ANAHEIM (AP) — Albert Pujols welcomed his new hitting coach to town with a go-ahead three-run homer and Vernon Wells added a two-run shot to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Jim Eppard was with the Angels for the first time as hitting coach after replacing Mickey Hatcher, who was fired on Tuesday night by new general manager Jerry DiPoto 1½ months into Hatcher's 13th season on the job.
Jerome Williams (4-1) won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and 10 hits over eight innings with five strikeouts and no walks.
Gavin Floyd (3-4) surrendered seven runs and 10 hits in six innings, including both home runs.
RAYS 2, RED SOX 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jeremy Hellickson pitched six solid innings, Luke Scott had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, and the Rays snapped the Red Sox's five-game winning streak.
Hellickson (4-0) allowed one run and five hits en route to winning a career-best sixth consecutive decision, dating to Sept. 4. The right-hander struck out six and walked two.
Tampa Bay second baseman Will Rhymes left in the eighth inning after being hit by a pitch near his right elbow.
After Jake McGee and Joel Peralta both threw a scoreless inning, Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 12th save.
Clay Buchholz (4-2) gave up two runs and six hits over five-plus innings for Boston.
BLUE JAYS 8, YANKEES 1
TORONTO (AP) — Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive and the Blue Jays beat the Yankees.
Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson added solo home runs as the Blue Jays tagged Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda (3-5) for seven runs, matching a career-high.
Blue Jays right-hander Kyle Drabek (3-4) snapped a four-start losing streak, scattering three hits over seven innings to win for the first time since April 15 against Baltimore. He walked four and struck out five.
Luis Perez worked the eighth and Francisco Cordero finished in the ninth for Toronto.
INDIANS 9, MARINERS 3
CLEVELAND (AP) — Ubaldo Jimenez overcame a shaky start to get the win and the Indians pounded out a season-best five doubles to beat Seattle.
Jimenez (4-3) gave up five hits and three runs over six innings.
Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (3-3) gave up 10 hits and six earned runs in only 3 2-3 innings. He and Jimenez combined for a 34-minute, 59-pitch first inning that ended with Cleveland ahead 4-1.
Travis Hafner hit his fifth homer and drove in three runs, while Shin-Soo Choo had three hits in Cleveland's third straight win.
TWINS 11, TIGERS 7
DETROIT (AP) — Jamey Carroll hit a two-run double in the sixth to give Minnesota the lead, and the Twins outlasted the sloppy Tigers, who made four errors in the first three innings.
The Tigers still led 7-6 when Carroll came up with men on first and second in the sixth. His double off Duane Below (2-1) scored both runners.
Brian Dozier hit a three-run homer for Minnesota in the second, and Trevor Plouffe's two-run shot in the ninth made it 11-7.
Alex Burnett (1-0) got the win in relief after Twins starter Nick Blackburn lasted only two innings.
RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 1
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yu Darvish pitched 7 2-3 strong innings and Adrian Beltre had a two-run homer to help the Rangers beat the Athletics.
Darvish (6-1) gave up one run and four hits while striking out seven. After giving up a run in the first, Darvish settled down and retired 11 of the last 15 batters he faced. He lowered his ERA to 2.60.
Mike Adams struck out Johnny Gomes, who represented the tying run, for the final out in the eighth. Joe Nathan struck out the side in the ninth his eighth save.
Oakland rookie pitcher Tommy Milone (5-3) gave up four runs in seven innings.
ORIOLES 4, ROYALS 3, 15 INNINGS
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adam Jones homered with one out in the 15th inning, lifting the Orioles to a victory over the Royals.
Jones was hitless in six at-bats before connecting for his team-leading 12th home run — nine of them tying the game or giving the Orioles a lead. Jones sent a 2-2 pitch from Nate Adcock (0-1), the fifth Kansas City pitcher, far over the left field wall.
The Orioles improved to 5-0 in extra-inning road games.
Kevin Gregg (1-1) pitched two hitless innings, walking one, to pick up the victory. Jim Johnson earned his 13th save.
