THREE DOWN
Marlon Byrd lined a two-run triple past Magglio Ordonez and scored an insurance run in the ninth inning as the Rangers defeated the Tigers 9-6. Byrd’s effort helped Texas bounce back after usually reliable setup man Akinori Otsuka allowed three runs in the eighth.
Catcher Carlos Ruiz drove in a career-best four runs and even stole home as part of a double steal with Michael Bourn to lead the Phillies’ 11-4 rout of the Reds. Ruiz singled in a run in the second and then ripped a three-run double in the fourth to break the game open.
Kelly Shoppach crushed a 1-0 pitch from Alan Embree for a three-run pinch homer to complete a five-run ninth, helping the Indians to an 8-5 win over the A’s. After Travis Hafner doubled to tie it, Embree intentionally walked Jhonny Peralta to set up Shoppach.
THREE UP
Nationals starting pitcher Mike Bacsik woke up the sleeping giant known as the Braves’ offense in a 6-2 loss. He gave up five earned runs over six innings, including two home runs to rookie Jason Saltalamacchia and a three-run shot to struggling Andruw Jones.
Astros reliever Rick White was pounded for five runs in a nine-run sixth for the Brewers, capped by Johnny Estrada’s grand slam. Houston had taken a 4-2 lead in the top half of the inning, but neither starter Wandy Rodriguez nor White could stop the onslaught.
Yankees reliever Scott Proctor walked three in the bottom of the ninth, including Ramon Hernandez’s one-out bases-loaded free pass that scored Corey Patterson in a 3-2 loss to the Orioles. New York has lost six of its last seven.
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Compiled by Mike Pankow
