It was a homer festival for the Rangers in a first-game, 13-6 win over the Tigers. Marlon Byrd hit two and Freddy Guzman, Hank Blalock, David Murphy, Jarrod Saltamacchia and Ramon Vazquez also homered as Texas hit seven, its most since eight vs. Angels on June 30, 2005.
Vladimir Guerrero returned from a four-game absence (inflamed right triceps) and hit two home runs as the Angels beat the Orioles. It was Guerrero’s 33rd career multihomer game and fourth this season. He needs one more to reach 25 for a 10th consecutive year.
The Padres blasted four home runs and took care of the Dodgers for the 10th time in 16 meetings, winning 9-4. Brian Giles, Khalil Greene, Kevin Kouzmanoff homered off Esteban Loaiza, who gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings. Geoff Blum had the other long ball.
THREE DOWN
Royals rookie left-hander Neal Musser is done for the season after breaking his right little finger punching a chair after Monday’s poor relief outing vs. Twins. “I took my aggravation out the wrong way,” said Musser (0-1, 4.38 ERA). “You live and learn. I’ll never do it again.”
Cardinals right fielder Rick Ankiel let a fly ball drop for a double, then let another go off the heel of his glove for a two-run error during the Reds’ six-run third in a 7-3 loss. He also went 0-for-4, leaving him in an 0-for-17 slump that’s dropped his average from .353 to .316.
Phillies righty Adam Eaton continued his string of ineffective starts, yielding four runs in five innings of an 8-2 loss to the Rockies. Signed to a $24.5 million, three-year deal in the off-season, he’s been a major bust. He’s 2-5 with a 7.20 ERA in 14 starts since June 11.
