Cubs trounced in return to Fenway Park
Boston Red Sox's Jarrod Saltalamacchia receives congratulations from David Ortiz at the dugout after his solo home run against the Chicago Cubs in the fifth inning. (May 20, 2011) Credit: AP
Adrian Gonzalez had four of Boston's 19 hits, adding four RBIs on Friday night as the Red Sox welcomed the Chicago Cubs back to Fenway Park for the first time since 1918 by beating them, 15-5.
Kevin Youkilis had two doubles and a two-run homer, and Jacoby Ellsbury also had three hits for Boston, which won its seventh straight. The Red Sox are 22-10 since losing 10 of their first 12 games; they have passed the Yankees for the first time this season, and trail the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays by just a half-game.
Jon Lester (6-1) won his sixth straight decision despite giving up a career-high 12 hits. He allowed five runs.
Phillies 3, Rangers 2: Ben Francisco and Raul Ibañez homered, and Roy Halladay threw eight strong innings for host Philadelphia. Halladay (6-3) struck out seven and walked one. Texas' C.J. Wilson (4-3) struck out 10 in seven innings.
Marlins 5, Rays 3: Logan Morrison hit a tying homer in the fourth and doubled in a two-run eighth for host Florida. Leo Nuñez needed only seven pitches in a perfect ninth for his 16th save, most in the majors.
Nationals 17, Orioles 5: In Baltimore, Danny Espinosa homered and drove in five runs, Jayson Werth hit two homers and had four RBIs, and the Nationals had their biggest offensive outing since moving to Washington.
Astros 5, Blue Jays 2: Chris Johnson hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth and visiting Houston snapped a five-game losing skid.
Indians 5, Reds 4: Rookie pinch hitter Ezequiel Carrera bunted home Shin-Soo Choo from third with two outs in the eighth as host Cleveland rallied after trailing 4-0 in the sixth.
Dodgers 6, White Sox 4: Russell Mitchell tied it with a two-out homer in the ninth, and Juan Castro had the go-ahead single in a three-run 10th for visiting Los Angeles. White Sox reliever Sergio Santos blew his first save of the season.
Ethier probed
Major League Baseball is looking into photos of Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier making an obscene gesture on the field before a game. The photos, published on at least one sports website, were taken Monday before the Dodgers' 2-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers . . . Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained side muscle.
-- AP
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