The Texas Rangers became the first visiting team to win a series at Yankee Stadium since mid-June by beating the New York Yankees 7-2 in the American League on Thursday. Ian Kinsler homered twice for Texas, which moved within 1-1/2 games of wild card holder Boston. Kinsler got Texas' first hit, a three-run homer in the fourth, and connected for a solo homer in the eighth, giving him a career-high 28. After starting pitcher Dustin Nippert was pulled for walking seven batters in 3-2/3 innings, the Rangers bullpen got through 5-1/3 scoreless innings. White Sox 9, Red Sox 5: In Boston, Chicago scored four runs in each of the second and third innings, setting up a comfortable win over Boston. Jayson Nix drove in three runs for the White Sox, who avoided a four-game sweep and edged within 4 games of AL Central leader Detroit. Chicago battered Red Sox rookie pitcher Junichi Tazawa for nine runs just five days after he pitched six scoreless innings to beat New York. Athletics 2, Angels 0: In Anaheim, California, Oakland's rookie pitcher Trevor Cahill and two relievers combined to shut out Los Angeles. Royals 8, Mariners 4: In Seattle, Yuniesky Betancourt hit one of Kansas City's four home runs in his return to Seattle. Indians 5, Orioles 4: In Baltimore, Andy Marte hit a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth to lift Cleveland over Baltimore. Dodgers open 4-game lead The Los Angeles Dodgers edged the Colorado Rockies 3-2 Thursday to open a four-game lead over their rivals in the race for the National League West title. Los Angeles pitcher Vicente Padilla, released by Texas earlier this month after angering the Rangers by throwing at hitters, had an impressive return to the NL, allowing only two runs in five innings. The Rockies put runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the ninth before Dodgers closer Jonathon Broxton struck out two batters to secure a key victory. In other NL games it was: Astros 4, Cardinals 3; Pirates 3, Phillies 2; Diamondbacks 11, Giants 0; Mets 10, Marlins 3; Braves 9, Padres 1; Reds 8, Brewers 5; Nationals 5, Cubs 4.
