After scoring 25 runs in the previous two games, the Red Sox couldn’t overcome an early deficit against Luke Hochevar and the Royals, who held on for a 4-3 win yesterday in Boston.
Dustin Pedroia pulled Boston within one with a solo homer in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to 25 games, but that was all the offense the Red Sox could come up with after beating the Royals 13-9 and 12-5 in the previous two games.
Billy Butler hit a three-run homer off Josh Beckett (9-4) as Kansas City scored four in the fourth and Hochevar pitched seven strong innings to clinch a 2-2 series split for the Royals against the team with the best record in the American League.
Blue Jays 8, Orioles 5
In Toronto, Edwin Encarnacion and Eric Thames hit back-to-back home runs, and Carlos Villanueva won for the first time in five starts for the Blue Jays. Acquired from St. Louis on Wednesday, Colby Rasmus went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
Angels 12, Tigers 7
In Detroit, Mark Trumbo homered and drove in a career-high five runs to lead the Angels. Trumbo also tripled, doubled and scored three times in the rookie’s fourth three-hit game. Bobby Cassevah (1-0) worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the win.
Rays 10, Athletics 8
In Oakland, Desmond Jennings hit his first career home run and later added a two-run double in a seven-run seventh inning for Tampa Bay. B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria also homered.
Rangers 4, Twins 1
Matt Harrison (9-7) worked into the eighth inning to cap his unbeaten July for AL West-leading Texas and won a pitcher’s duel against Minnesota’s Scott Baker.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Astros 5, Cardinals 3
In St. Louis, Wandy Rodriguez pitched seven innings and retired the last 13 batters he faced and Jason Bourgeois hit a tiebreaking double in the fifth inning for Houston.
Marlins 5, Nationals 2
In D.C., Mike Stanton homered for the second consecutive game and five Marlins relievers held the Nationals to one run over 5 1/3 innings as Florida completed a three-game sweep.
Pirates 5, Braves 2
In Atlanta, Andrew McCutchen had three hits, including a go-ahead double in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the ninth for Pittsburgh.
Brewers 4, Cubs 2
In Milwaukee, Ryan Braun had three hits, including a home run, to lead the Brewers to a series sweep behind Shaun Marcum (10-3).
Diamondbacks 4, Padres 3
In San Diego, Padres pitcher Cory Luebke allowed three home runs, including a pair of solo shots by Justin Upton, as Arizona beat San Diego.
