Dan Haren scattered five hits over 7 2/3 innings and hit an RBI double as the Diamondbacks defeated the Astros. The right-hander retired the first 12 batters he faced and finished with five strikeouts.
Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion had RBI doubles in back-to-back innings as Cincinnati held off the Cardinals 4-3. His ground-rule double in the second inning put the Reds up 2-0.
The Yankees’ Mike Mussina earned his 253rd victory, tying Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell for 41st on the career list. Mussina allowed two runs on seven hits in five innings in a 5-2 win over the Indians.
THREE DOWN
After an 0-6 start, Barry Zito is going to the Giants’ bullpen, manager Bruce Bochy said. Only 16 months ago, the 29-year-old left-hander signed a seven-year, $126 million deal to lead the rotation.
In just his second outing since recovering from a left oblique strain, reliever Chris Bootcheck allowed seven runs, six hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning in the Angels’ 14-2 loss to the A’s.
Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock will miss at least three weeks because of a small tear in his left hamstring muscle. He was injured while running the bases in a game with the Twins on Friday.
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EDITED BY MIKE PANKOW AND THOMAS L. OUTLAW
