Jason Giambi, who was 5-for-27 in his previous eight games, shaved his mustache and went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI single for the Yankees, but the Rangers rallied for a 9-5 victory.
Cliff Lee tied the major-league lead with his 15th win as the Indians moved to 5-0 against the AL East-leading Rays this season with a 5-2 victory. Lee went seven innings, giving up two runs on eight hits.
The Brewers’ CC Sabathia was named NL pitcher of the month for July and Ryan Braun NL player of the month. Sabathia was 4-0 after being acquired from Cleveland. Braun hit .366 with nine homers. …
THREE DOWN
… But another Brewer is ice cold. Shortstop J.J. Hardy went 0-for-5 in a 6-3 loss to the Reds. Hardy, who hit six homers in six games during a stretch in July, failed to get a ball out of the infield and is hitless in his last 26 at-bats.
The Rockies’ Aaron Cook sought his 15th victory, but his errant throw on a force attempt and two wild pitches led to an early dismissal against the Nationals. Cook yielded seven runs on 11 hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Ex-Cub Sean Gallagher struggled with his control in the A’s 6-1 loss to the Blue Jays. Gallagher allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits in three innings. He also walked four and hit two batters.
———-
EDITED BY MIKE PANKOW AND THOMAS L. OUTLAW
