DETROIT — Ian Kinsler homered and drove in four runs, and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 7-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday. ADVERTISING DETROIT — Ian Kinsler homered and drove in four runs, and the Detroit
DETROIT — Ian Kinsler homered and drove in four runs, and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 7-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday.
Justin Verlander (2-1) allowed three unearned runs in five innings, and the Tigers trailed 3-1 before Kinsler’s three-run homer in the fifth off Danny Salazar (0-2).
Detroit never gave up the lead after scoring four runs in the fifth, although Cleveland’s Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in the seventh to make it 6-5. Joe Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
RANGERS 8, MARINERS 6
ARLINGTON, Texas — Kevin Kouzmanoff delivered again, doubling twice and scoring two runs as Texas won its third straight after losing the series opener. Kouzmanoff is hitting .414 since being promoted from Triple-A on April 9 after starting third baseman Adrian Beltre strained his left quadriceps.
Shin-Soo Choo homered for Texas and J.P. Arencibia had a pair of RBI groundouts. Robinson Cano hit his first homer for the Mariners, going back-to-back with Corey Hart. Cano is in a 3-for-18 slump.
Pedro Figueroa (2-1) earned his second victory in less than 24 hours. Joe Beimel (0-1) was the loser.
YANKEES 10, RAYS 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — CC Sabathia pitched seven innings for a rare win at Tropicana Field, leading the Yankees past David Price and the Rays in a matchup of former AL Cy Young Award winners.
Sabathia (2-2) allowed two runs and seven hits, improving to 2-7 in 12 starts at Tropicana Field since joining the Yankees in 2009. He lowered his ERA to 5.19.
Price (2-1) entered 6-1 in nine starts against Sabathia but gave up six runs and 10 hits in five innings. Sean Rodriguez hit into a triple play and had a solo homer for the Rays, who have lost four straight.
Brian Roberts, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and rookie Yangervis Solarte drove in two runs each for the Yankees.
TWINS 7, BLUE JAYS 0, 1ST GAME
MINNEAPOLIS — Unfazed by the subfreezing temperature at first pitch, Kyle Gibson (3-0) allowed four singles in a career-high eight scoreless innings in a day-night doubleheader opener.
At 31 degrees, took the mound for the coldest start for an outdoor game in Twins histor.
Josmil Pinto highlighted a five-run fifth inning against R.A. Dickey (1-3) with a two-run double, missing a grand slam by a few inches. Trevor Plouffe also had two RBIs.
TWINS 9, BLUE JAYS 5, 2ND GAME
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota scored three straight runs on wild pitches by the Blue Jays’ Sergio Santos in the eighth inning, when the Twins walked eight times off three relievers in rallying for a victory and a sweep of a day-night doubleheader.
The Twins trailed 5-1 in the fifth of the night game after another lackluster start by Mike Pelfrey.
Steve Delabar walked two batters starting the six-run eighth, setting up Santos (0-1) for trouble as manager John Gibbons called for his closer early. Santos walked all three batters he faced. Josmil Pinto came home on a wild pitch. Ball four by Santos to pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki was wild, too, allowing Chris Herrmann to score and tie the game. Santos threw another wild pitch to Brian Dozier, and pinch-runner Pedro Florimon raced home for the lead.
Casey Fien (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory.
RED SOX 3, WHITE SOX 1
CHICAGO — Jon Lester pitched eight sharp innings and David Ross hit a tiebreaking RBI double in Boston’s two-run ninth, leading the Red Sox to over the White Sox.
Lester (2-2) allowed one run and seven hits for his second straight win after opening the season with two losses. The left-hander struck out nine and walked none, winning an impressive pitcher’s duel with White Sox ace Chris Sale.
Lester retired his first 16 batters before Tyler Flowers singled in the sixth. Xander Bogaerts homered with two out in the sixth for Boston’s only hit off Sale.
Ronald Belisario (1-2) was the loser.
ROYALS 5, ASTROS 1
HOUSTON — James Shields struck out 12 in eight innings and the Royals completed a three-game sweep of the Astros.
Shields (1-2) gave up one run and four hits, all singles. He struck out seven straight batters in the late innings.
Scott Feldman (2-1) yielded four earned runs and nine hits in six innings. It was the first tough outing for the Astros newcomer after he had allowed just one run and seven hits combined in his first three starts.
The Royals were up by two when Alcides Escobar hit a two-run double in the fourth. Salvador Perez added an RBI double in the fifth.
