Niemann (9-3) allowed eight hits in six innings, and Evan
Longoria hit a two-run homer in the eighth.
The Rays got out of a seventh-inning jam for the second
consecutive game after intentionally walking Miguel Cabrera to load the bases
with two outs. A fly ball ended the inning and preserved Tampa Bay's 5-4 lead.
Carl Crawford had an RBI grounder off Eddie Bonine (4-1)
as the Rays took a 5-3 lead in the fourth.
In Anaheim, Marco Scutaro hit a
tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning as Boston wrapped up a 10-game West
Coast road trip with a three-game sweep of Los Angeles.
The Angels were swept at home for the first time in 80
series, ending the majors' longest streak since Atlanta went 84 home series
without being swept from 2003-06.
The Red Sox are 7-0 against Los Angeles this season.
Boston starter Josh Beckett (2-1) yielded five hits over
seven innings in his first victory since April.
Fernando Rodney (4-1) took the loss for the Angels, who
have lost seven of eight to drift out of contention in the AL West.
In Arlington, Trevor Cahill
allowed one run over eight innings to guide Oakland to victory over Texas.
Cahill (10-4) took over the team lead in victories,
breaking a tie with Gio Gonzalez. He improved to 5-1 for his career against
Texas, 2-0 with a 0.87 ERA in three starts at Rangers Ballpark.
Kurt Suzuki homered and drove in two runs for Oakland,
who moved within 71/2 games of the AL West-leading Rangers.
Texas didn't score until the ninth, but starter Colby
Lewis (9-7) had matched Cahill until Suzuki's homer in the sixth.
In Cleveland, New York's Alex
Rodriguez had two hits, but not homer No. 600, as the Yankees routed Cleveland.
New York starter A.J. Burnett (9-8) pitched 6 1-3
scoreless innings as the Yankees improved the best record in the majors (64-36)
with their AL-leading ninth shutout.
Rodriguez didn't come close to getting his elusive 600th
homer, though he went 2 for 5 with a run-scoring single in the first inning off
Fausto Carmona (10-8).
In Kansas City, Delmon Young had a
three-run homer as Minnesota finished a three-game sweep of Kansas City.
The Twins stayed on the heels of Chicago in the AL
Central.
The Royals, who set a team record by allowing 42 runs and
53 hits in the three previous games, stemmed the flow somewhat but still lost.
Minnesota starter Brian Duensing (4-1) went six innings
and gave up two runs.
Kansas City starter Brian Bannister (7-10) lost his fifth
straight decision, going six-plus innings, allowing five runs.
In Chicago, Alex Rios hit a
tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning as Chicago rallied to beat Seattle
and notch its 10th straight home win.
Juan Pierre, who reached base three times, started the
winning rally with a leadoff walk against Jamey Wright (1-3). He took second
with his major league-best 38th steal and moved to third on a sacrifice.
Brandon League came in to face Rios, who bounced a single past a drawn-in
infield, making it 6-5.
The White Sox hit three homers for the second straight
day and won their third straight overall to move 12 games over .500, tying a
season-high.
Chicago reliever Matt Thornton (3-3) got one out with the
bases loaded to end the seventh, taking the win, while Bobby Jenks struck out
the side in the ninth for his 21st save.
In Toronto, rookie left-hander
Brad Mills pitched seven scoreless innings for his first major league win,
steering Toronto past Baltimore for the 12th consecutive time.
Called up from the minors for his first start of the
season and just the third of his career, Mills (1-0) allowed only two singles.
Lyle Overbay hit a three-run homer for the Blue Jays, who
have won five of six. They lead the majors with 155 homers, having gone deep in
10 straight games and hit 25 in that span.
It was the eighth shutout of the season for Toronto, and
the seventh blanking for the Orioles, who have lost five straight.
Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (4-11) allowed six hits
in seven innings.
