BOSTON (AP) - Josh Beckett redeemed himself less than a week after being booed off the mound, striking out a season-high nine as the Boston Red Sox shut out the Seattle Mariners 5-0 on Tuesday and extended their winning streak to five.
Beckett (3-4) scattered four hits over seven innings before being pulled as a steady rain started to fall late in the afternoon.
Beckett was celebrating his 32nd birthday and could not have atoned better for his previous start, when he was pulled after allowing seven runs in 2 1-3 innings. Boston fans already were seething that day over news Beckett had played golf the week before after being scratched from a start because of back stiffness.
Article Photos
AP PHOTO
Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Josh Beckett delivers to the Seattle Mariners.
INDIANS 5, TWINS 0
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Derek Lowe pitched his first shutout in nearly seven years, throwing a six-hitter and leading the Cleveland Indians past Minnesota.
Shin-Soo Choo, the Indians' new leadoff man, scored after a leadoff double in the third inning and then hit the first of three Cleveland home runs in the fifth against Jason Marquis (2-3). Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana also homered.
The 38-year-old Lowe (6-1) was at his sinker-balling best, walking four without a strikeout. He induced four double-play grounders in winning his fourth straight decision.
This was Lowe's fourth big league shutout, the previous one coming on Aug. 31, 2005, for the Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego.
TIGERS 10
WHITE SOX 8
CHICAGO (AP) - Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Raburn and Austin Jackson homered during an eight-run rally in the sixth inning and the Detroit Tigers defeated Chicago.
The Tigers hung on in the ninth despite closer Jose Valverde leaving with tightness in his lower back. Paul Konerko singled and A.J. Pierzynski doubled with two outs for his fifth hit.
ROYALS 7
RANGERS 4
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Mike Moustakas homered, Billy Butler and Brayan Pena each drove in a pair of runs and the Kansas City Royals kept Texas' potent offense in check for a second straight game.
The Royals took advantage of two throwing errors by Rangers starter Colby Lewis (3-3) to score five unearned runs in the first two innings.
ORIOLES 5
YANKEES 2
BALTIMORE (AP) - Wei-Yin Chen pitched seven innings of four-hit ball, Adam Jones homered and the Baltimore Orioles beat CC Sabathia and the New York Yankees.
RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 3
TORONTO (AP) - David Price won for the fifth time in six starts, Sean Rodriguez homered and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.
ANGELS 4, A's 0
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Ervin Santana struck out nine during 7 2-3 innings of four-hit ball, Albert Pujols drove in two runs with infield singles, and the Los Angeles Angels rebounded from yet another shutout loss with a victory against Oakland.
Mike Trout went 3 for 4 with a homer and three runs scored for the Angels, who finally produced enough offense to back a strong performance by Santana (2-6). The Dominican right-hander retired 16 in a row early, winning his second straight start after a rocky beginning to the season.
Bartolo Colon (3-4) allowed 12 hits while pitching into the seventh inning for the A's, who were off to an AL-best 8-4 start in May.
