Armando Galarraga retired the first 18 batters before tiring in the seventh inning as the Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Royals with a 7-1 win. Galarraga struck out seven as he lowered his ERA to 3.27.
Backup catcher Jeff Mathis, batting ninth in the Angels’ lineup, cracked his first career grand slam and added a two-run double on a 4-for-5 afternoon in a 14-11 victory over the Indians.
It was a bittersweet day for Rays shortstop Ben Zobrist. He had a solo homer and an RBI single in a 4-3 win over the A’s, but he was optioned to Triple-A Durham after the game to make room for Jason Bartlett.
THREE DOWN
Twins second baseman Alexi Casilla lost track of outs in the fifth, jogging off after a force play while slow-footed Jose Molina reached first. Justin Christian then hit a two-run double for the Yankees, who won 5-1.
Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra had a 35th birthday he would just as soon forget, finishing hitless in four at-bats in the Dodgers’ 5-3 loss to the Rockies. He hit into two double plays and struck out once.
Mariners utilityman Willie Bloomquist, playing center, dropped a fly ball off the bat of Kevin Youkilis, leading to a three-run rally by the Red Sox in the 12th inning as Seattle fell 6-3, losing its fifth straight.
———-
EDITED BY MIKE PANKOW AND THOMAS L. OUTLAW
