Buchholz leads Red Sox over Blue Jays

Clay Buchholz pitched eight strong innings, pinch hitter Mike Lowell drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk and the Boston Red Sox beat the host Toronto Blue Jays, 2-1, last night.

It was Boston's fifth straight victory in Toronto, and the Red Sox's fifth consecutive one-run game. The Red Sox are 4-1 in those games.

Buchholz (2-2) allowed one run and seven hits to win for the first time in three starts.

Rays 8, Athletics 6

Pat Burrell and Reid Brignac homered as host Tampa Bay matched a club record for wins in April. The AL East leaders are 15-5. The victory total equals the number they had in the opening month two years ago, when they made it to the World Series.

Twins 2, Tigers 0

Francisco Liriano (3-0) struck out 10 and pitched eight scoreless innings for visiting Minnesota.

Rangers 4, White Sox 2

Matt Treanor had a solo homer and a two-run double for his first extra-base hits this season and C.J. Wilson (2-1) had a solid start for host Texas.

Cardinals 5, Braves 4

Chris Carpenter (3-0) won on his 35th birthday and Yadier Molina had the go-ahead hit for the second straight game for host St. Louis. Atlanta has lost seven straight.

Padres 4, Marlins 1

Jon Garland (2-2) tied his career high with 10 strikeouts for visiting San Diego.

Pirates 7, Brewers 3

Ryan Doumit hit a grand slam and Ronny Cedeño had a solo homer in a five-run ninth inning to help Pittsburgh snap a 22-game losing streak in Milwaukee.

Rockies 12, D-backs 1

Ubaldo Jimenez (5-0) extended his scoreless streak to 221/3 innings with six shutout innings for host Colorado.- AP