Johnson sent a 2-2 pitch from Scott Atchison (2-2) into the right-field stands for his second clutch home run against the Red Sox in three years. Johnson is best known for a game-tying shot off closer Jonathan Papelbon on Sept. 9, 2008, that keyed an important comeback win en route to Tampa Bay’s only AL pennant.
Randy Choate (4-3) retired David Ortiz with a runner on first and two outs in the 10th.
Athletics 5 Rangers 0: In Arlington, Texas, Dallas Braden pitched a four-hitter for his second career shutout, Daric Barton homered and Oakland cut a game off Texas’ big lead in the AL West.
Braden (9-9) had been 4-7 since his perfect game against Tampa Bay on May 9, but the left-hander was in command from the start of this one. He didn’t walk a batter and let only one runner reach third base.
The Rangers were shut out for only the third time this season and first at Rangers Ballpark. They still hold an 8 1/2 -game edge over the second-place A’s, largest among the six major league divisions.
Oakland’s Kurt Suzuki matched a career high with four hits. Barton was 2 for 3, reached base four times and scored a career-high four runs.
Yankees 12 White Sox 9: In Chicago, CC Sabathia became the majors’ first 18-game winner, Marcus Thames hit two of New York’s four homers and the Yankees beat the White Sox.
Eduardo Nunez hit his first career homer and drove in four runs for New York. Nick Swisher connected for a two-run drive and Robinson Cano had three hits.
Sabathia (18-5) struck out nine in seven innings, but allowed five runs and nine hits.
The Yankees got off to a fast start against John Danks (12-9), belting
Indians 4 Royals 3, 10 innings: In Cleveland, Asdrubal Cabrera led off the 10th inning with a home run to give the Indians a win over Kansas City.
Cabrera hit a 2-1 pitch from right-hander Jesse Chavez (2-2) into the right-field seats. The Indians won their third straight and moved within a game of fourth-place Kansas City in the AL Central.
Chris Perez (2-2), the fifth Indians pitcher, worked a scoreless 10th for the win.
Wilson Betemit hit a two-run homer off Cleveland starter Jeanmar Gomez and tied it at 3 with an RBI double in the eighth against reliever Rafael Perez .
Twins 1 Mariners 0: In Seattle, Nick Blackburn and newly acquired reliever Brian Fuentes combined on a two-hitter for Minnesota.
Denard Span hit an RBI single in the third inning for the AL Central leaders.
After a walk to Ryan Langerhans in the second, Blackburn (8-8) retired 21 in a row before he walked Chone Figgins with two outs in the ninth. Fuentes was brought in to make his Twins debut and struck out Russell Branyan for his 24th save.
Blackburn allowed two hits against the punchless Mariners, both in the first inning. He struck out six and walked two on 98 pitches and came up just short of his first career shutout.
Blue Jays 5 Tigers 4: In Toronto, Jose Bautista hit a two-run triple, Brandon Morrow earned his 10th win and the Blue Jays held off Detroit despite a shaky ninth inning.
One day after blowing a late lead, Kevin Gregg struck out Ramon Santiago with a runner on second for his 30th save.
The major league leader in home runs with 42, Bautista went 2 for 3 with a double, a triple and a walk. He has 99 RBIs this season.
Morrow (10-6) allowed one run and four hits in six innings.
Alfredo Figaro (0-2) was making his first start of the season in place of injured right-hander Jeremy Bonderman , scratched Friday with soreness in his
Orioles 5 Angels 0: In Anaheim, California, Kevin Millwood scattered six hits over eight gritty innings and Orioles No. 9 hitter Josh Bell hit a two-run homer.
Millwood (3-14) won for the first time since posting back-to-back interleague wins over San Diego and Florida on June 19 and June 24. Millwood struck out five and walked one.
Jim Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit in his first appearance since April 30. He had been sidelined because of inflammation in his right elbow. Scott Kazmir (8-12) gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 2-3 innings.
