ARLINGTON, Texas — Nelson Cruz hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Texas Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night after Rangers starter Cliff Lee struck out a career-high 13, issued no walks and scattered five hits in a nine-inning no-decision.
With the score 1-1, Josh Hamilton drew a one-out walk off Michael Wertz (2-2) and Cruz followed by lofting a 1-1 pitch high into the leftfield seats.
Lee, who remains stuck on 99 career victories, had the most strikeouts for the Rangers since Aaron Sele’s 13 on Aug. 12, 1999, against Detroit. Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) has issued only seven walks in 17 startsthis season.
The A’s only run against Lee was unearned in the sixth with the help of a two-base error on second baseman Ian Kinsler.
Lee has lasted at least eight innings in eight consecutive starts, the longest streak in the majors since the Toronto Blue Jays’ Pat Hentgen had 12 in a row in 1996.
Lee is 1-1 with two no-decisions in his four starts since he was acquired by Texas in a trade with the Seattle Mariners on July 9.
Over that span, Lee has issued only one walk in 35 1 /3 innings, and that was intentional.
WHITE SOX 11, MARINERS 0
Alexei Ramirez, Andruw Jones and Paul Konerko homered as host Chicago beat Seattle. Ramirez finished with three hits and three RBI and Jones also drove in three.
RAYS 3, TIGERS 2
James Shields (9-9) gave up two runs over 6 2 /3 innings and Matt Joyce hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the sixth as host Tampa Bay beat Detroit.
INDIANS 4, YANKEES 1
Josh Tomlin took a shutout into the eighth inning against Alex Rodriguez and New York to win his major league debut with host Cleveland. Rodriguez, who has 599 home runs, went 0 for 4 on his 35th birthday. The 25-year-old Tomlin outpitched former Indians ace CC Sabathia (13-4), handing the left-hander his first loss in 12 starts since May 23. The right-hander gave up one run on three hits after having his contract purchased from Class AAA Columbus.
BLUE JAYS 8, ORIOLES 2
Jose Bautista hit two home runs, giving him a major league-leading 30, as host Toronto beat Baltimore for the 11th consecutive time.
TWINS 11, ROYALS 2
Rookie Danny Valencia drove in three runs and Carl Pavano (13-6) won his eighth consecutive decision as Minnesota beat host Kansas City.
National League METS 8, CARDINALS 2 Host New York ended St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright’s career-best scoreless streak at 26 innings. Wainwright (14-6) was tagged for a season-worst six runs. Jeff Francoeur hit a three-run home run and Jose Reyes added a two-run shot. Jonathon Niese (7-4) and the Mets handed the National League Central leaders their fourth loss in five games.
ASTROS 6, CUBS 1 Brett Myers (8-6) pitched his 10th complete game, Lance Berkman hit hisfifth grand slam and Houston beat visiting Chicago. Myers allowed four hits and struck out a career high-tying 12 batters. Berkman’s grand slam came in Houston’s six-run seventh inning with the team leading 2-0.
REDS 12, BREWERS 4
Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen, who was in an 0-for-16 slump, had four hits each as Cincinnati roughed up Milwaukee ace Yovani Gallardo (9-5), who hit a two-run home run.
PIRATES 4, ROCKIES 2
Zach Duke (5-9) threw six solid innings to help Pittsburgh snap a four-game skid with a 4-2 victory over host Colorado.
NATIONALS 3, BRAVES 0
Washington reliever Miguel Batista, a 39-year-old journeyman, was pressed into making his first start since Aug. 25, 2008, when Stephen Strasburg was scratched because he was having trouble getting loose in the bullpen. Batista (1-2) allowed only three singles in five scoreless innings against visiting Atlanta.
PHILLIES 9, DIAMONDBACKS 5
Ryan Howard hit a tiebreaking two-run home run, Jayson Werth and Cody Ransom also connected, and host Philadelphia beat Arizona for a season-high sixth consecutive victory.
Tuesday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Philadelphia 9, Arizona 5 Washington 3, Atlanta 0 NY Mets 8, St. Louis 2 Houston 6, Chicago Cubs 1 Cincinnati 12, Milwaukee 4 Pittsburgh 4, Colorado 2 LA Dodgers at San Diego, (n) Florida at San Francisco, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Cleveland 4, NY Yankees 1 Toronto 8, Baltimore 2 Tampa Bay 3, Detroit 2 Texas 3, Oakland 1, 10 innings Minnesota 11, Kansas City 2 Chicago White Sox 11, Seattle 0 Boston at LA Angels, (n)
Sports, Pages 24 on 07/28/2010