Longoria busts out of slump, leads Rays
Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, left, is greeted by teammates Ben Zobrist, center, and Sam Fuld after his three-run home run off Minnesota Twins' Phil Dumatrait during the ninth inning of a baseball game. (July 6, 2011) Credit: AP
Evan Longoria snapped out of his slump with three hits and four RBIs, helping the Rays avert a sweep with a 12-5 win over the Twins Wednesday in Minneapolis.
"It's laughable at this point, some of it," said Longoria, who raised his average eight points to .243. "I've just got to keep going up there and hitting the ball and just hope it falls.''
Longoria's single gave the Rays the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and then he hit a three-run homer in the ninth. The franchise cornerstone, bothered by injuries for much of the season, was 3-for-28 before the game.
Michael Cuddyer drove in three runs for the Twins.
Rays DH Johnny Damon left after the third inning with a bruised hand after being hit by a pitch for the second time.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 4: Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Youkilis had three extra-base hits apiece, and 44-year-old Tim Wakefield (5-3) scattered nine hits in seven innings for his 198th win. Wakefield filled in for a rotation missing Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Rangers 13, Orioles 5: Alexi Ogando (9-3) allowed four hits in seven innings as host Texas completed a three-game sweep. Jeremy Guthrie (3-11) gave up six runs in five innings and took over the AL lead in losses.
Royals 4, White Sox 1: Bruce Chen (5-2) pitched well into the seventh, and Eric Hosmer hit a home run for visiting Kansas City.
Tigers 5, Angels 4: Miguel Cabrera homered in a three-run seventh, and Victor Martinez had two RBIs as visiting Detroit avoided a three-game sweep.
Athletics 2, Mariners 0: Guillermo Moscoso (3-4) allowed two hits in seven innings, and Scott Sizemore homered for host Oakland.
Marlins 7, Phillies 6: Mike Stanton hit a walk-off solo homer in the 10th. The host Marlins overcame a 4-0 deficit to avert a three-game sweep. It was only their second win in the last 17 one-run games. John Mayberry Jr. hit two homers for the Phillies.
Brewers 3, D-backs 1: Casey McGehee had a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh, the first time he went deep since May 20. Yovani Gallardo (10-5) pitched seven strong innings for host Milwaukee.
Braves 9, Rockies 1:Chipper Jones hit a two-run homer, and Jair Jurrjens earned his NL-leading 12th win. Host Atlanta has won eight of nine. The Rockies have lost four straight and are five games under .500 for the first time this season.
Nationals 5, Cubs 4: Wilson Ramos' suicide squeeze drove in Michael Morse in the bottom of the seventh.
Astros 8, Pirates 2: Hunter Pence had three hits, including an RBI single during a five-run sixth, as visiting Houston ended a five-game losing streak. -- AP
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