Designated hitter Billy Butler went 4-for-5 with four RBIs as the Royals beat the first-place Tigers 10-2. The rookie’s two-run single off Kenny Rogers keyed a three-run third inning. He also had an RBI groundout in the first and an RBI single in the seventh.
Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen was back on his best behavior, pitching seven innings and no fits in a 10-2 win over the Reds. Olsen won in his first start after a two-game suspension for insubordination and conduct detrimental to the team. He held the Reds to four hits and two runs.
The Rockies’ Aaron Cook entered Friday with the lowest strikeouts-per-nine-innings ratio in the majors (2.82), but he got some whiffs in a 3-1 win over the Nationals. Cook struck out a career-high eight in seven innings, helping the Rockies to their 10th win in 14 games.
THREE DOWN
With one out and two on in the eighth, Brewers reliever Derrick Turnbow fanned Barry Bonds looking on a 98 m.p.h. pitch on the outside corner. But he allowed the inherited runners to score anyway on consecutive singles by Ryan Klesko and Rich Aurilia in an 8-4 loss.
Mike Mussina and the Yankees’ pitching staff took a beating in a 14-4 loss to the Devil Rays. Mussina fell to 4-7 as he gave up six runs in 4 2/3 innings. Four of the five Yankees relievers also surrendered runs, including three apiece by Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney.
Rangers outfielder Kenny Lofton left Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Indians in the third inning after fouling a ball off his right big toe. X-rays were negative. Lofton, the subject of trade rumors, is batting .306 with 21 stolen bases.
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Compiled by Mike Pankow
