Red Sox shut down Indians
BOSTON - Josh Beckett returned from the disabled list to win his eighth consecutive decision, pitching seven innings of three-hit ball Tuesday night to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
Beckett (8-0) faced the minimum number of batters in the first six innings before allowing two seventh-inning runs. He struck out seven and walked one to become the first Red Sox starter to win his first eight decisions since Roger Clemens opened the 1986 season 14-0.
Hideki Okajima pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
Jeremy Sowers (1-5), coming off his only win of the year, allowed four runs on six hits and an intentional walk while striking out one.
Kevin Youkilis doubled and homered -- his ninth consecutive multi-hit game, the most by a Red Sox batter since Jim Rice in 1978. Youkilis extended his hitting streak to 21 consecutive games, raising his batting average from .280 to .358 during that span.
Youkilis hit an RBI double in the first and led off the sixth with a towering homer over the Monster Seats. Two outs later, Mike Lowell doubled to chase Sowers; Fernando Cabrera walked the next three batters to make it 4-0 before striking out Julio Lugo on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning.
Beckett won his first seven starts before getting a no-decision on May 13, when he lasted just four innings because of a torn flap of skin on his right middle finger. He went on the 15-day disabled list and missed two starts.
He struck out Grady Sizemore to start the seventh before Jhonny Peralta singled and Travis Hafner tripled into the right-field corner. Hafner scored on Victor Martinez's groundout to make it 4-2 before Beckett fanned Trot Nixon for the third out.
American League
Tigers 14, Devil Rays 2
In St. Petersburg, Fla., Gary Sheffield homered twice and drove in five runs, and Jeremy Bonderman won his fourth straight start as the Tigers cruised.
Sheffield's 34th multihomer game helped Detroit stop a four-game losing streak. He has 467 career homers, moving him past Dave Winfield into sole possession of 29th place on the all-time list.
Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2
In Toronto, the New York Yankees' skid reached five as Alex Rios hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to lead the Blue Jays.
New York (21-29) has lost 13 of its past 18 to fall eight games under .500 for the first time since it was 11-19 on May 6, 2005, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Twins 9, White Sox 2
In Minneapolis, Justin Morneau homered and drove in four runs, and the Twins claimed their third straight win.
Morneau went 3 for 4, and Jason Kubel added a two-run homer to complement another strong start from Boof Bonser.
Orioles 6, Royals 2
In Kansas City, Mo., Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven strong innings, Ramon Hernandez drove in two runs and the Orioles handed the Royals their sixth straight loss.
Guthrie (3-1) allowed two runs and three hits as the Orioles won their fourth in a row after losing four of five.
National league
Dodgers 10, Nationals 0
In Washington, Brad Penny scattered four singles over 61/3 innings, Juan Pierre had a career-high four extra-base hits. and the Dodgers beat the Nationals.
Penny (7-1) struck out four and walked one, combining with two relievers on the Dodgers' third shutout of the season.
Brewers 5, Braves 4
In Milwaukee, Ben Sheets brushed off a poor first inning, Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 17th homer, and J.J. Hardy added the go-ahead single to lead the Brewers.
John Smoltz, who recorded his 200th victory on Thursday, left the game in the fourth inning after a brief mound visit from the pitching coach and trainers after the first out. The right-hander hurt his shoulder while warming up for the inning and re-injured his right pinkie finger in his previous at-bat. The Braves said he was taken out as a precaution.
Diamondbacks 11, Phillies 5
In Philadelphia, Orlando Hudson drove in four runs on four hits, Micah Owings pitched five effective innings and the Diamondbacks won their sixth straight game.
Owings (4-1) gave up one run and seven hits. He tripled off the right-field wall with two outs in the fifth and didn't come out for the sixth.
Mets 5, Giants 4, 12 innings
In New York, Carlos Delgado hit his second homer of the game moments after Jose Reyes provoked excitable reliever Armando Benitez to balk home the tying run in the 12th inning.
The Mets took advantage of two balks by Benitez to win their fourth in a row. Minus Barry Bonds from the starting lineup, the Giants lost their fourth straight game.
Reds 2, Astros 1
In Houston, Scott Hatteberg hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, and Matt Belisle struck out a career-high eight to lead the Reds.
Belisle (5-4) allowed only two hits after Adam Everett's RBI triple that was nearly an inside-the-park homer.
Marlins 9, Cubs 4
In Chicago, Jeremy Hermida hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, and Josh Willingham added a three-run double in the eighth to lead the Marlins.
Dontrelle Willis (7-3) worked seven innings for Florida, allowing four runs and seven hits.
