Jason Bay set a Red Sox record with his 11th straight homer with runners on base and Jon Lester rebounded from two bad outings as Boston completed a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays with a 5-1 win last night in Boston.
Bay hit his 13th homer of the year, a two-run shot in a three-run first inning, and Boston led 5-0 before Aaron Hill singled in Toronto’s run in the seventh.
The sweep cut Toronto’s AL East lead to a half-game over Boston, 15-2 in its last 17 home games.
Bay broke a tie with Kevin Youkilis and Tony Conigliaro for most consecutive homers by a Red Sox player without a solo shot. He is one behind the major-league record set by Hank Aaron in 1970 and tied by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1999.
Twins 20, White Sox 1
In Chicago, Joe Mauer hit a grand slam, two doubles and drove in six runs as the Twins routed the White Sox, matching Chicago’s most-lopsided loss in team history.
Tigers 4, Rangers 3
In Detroit, Miguel Cabrera hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning and the Tigers won their sixth straight.
Rays 6, Athletics 5
In St. Petersburg, Fla., Pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth and Carl Crawford won it with an RBI single.
Indians 8, Royals 3
In Kansas City, Mo., Victor Martinez drove in three runs and the Indians got past Zack Greinke and the Royals.
Angels 3, Mariners 0
In Seattle, Juan Rivera, Gary Matthews Jr. and Howie Kendrick accounted for the Angels’ first three hits of the game with home runs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Phillies 12, Reds 5
In Cincinnati, Chase Utley homered and drove in four runs, and the Phillies’ powerful offense overcame another disappointing performance by a starter.
Nationals 5, Pirates 4
In Washington, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn had RBI singles in the eighth, helping the Nationals end a seven-game skid.
Padres 3, Giants 2
In San Diego, Scott Hairston singled in the winning run to cap a two-run rally in the ninth for the Padres.
D’backs 4, Marlins 3
In Miami, Mark Reynolds hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning, to lead the Diamondbacks.
Rockies 9, Braves 0
In Atlanta, Aaron Cook pitched a four-hit shutout and Todd Helton’s grand slam ended the Rockies’ power slump.
Cardinals 3, Cubs 1
In St. Louis, Adam Wainwright came within an out of the Cardinals’ second complete game during a three-game sweep of the Cubs, and Albert Pujols hit a first-inning homer that knocked out the “I” on the Big Mac Land sign in left field in a win over Chicago.
Brewers 4, Astros 3
In Houston, Prince Fielder drove in two with a single and Corey Hart had an RBI double in a three-run seventh to lead the Brewers.
