Mariners spoil Pettitte’s return to Yankees

NEW YORK: Andy Pettitte made his much-anticipated return to the Yankees on Sunday, getting lavished with adoration while pitching into the seventh inning despite giving up a pair of two-run homers in New York’s 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
Nearly lost amid the excitement over Pettitte’s first major league appearance since retiring after the 2010 season was party crasher Kevin Millwood’s performance for Seattle — helped by three double plays. The 37-year-old Millwood (1-4) gave up three hits in seven innings and got his 2,000th career strikeout as Seattle avoided a three-game sweep.
The Yankees tried to prevent their old pal Pettitte from taking the loss with a rally in the eighth against four Seattle relievers. Robinson Cano was walked with two outs by Charlie Furbush with the bases loaded to make it 4-2. Mark Teixeira, though, struck out to end the inning.
The lovefest for Pettitte (0-1) began when the lefty appeared with several players in videos welcoming fans to Yankee Stadium after batting practice. The cheers grew as he strolled out to the bullpen for warmups and fans rose for a standing ovation when the five-time World Series champion followed his teammates onto the field for the first inning.
Rays 9 Orioles 8: In Baltimore, Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs, and Tampa Bay held on to beat Baltimore.
James Shields earned his sixth win as the Rays snapped a three-game skid with their second win in eight games. Tampa Bay entered the series tied atop the AL East with Baltimore.
The Rays led 7-1 in the fourth inning and 9-6 in the eighth, but it was 9-8 when Fernando Rodney ended it with runners on second and third for his 10th save.
Shields (6-1) gave up six runs, four earned, and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Tigers 3 Athletics 1: In Oakland, California, Justin Verlander struck out eight in seven innings to win his fourth straight decision and Detroit beat ailing Oakland to salvage a series split.
Miguel Cabrera hit a pair of RBI singles and Austin Jackson drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth to put Detroit ahead, helping Verlander (4-1) win his 13th straight road decision.
Seth Smith hit a solo homer for Oakland and Jarrod Parker (1-1) worked 5 2-3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Red Sox 12 Indians 1: In Boston, Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered during a six-run seventh inning and drove in five runs to lead Boston past Cleveland.
Rookie Will Middlebrooks hit his fourth homer for the Red Sox, who have rebounded from a 1-8 skid with three straight wins.
Daniel Bard (3-4) survived some early control problems and held the Indians to one run despite walking four and allowing six hits over six innings.
Justin Masterson (1-3) also had control issues, falling behind 4-0 while facing all nine Boston batters in the first inning. He lasted six innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.
Royals 9 White Sox 1: In Chicago, Jeff Francoeur hit his first homer of the season and pinch-hitter Johnny Giavotella had a two-run double to lead Kansas City over Chicago.
Alcides Escobar went 3 for 3 with two walks for Kansas City, which broke it open with six runs in the ninth inning. Francoeur also had an RBI single and made a nice play in right field.
Starter Danny Duffy recorded two outs before he trudged off the mound following a short discussion with manager Ned Yost and a trainer. Luis Mendoza (2-2) came in and pitched 5 2-3 innings, allowing one run and seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks.
Twins 4 Blue Jays 3: In Minneapolis, Scott Diamond pitched seven shutout innings, Brian Dozier hit his first career homer and Minnesota Twins held on to beat Toronto.
Ryan Doumit and Jamey Carroll added two hits apiece for the Twins, and Matt Capps pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save in as many chances. Yunel Escobar and Eric Thames knocked in runs for Toronto, which closed a 5-5 road trip.
Diamond (2-0) allowed five hits and struck out four without a walk.
Rangers 13 Angels 6: In Arlington, Texas, Nelson Cruz hit his third career grand slam, Josh Hamilton drove in three runs and the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels to hand Jered Weaver his first loss.
The slam by Cruz capped a five-run third for the Rangers. Hamilton chased Weaver an inning later with a two-run double that made it 8-2.
Weaver (5-1), in his second start since throwing a no-hitter, gave up 10 hits and eight runs in only 3 1/3 innings, his shortest outing since 2009.