AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers swinging for fences after lineup shake-up

DETROIT -- Brad Ausmus shook up the lineup and Detroit responded with its highest-scoring game of the season.

Just a coincidence, perhaps, but the Tigers and their manager will take it.

"You only have so much at your beck and call as a manager, things you can do when an offense is struggling," Ausmus said. "Not that it was a huge shock with the lineup change, but you hope it's some type of shock to the lineup system that maybe has some positive effect."

J.D. and Victor Martinez both homered, and Justin Verlander pitched impressively into the seventh inning to lift the Tigers to a 9-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night. Ausmus moved J.D. Martinez from fifth to second in the batting order, swapping him with Justin Upton.

J.D. Martinez hit a three-run home run in the second inning. Victor Martinez added a three-run shot of his own in the sixth.

Verlander (2-2) allowed 3 runs and 5 hits in 61/3 innings, his third consecutive quality start since allowing seven runs against Pittsburgh on April 11.

Sonny Gray (3-2) lasted only two innings in the shortest start of his big league career. He allowed 4 runs, 2 hits and 4 walks, throwing 65 pitches.

"I've been out of the zone more than I've wanted early in the season, but until tonight, it hadn't hurt me. I've had some close calls, but I've been able to get out of them," Gray said. "Tonight, I didn't have anything. I don't remember a start like this, where every breaking ball I threw was awful and I couldn't locate anything."

Detroit had lost seven of its previous nine, scoring more than three runs only once in the prior seven games. Ausmus was hoping something would click if he adjusted the lineup, and Detroit broke through with four runs in the second.

RANGERS 3, YANKEES 2 Elvis Andrus had a tiebreaking RBI triple and host Texas beat New York. Former Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez hit his 100th home run in the stadium.

ORIOLES 3, RAYS 1 Joey Rickard hit a three-run home run and Chris Tillman gave up two hits in 62/3 innings to help visiting Baltimore break a three-game losing streak with a victory over Tampa Bay.

WHITE SOX 4, BLUE JAYS 0 Dioner Navarro hit a go-ahead, two-run triple in the seventh inning, and Chicago beat host Toronto for its sixth consecutive victory.

ANGELS 4, ROYALS 2 Mike Trout hit a tying two-run home run, Yunel Escobar put the Angels ahead with a solo shot in the sixth inning and Andrelton Simmons also went deep to power Los Angeles to a victory over visiting Kansas City.

INDIANS 6, TWINS 5 Francisco Lindor drove in three runs and Cleveland spoiled the big league debut of Jose Berrios with a victory over host Minnesota.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

METS 5, REDS 2 Neil Walker hit his ninth home run, tying for the major league lead, Matt Harvey won his second consecutive start and host New York beat Cincinnati.

PHILLIES 3, NATIONALS 0 Jeremy Hellickson allowed two hits over seven innings to lead visiting Philadelphia over Washington.

GIANTS 13, PADRES 9 Brandon Belt was a home run short of the cycle and drove in five runs as host San Francisco completed a three-game sweep by beating San Diego.

INTERLEAGUE

RED SOX 9, BRAVES 4 Dustin Pedroia had a grand slam and another home run, David Ortiz passed two Hall of Fame Red Sox on the extra-base hits list and Boston beat visiting Atlanta even as the Braves ended their 15-game stretch without a home run.

Sports on 04/28/2016

Upcoming Events