) allowed solo home runs to first baseman Chris Davis, shortstop J.J. Hardy and third baseman Manny Machado among four hits in 7-2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked none. Twins 3, Angels 0 Third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit a three-run homer to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Ervin Santana (2-0) conceded only four hits and a hit batter while striking out seven. He generated 12 consecutive outs between the second and sixth innings and retired 19 of the final 21 batters he faced. Glen Perkins pitched a perfect ninth for his 29th save, which leads the American League. White Sox 8, Indians 1 Melky Cabrera belted two home runs as the Chicago White Sox posted an 8-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. Cabrera hit a solo home run in the fourth inning off Trevor Bauer then belted a two-run homer off Kyle Crockett in the seventh. Alexei Ramirez and Adam Eaton also homered. Astros 5, Red Sox 4 Second baseman Jose Altuve smacked a walk-off home run as the Houston Astros beat the Boston Red Sox. Altuve recorded his fourth hit off Red Sox left-hander Craig Breslow (0-1), socking a line drive into left field to send Boston (42-54) to their eighth consecutive loss. National League Dodgers 3, Mets 0 Left-hander Clayton Kershaw retired the first 18 batters he faced en route to a three-hit shutout as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the New York Mets. Kershaw (8-6) walked none and struck out 11 while throwing his second shutout in his past three starts. He has not allowed a run in his past 29-2/3 innings. Pirates 7, Nationals 3 Francisco Liriano pitched six strong innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates downed the Washington Nationals. Liriano (6-6) struck out 11 while allowing one run and three hits. Marlins 4, Padres 0 Miami right-hander Tom Koehler stymied the Padres for seven innings as the Marlins beat San Diego. Koehler (8-6) allowed three hits and four walks. He struck out seven before relievers Steve Cishek and Mike Dunn each pitched a scoreless inning to close out the win. Diamondbacks 8, Brewers 3 Arizona rookie right-hander Zack Godley gave up four hits in six scoreless innings in his major league debut as the Diamondbacks recorded a 8-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. — Reuters
