MLB Wrap: Late homer lifts Angels over Dodgers

ANAHEIM, California — Juan Rivera hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning for the Angels, delivering a 5-4 win over the Dodgers in their all-Los Angeles clash in interleague baseball on Friday. Rivera's shot over the left field wall wiped out earlier homers from the Dodgers' James Loney and Rafael Furcal, and moved the Angels within half a game of the American League West division lead. Justin Speier got the last out of the eighth and Brian Fuentes got his AL-leading 19th save by striking out Casey Blake and Matt Kemp to end it. Tigers 10, Brewers 4 (7 innings) In Detroit, Marcus Thames hit a pair of two-run homers as Detroit rallied to beat Milwaukee in a game stopped in the seventh inning by rain. Miguel Cabrera and Curtis Granderson also homered for the Tigers in a game that was also halted by rain for 2 hours in the fourth inning. Detroit maintained its two-game lead atop the AL Central, while Milwaukee's advantage atop the NL Central was cut to half a game. Giants 6, Rangers 4 In San Francisco, Fred Lewis hit a go-ahead, two-run homer for San Francisco, overcoming Texas. The Giants used five relievers to maintain their lead, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. Braves 8, Red Sox 2 In Boston, Atlanta's Nate McLouth homered on the game's first pitch and Kenshin Kawakami ouptiched his more-heralded countryman Daisuke Matsuzaka as Atlanta beat Boston. Kawakami allowed just two hits in six innings in his first start against Boston since signing a $23 million, three-year contract in January after 11 seasons in Japan. Matsuzaka cost the Red Sox a lot more — $103 million over six years — and he failed to reach the sixth inning for the sixth time in his past eight starts. His position in the Boston rotation is under threat. The Red Sox lead in the American League East division was cut to two games. Yankees 5, Marlins 1 In Miami, veteran pitcher Andy Pettitte and two relievers combined on a three-hitter to lead New York over Florida. With Alex Rodriguez benched, the Yankees regrouped after two losses at home to lowly Washington. Pettitte was sharp, with the only blemish being a third-inning homer for the Marlins. Mets 5, Rays 3 In New York, pitcher Fernando Nieve turned in another impressive start, guiding New York over Tampa Bay. Brian Schneider hit a three-run homer for the Mets and closer Francisco Rodriguez rebounded from a blown save the previous day with a perfect ninth inning. In their first meeting since 2001, the Rays mustered little offense against New York and Nieve. Schneider's shot was his first homer this season. Orioles 7, Phillies 2 In Philadelphia, the hosts slumped to their fourth straight loss, beaten by Baltimore. Orioles starter Rich Hill pitched into the seventh inning, allowing only the two runs. He also singled in the go-ahead run for Baltimore, which won its third in a row, building on the momentum of a comeback win over the Mets on Thursday. Cardinals 10, Royals 5 In Kansas City, Missouri, Albert Pujols hit a two-run single and Ryan Ludwick hit a grand slam to set up St. Louis' win over Kansas City. The Cardinals had an early seven-run lead, and finished with 14 hits. Reds 4, White Sox 3 In Cincinnatti, Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly to help Cincinnatti end a nine-game losing streak against Chicago. Phillips' homer put Cincinnati ahead to stay in the sixth. Twins 5, Astros 2 In Minneapolis, pitcher Kevin Slowey became the second 10-game winner in the majors, and Minnesota beat Houston. Slowey surrendered only a sacrifice fly. It was Houston's first game in Minnesota since 2001. Rockies 7, Pirates 3 In Denver, Colorado made it 14 wins in 15 games, overcoming Pittsburgh. Pitcher Jason Marquis shut down the Pirates with a masterful mix of sinkers and sliders over 8 2-3 innings, allowing three earned runs. The Rockies are 16-5 since manager Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle on May 29. Mariners 4, Diamondbacks 3 In Seattle, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning and Rob Johnson drove in the go-ahead run to give Seattle the win over Arizona. Russell Branyan homered to start the eighth. Adrian Beltre singled and reached third before the 39-year-old Griffey homered to right-center. Moments later, Chris Woodward tripled and then scored the go-ahead run. Cubs 8, Indians 7 In Chicago, Ryan Theriot hit a bad-hop single with two outs in the 10th inning to complete Chicago's comeback from a seven-run deficit to edge Cleveland. The Cubs only stayed in the contest thanks to Derrek Lee's ninth-inning homer off former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood. With two outs in the tenth, Alfonso Soriano drew a two-out walk and stole second. Theriot followed with a grounder that took a cruel bounce past first baseman Victor Martinez. The Indians had loaded the bases in the top of the inning before Kosuke Fukudome made a nice catch of a liner to center field. Athletics 7, Padres 5 In San Diego, Orlando Cabrera doubled in two runs in the eighth inning to push Oakland over the top of San Diego. It was the Padres' 17th loss in 21 interleague games since the start of last season. Nationals 2, Blue Jays 1 (11 innings) In Washington, Adam Dunn hit a bases-loaded single in the 11th inning to lift Washington over Toronto. With one out in the 11th, Cristian Guzman knocked off the glove of the pitcher with a line-drive infield single, then there were two walks before Dunn's winning hit. The victory was the Nationals' third straight, matching a season high. – AP