Franklin Gutierrez smacked a go-ahead three-run homer off closer Joakim Soria as part of a five-run eighth inning as the Indians rallied to defeat the Royals 8-5 for their ninth win in 12 games.
Brett Myers, who has wrestled with injuries and inconsistency, tossed a nine-hitter for his first shutout in four years as the Phillies beat the Nationals 4-0. Myers struck out nine and walked one to improve to 6-10.
Garret Anderson extended his hitting streak to 23 games with an RBI single in the ninth to help the Angels pull out a 5-4 win over the Rays. Anderson grounded a ball up the middle that Akinori Iwamura couldn’t quite handle.
THREE DOWN
The Royals’ Mitch Maier was hit in the face by a pitch from the Indians’ Zach Jackson in the fifth inning. The ball hit Maier’s right cheek and nose as he squared around to bunt. X-rays revealed fractures below his right eye.
Tigers left-hander Nate Robertson gave up five home runs in 3 2/3 innings in a 9-1 loss to the Rangers. Manager Jim Leyland yanked Robertson after back-to-back homers by Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley.
The Braves endured a rough first inning in a 6-3 loss to the Mets. Chipper Jones and Yunel Escobar made throwing errors and Jair Jurrjens allowed five runs in the inning, including an RBI single to his counterpart Mike Pelfrey.
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EDITED BY MIKE PANKOW AND THOMAS L. OUTLAW
