Jason Michaels hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning and extended his hit streak to 11 games as the Indians rallied past the A’s 4-3. Michaels’ sixth home run of the year brought Cleveland back from a 3-0 hole and kept them a half-game behind the first-place Tigers.
Carlos Lee capped off a festive night in Houston as he crushed a first-pitch grand slam off Brian Fuentes in the bottom of the 11th in the Astros’ 8-5 win over the Rockies. After his mighty swing, Lee used some body language as if to sway the ball inside the foul pole.
In the pouring rain, Jimmy Rollins ripped a single off Victor Santos into the gap in right-center to score Jayson Werth in the 10th as the Phillies beat the Reds 8-7. Rollins, who was 4-for-6, also tripled in the eighth, driving in Abraham Nunez to tie the game.
THREE DOWN
Pirates’ lefty Zach Duke dropped to 3-7 after allowing 12 hits and six runs in four innings in a 9-7 loss to the Marlins. His defense didn’t help as Xavier Nady dropped Hanley Ramirez’s sinking liner in the bottom of the first, which was scored a triple, leading to four runs.
Randy Johnson’s return to the Diamondbacks’ rotation wasn’t pretty. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits in three innings, throwing 69 pitches in a 9-5 loss to the Dodgers. He was out with muscle tightness in his buttocks and a herniated disk.
Rangers’ pitchers gave the Tigers plenty of opportunities, issuing nine walks in a 5-2 loss. Starter Kevin Millwood had six walks and reliever Scott Feldman three. Three of the nine batters who drew walks ended up scoring.
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Compiled by Mike Pankow
