Verlander shines as Tigers blank Orioles

BALTIMORE — Justin Verlander returned to form after his uncharacteristic start in the All-Star game, allowing three hits in eight innings Sunday to carry the Detroit Tigers over the Baltimore Orioles 4-0.

Verlander (10-5) struck out eight and walked two in his first appearance since yielding five runs in one inning for the AL in an 8-0 loss Tuesday.

The reigning Cy Young Award winner retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced before leaving after 117 pitches.

It was his 117th win for Detroit, tied with Denny McLain for 13th on the team career list. The right-hander is 7-0 in 10 lifetime starts against the Orioles, including 5-0 at Camden Yards.

Jose Valverde worked the ninth to complete the four-hitter. Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera homered for the Tigers.

Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) took the loss for Baltimore.

White Sox 2, Royals 1: Chris Sale won his eighth straight decision, Adam Dunn homered in his third straight game and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals.

Sale (11-2) is 8-0 with two no-decisions since a May 12 loss to the Royals.

Rays 7, Red Sox 3: Josh Beckett overcame early struggles to pitch six effective innings, Will Middlebrooks drove in a pair during a tiebreaking three-run fifth, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

Beckett (5-7) allowed three runs – all in the first – and eight hits. The right-hander, 5-0 over his past eight games against Tampa Bay, struck out seven and walked two in stopping a personal six-start winless streak.

Angels 10, Yankees 8: Kevin Jepsen got Alex Rodriguez to pop out with the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the Los Angeles Angels took advantage of New York’s baserunning follies to beat the Yankees.

Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer in the ninth off Ernesto Frieri to make it 10-7, the first runs off the closer since he joined the Angels on May 3 — a span of 26 1-3 innings.

Athletics 9, Twins 4: Yoenis Cespedes had his first career four-hit game, including a homer and three RBIs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins to complete a three-game series sweep.

Jonny Gomes, Chris Carter and Seth Smith also homered for the A’s, who have won nine of 11 to climb back into the wild-card conversation in the American League. Jarrod Parker (6-4) gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings.

Blue Jays 3, Indians 0: Carlos Villanueva struck out a career-best eight in six scoreless innings, Jose Bautista had two hits and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Cleveland Indians.

Rangers 4, Mariners 0: Matt Harrison tossed a five-hitter for his 12th victory, Adrian Beltre had three hits and two RBIs, and the Texas Rangers beat the Seattle Mariners.

Harrison’s 12th win kept him even with Tampa Bay’s David Price for the most in the American League and continued his streak against the Mariners.

Harrison (12-4) has won eight straight starts against Seattle and is 5-0 all-time at Safeco Field. — Agencies