TIGERS 9, ATHLETICS 3
DETROIT -- Torii Hunter hit three RBI singles and capped a six-run burst in the sixth inning that sent the Detroit Tigers over the Oakland Athletics 9-3 Wednesday for a three-game sweep.
The three-time AL Central champion Tigers won for the 11th time in 13 games. The division leaders reached the halfway mark with a 47-34 mark.
Oakland still has the best record in the majors despite its stumble at Comerica Park.
Justin Verlander (7-7) won for the first time since May 30. He looked like he might be in trouble when Coco Crisp and Brandon Moss hit long home runs off him in the first inning, but left after the sixth with a 9-2 lead.
Jesse Chavez (6-5) struggled for the second consecutive start, giving up five runs in five-plus innings. Reliever Jim Johnson replaced him and allowed four runs while only getting one out.
Hunter (Pine Bluff) came into the game hitting .185 in his last 32 games and has struggled badly in right field. With a day game after a night game and Victor Martinez still sidelined, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus gave Hunter his first game at designated hitter since August 2012.
Hunter's first RBI single pulled the Tigers within 2-1 in the first, and he tied it with another hit in the third.
Austin Jackson put Detroit ahead with a run-scoring single in the fourth.
Verlander got into trouble in the sixth. Moss led off with a double -- his third of four hits -- and took third on Derek Norris' infield single. Verlander retired Stephen Vogt and Jed Lowrie on popups, but hit Nate Freiman with his 100th pitch of the game to load the bases.
Verlander got ahead 0-2 on Nick Punto, hitting 96 mph on the second pitch, and then induced a fly ball to shallow right with an 87-mph slider.
The Tigers immediately broke the game open, with Rajai Davis bouncing a two-run single through a drawn-in infield. Davis, who played for Oakland from 2008-10, started Oakland's rough series by hitting a game-ending grand slam to give the Tigers a 5-4 victory on Monday.
MARINERS 5, ASTROS 2 Logan Morrison drove in two runs in Seattle's big sixth inning, Chris Young pitched seven strong innings and the Mariners beat host Houston to complete a three-game sweep. The Mariners were down by two before a four-run sixth inning, highlighted by Morrison's double to right field off Brad Peacock (2-5) that put them on top.
RAYS 6, YANKEES 3 Sean Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking home run in the sixth inning and drove in three runs, helping streaking Tampa Bay extend its longest winning string this year to five and handing host New York its season-worst fifth consecutive loss.
ROYALS 4, TWINS 0 Jason Vargas threw seven scoreless innings, Raul Ibanez homered in his second game for visiting Kansas City and the Royals beat Minnesota. Vargas (8-3) allowed four singles and two walks while striking out five, allowing only two runners from a diluted Twins lineup to reach second base.
ORIOLES 6, RANGERS 4 Adam Jones and Ryan Flaherty hit solo home runs and Baltimore beat visiting Texas for the third consecutive game. The Rangers have lost eight consecutive road games, their longest drought since 2005.
INTERLEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 7, BREWERS 4 Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning and host Toronto beat Milwaukee, handing the Brewers their third consecutive loss. Jose Bautista and Juan Francisco also connected for the Blue Jays, who have hit a major league high 113 home runs this season.
INDIANS 5, DODGERS 4 Mike Aviles capped a three-run eighth inning with a two-run single against Brian Wilson, rallying visiting Cleveland past Los Angeles. Ryan Raburn homered off Hyun-Jin Ryu, who was lifted after seven with a 3-2 lead.
CUBS 16, RED SOX 9 Justin Ruggiano, Mike Olt and Welington Castillo hit two-run home runs to power Chicago to a victory over host Boston, completing a three-game series sweep.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
PADRES 3, REDS 0 Tyson Ross threw a three-hitter for his first career shutout and Rene Rivera hit a three-run single off big-league ERA leader Johnny Cueto as host San Diego beat Cincinnati for its first three-game sweep since September.
BRAVES 3, METS 1 Chris Johnson hit a three-run double, Julio Teheran pitched seven strong innings and host Atlanta beat New York to complete a three-game sweep. The Braves extended their season-best winning streak to seven games.
MARLINS 5, PHILLIES 0 Casey McGehee reached base three times, doubled home a run and scored another, helping host Miami to a victory over Philadelphia.
NATIONALS 4, ROCKIES 3 After a replay review, Ian Desmond’s home run provided the go-ahead run and host Washington rallied from a three-run deficit for a victory over Colorado.
PIRATES 5, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Gregory Polanco homered, Charlie Morton continued his effective pitching at home and host Pittsburgh won for the fifth time in six games.
Sports on 07/03/2014