Dallas Braden (3-0) and Yankees star Alex Rodriguez got into a shouting match after the top of the sixth inning. Braden was upset that Rodriguez had cut across the pitcher’s mound while returning to first base after a foul ball, a supposed breach of baseball etiquette.
Braden had to be restrained by manager Bob Geren after jawing with Rodriguez. Braden threw his glove against a wall and kicked a stack of paper cups when he went into the dugout.
After the histrionics came history in the bottom of the sixth. Suzuki hit a sharp grounder to Rodriguez, who stepped on third base and threw to Robinson Cano at second. Cano’s relay to first baseman Nick Johnson barely beat Suzuki.
The Yankees had gone 6,632 consecutive regular-season games without a triple play. Their last one was on June 3, 1968, with first baseman Mickey Mantle catching the final out on a ball hit by Minnesota’s John Roseboro.
Andrew Bailey worked the ninth for his second save. The A’s managed only four hits but benefited from a career high-tying six walks by CC Sabathia (2-1) while ending their season-high, three-game losing streak.
Indians 8 Twins 1: In Minneapolis, Mitch Talbot turned in another strong start for Cleveland, and the Indians finally got some hits in their victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Talbot (2-1) followed his first major league win, a complete game last weekend against the Chicago White Sox, with six impressive innings. He held the Twins to two hits and no earned runs to keep them from sweeping the three-game series.
The Indians, who were last in the league in batting average and slugging percentage entering this game, matched their season high with eight runs.
This was the worst of four starts this season for Scott Baker (2-2).
Rays 10 White Sox 2: In Chicago, Carlos Pena drove in four runs and the Rays took advantage of Jake Peavy’s wildness to beat Chicago and cap the winningest road trip in Tampa Bay history.
The Rays, who were 32-49 on the road last year, have never finished a season with a winning record away from Tropicana Field. But they went 9-1 on their first trip this year, outscoring their opponents (Baltimore, Boston and Chicago) by a total of 69-23.
James Shields (2-0) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings for the Rays (12-4), off to the best start in their 13-year history. Pat Burrell, Reid Brignac and Carl Crawford drove in two runs each.
Peavy (0-1), acquired from San Diego last July 31 in a much-hyped trade, set a career high with seven walks while giving up seven hits and seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.
Rangers 3 Red Sox 0: In Boston, C.J. Wilson pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning for his first career win as a starter, helping Texas snap a six-game losing streak with a victory over Boston.
Nelson Cruz had two hits and stole two bases—the Rangers’ 13th and 14th in as many tries in the series—and David Murphy also had two hits.
Wilson (1-1) walked two and struck out two before leaving with two on and two outs in the seventh. Darren O’Day got out of the inning and Darren Oliver got five outs for his third career save—his first since 1994.
Clay Buchholz (1-2) struck out a career-high 10 batters, matching zeros with Wilson through six innings. But the Rangers scored three times on three hits and two Boston errors in the seventh to avoid a three-game sweep.
Tigers 5 Angels 4: In Anaheim, Calif., Justin Verlander labored through five innings for his first win in four starts since signing an $80 million, five-year contract, and Detroit’s bullpen came through again to hold off Los Angeles.
Carlos Guillen drove in two runs to help the Tigers salvage a split of the four-game series. But the three-time All-Star left in the fifth with a strained left hamstring after he tried to score from second on Scott Sizemore’s single.
Verlander (1-1) allowed four runs, six hits and four walks while striking out four. Ryan Perry escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and Jose Valverde worked around a leadoff walk in a hitless ninth for his fifth save.
Detroit scored in each of the first three innings and built a 5-2 lead against Joe Saunders (1-3).
