Florida fans got a rare treat when Alfredo Amezaga hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Marlins defeated the Nationals 4-2. Amezaga has just 11 homers in 1,106 career at-bats.
The Orioles’ Daniel Cabrera continued his dominance over the Royals, improving to 5-0 with a 2.21 ERA against them with a seven-hitter in a 5-2 win. He retired 13 straight men between the fourth and eighth.
Xavier Nady homered twice as the Pirates overcame two homers by Jay Bruce and beat the Reds 9-5. Nady hit a solo shot in the third and a two-run blast in the fifth, both coming off rookie Daryl Thompson.
THREE DOWN
The Red Sox bullpen took its lumps as Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen each gave up three runs in the seventh inning and the Rays rallied for a 7-6 win to cap a three-game sweep at Tropicana Field.
Jeff Francoeur went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as the Braves fell to the Phillies 7-3. Francoeur is batting .108 (4-for-37) in his last 11 games with 11 strikeouts as his average dipped from .253 to .236.
Just when the Tigers thought they had figured it all out, they realized the Metrodome is still a roadblock. Detroit fell to 1-5 against the Twins in the dome after a 7-0 loss and has been outscored 39-17.
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EDITED BY MIKE PANKOW AND THOMAS L. OUTLAW
