Lee helps Rangers open up six-game lead over Angels

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Cliff Lee pitched into the ninth inning to beat fellow All-Star Jered Weaver, and the Texas Rangers edged the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Thursday night in Arlington, Texas, to give the AL West leaders a six-game lead over the second-place Angels.

Lee (9-4) allowed five hits, struck out four and didn't walk a batter over 8 1/3 innings in his third start since he was acquired from Seattle in a six-player trade July 9. Neftali Feliz got two outs for his 26th save.

Michael Young homered and Josh Hamilton drove in the go-ahead run with a double in the sixth as the Rangers opened a stretch of seven games against the Angels over an 11-day span.

Tigers 5, Blue Jays 2: Miguel Cabrera started a three-run eighth inning with an RBI double, and Justin Verlander settled down after a rocky start to go eight innings in Detroit's victory over visiting Toronto.

Yankees 10, Royals 4: Alex Rodriguez hit his 599th home run, Derek Jeter had an inside-the-park shot and New York beat visiting Kansas City.

Twins 5, Orioles 0: Carl Pavano pitched a five-hitter for his career-best seventh straight victory and visiting Minnesota beat incensed Baltimore.

Orioles first baseman Ty Wigginton, pitching coach Rick Kranitz and interim manager Juan Samuel were all ejected in the seventh inning. It was a rare show of emotion for the team with the worst record in the majors.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 2, Cardinals 0: Placido Polanco homered leading off the 11th inning, and visiting Philadelphia survived another poor offensive showing with a victory that ended St. Louis' eight-game winning streak and averted a four-game sweep.

Marlins 3, Rockies 2: At Miami, Ronny Paulino hit the winning single with the bases loaded and none out in the ninth inning for Florida to send Colorado to its fifth loss in seven games since the All-Star break.

Braves 8, Padres 0: Tim Hudson dominated San Diego again, Alex Gonzalez finished his first homestand in Atlanta with four hits and the Braves rolled to an easy win over the Padres.

Nationals 7, Reds 1: Adam Dunn hit a two-run homer off Edinson Volquez, who had a rough time in his second start since elbow surgery, and Washington earned a four-game series split at Cincinnati.

Brewers 3, Pirates 2: Yovani Gallardo came off the disabled list and pitched six shutout innings for Milwaukee at Pittsburgh.

Giants 3, Diamondbacks 0: At Phoenix, Matt Cain struck out nine in eight innings and combined on a three-hitter for San Francisco vs. Arizona.

Dodgers 2, Mets 0: Hiroki Kuroda threw eight outstanding innings, Matt Kemp drove in both runs and host Los Angeles beat offensively inept New York.

LATE WEDNESDAY

Diamondbacks 4, Mets 3, 14 inn.: At Phoenix, a pinch-hit RBI single in the 14th inning by Chris Snyder gave Arizona a three-game sweep of New York.