Mike Redmond capped a three-run rally in the ninth with an RBI single off Cleveland’s Bob Wickman, giving the Twins a 3-2 victory, their first win in 28 tries when trailing after eight innings. Yunel Escobar’s throwing error had allowed the tying run to score.
Justin Germano won his fifth straight decision since coming up from the minors, beating the Devil Rays 7-1. The Padre yielded three hits in six innings, lowering his ERA to 2.36. He credits teammate and four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux for his run.
The Brewers’ Ben Sheets became the second pitcher in team history with 1,000 career strikeouts, helping his team top the Tigers 6-5. He struck out seven, giving him 1,003 since making his debut in 2001. Teddy Higuera has the franchise record with 1,081.
THREE DOWN
Craig Monroe of the Tigers tied a major-league record with five strikeouts in a nine-inning game, three against Sheets. He knocked over a water cooler after one and slammed his helmet after another ended the seventh with two on. “I had a bad day,” he said.
Red Sox right-hander Josh Beckett suffered his first loss in a 7-1 drubbing by the Rockies. He yielded six runs and 10 hits with a walk and a strikeout in five innings and left trailing 6-0. The Red Sox lead on the Yankees has shrunk from 14 1/2 to 7 1/2 in two weeks.
Cardinals pitchers took a beating from the Royals in a 17-8 loss. Roughed up the worst were starter Kip Wells, who fell to 2-11 after yielding six runs in 1 1/3 innings, and Kelvin Jimenez, who gave up six runs in the fourth. The Royals scored eight in the second.
