CLEVELAND (AP) — Converted closer Alfredo Aceves coasted through five innings, Mike Napoli and Daniel Nava drove in two runs apiece and the Red Sox, bonded by the tragedy in Boston, struck quickly against Justin Masterson and beat the Cleveland Indians 6-3 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight win.

Aceves (1-0), who began the season in Boston’s bullpen, took a shutout into the sixth before giving up three runs. Andrew Bailey, filling for injured closer Joel Hanrahan, worked the ninth for his first save.

Napoli had an RBI single in the first when the Red Sox scored three off Masterson (3-1), who has already beaten two Cy Young Award winners this season and came in without allowing a run in 19 straight innings.

Nick Swisher and Jason Giambi homered for the Indians, who dropped their third in a row.

The Red Sox hung a gray “617 Boston Strong” jersey in their dugout, just as they did for Tuesday’s emotional series opener — one day after the deadly marathon bombings back home. The jersey has become a symbol of unity for the club, which will be back at Fenway Park on Friday to open a 10-game homestand.

Shane Victorino, Jacoby Ellsbury and Mike Carp had three hits apiece as the Red Sox built Aceves a 5-0 lead.



RAYS 6, ORIOLES 2

BALTIMORE (AP) — Kelly Johnson and Shelley Duncan homered, James Loney had three RBIs and Tampa Bay beat Baltimore to snap a four-game skid.

Matt Moore (3-0) gave up two runs and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. Although his streak of scoreless starts ended at two, the left-hander has accounted for three of the Rays’ five wins this season.

The six runs were the most the Rays scored in a game since a 6-0 win over Cleveland on April 6. Following that victory, Tampa Bay lost seven of eight before turning it around against the Orioles.

After going 1 for 34 with runners in scoring position in their previous five games, the Rays went 4 for 11 in those situations, including a two-run double in the fourth by Loney that put Tampa Bay ahead for good.

Loney went 3 for 3 to raise his batting average from .167 to .242.

Adam Jones homered for the Orioles, who had five hits.

Chris Tillman (0-1) allowed four runs and six hits in four innings to fall to 1-4 against the Rays.

Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon missed a portion of his team’s first win in a week. He was ejected in the fifth inning by umpire Brian Knight, who called Johnson out on a stolen base attempt.



ATHLETICS 7, ASTROS 5

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Bartolo Colon pitched six crisp innings, Josh Reddick doubled in two runs during a six-run first and Oakland defeated Houston to complete another three-game sweep.

The Athletics swept a three-game series at Houston during the first week of the season.

Seth Smith had three hits for the A’s, who improved to an AL-best 12-4. They sent 11 batters to the plate and chased Bud Norris (2-2) in the first inning, then won behind Colon (2-0) and three relievers.

Jose Altuve had three hits and Carlos Pena homered for the second straight day for Houston. Pinch-hitter Rick Ankiel also homered for the Astros.

Colon beat Houston for the second time this season. He has not walked a batter in 19 innings this year.

Grant Balfour got Altuve to ground into a game-ending double play for his third save.



WHITE SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 0

TORONTO (AP) — Tyler Flowers hit a three-run homer and Jose Quintana pitched 6 2-3 sharp innings to lead Chicago over Toronto.

Alex Rios also homered against his former team to back Quintana (1-0), who held the Blue Jays to five hits with two walks while striking out seven in his third start of the season.

J.A. Happ (2-1) allowed six hits, including two homers, and five runs in 5 2-3 innings to end a string of four consecutive quality starts by the Blue Jays. Jose Bautista missed his third straight game with a sore back.



NATIONAL LEAGUE

PIRATES 5, CARDINALS 0

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A.J. Burnett took a no-hitter into the seventh inning nearly 12 years after throwing the only one of his career, pitching the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.

Burnett (1-2) lost his bid with two outs in the seventh on Carlos Beltran’s double to right-center. That was the lone hit given up by the 36-year-old right-hander in seven dominant innings.

Burnett struck out eight. He got the 2,000th strikeout of his 15-year career when he caught Beltran looking in the second.

Mark Melancon, Tony Watson and Jason Grilli completed the one-hitter.

Burnett’s no-hitter came on May 12, 2001, for the Florida Marlins in San Diego. That game was also notable for his nine walks. Burnett walked none against St. Louis.

Cardinals rookie Shelby Miller (2-1) pitched well despite taking his first loss in four career decisions.



NATIONALS 6, MARLINS 1

MIAMI (AP) — Ross Detwiler departed with a lead for the third start in a row and this time the bullpen held on as Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals beat the Miami Marlins.

Harper, back in the Nationals’ lineup after missing one game with the flu, hiked his average to .364 with four hits and improved to 9 for 20 against Ricky Nolasco (0-2). Harper hit two solo homers off Nolasco on opening day.

Detwiler (1-0) allowed one run in seven innings, which increased his ERA to 0.90. He left his first two starts with the Nationals ahead 5-1 and 4-1, but both times received no decision.



ROYALS 1, BRAVES 0

ATLANTA (AP) — Wade Davis pitched seven sharp innings, Jeff Francoeur had an RBI single and the Kansas City Royals stopped Atlanta’s 10-game winning streak.

The Braves were seeking their first 13-1 start since 1994. But the Atlanta hitters — who homered five times off the Royals on Tuesday — were shut down.

Davis (2-0) gave up five hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. Greg Holland worked a scoreless ninth for his third save.

Mike Minor (2-1) allowed five hits, including Francoeur’s single in the fourth, and in six innings. The left-hander’s ERA over three starts is 0.95.



BREWERS 4, GIANTS 3

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pinch-hitter Blake Lalli lifted a long single in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent the Milwaukee Brewers over the San Francisco Giants.

With the score tied, one out and the outfielders playing in, Lalli stepped to the plate for just the sixth time this season.

Lalli lofted a deep fly ball well over the head of left fielder Gregor Blanco for his first hit of 2013. Milwaukee extended its longest winning streak this year to three.

Brewers starter Kyle Lohse did not allow a hit through the first five innings as Milwaukee built a 3-0 lead.

Jim Henderson (2-0) pitched the ninth. Santiago Casilla (1-1) took the loss.



REDS 1, PHILLIES 0

REDS 11, PHILLIES 2

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jay Bruce hit a pair of bases-loaded singles that sent the Cincinnati Reds to a couple of wins over Philadelphia.

First, the Reds finished their game suspended overnight by rain. Several hundred fans were in the stands to see Phillippe Aumont (1-2) pick the game up in the bottom of the ninth and give up Bruce’s bases-loaded single only four batters later.

Aroldis Chapman (2-0) got the win without even warming up on Wednesday — he’d retired the last three batters before the rain came the previous night.

Then, the Reds completed their first series sweep of the Phillies since 1996.

Bruce hit a bases-loaded single that highlighted a five-run rally in the second inning off left-hander John Lannan (0-1).

Reds starter Mike Leake (1-2) drove in a run with his first career triple during the big inning.



INTERLEAGUE

YANKEES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3

NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Travis Hafner connected for a tiebreaking homer with two outs in the eighth inning to lead CC Sabathia and the Yankees past Arizona.

Brett Gardner had a tying, two-run single in the seventh for New York. Stymied by Wade Miley for six innings, the Yankees broke through and won for the seventh time in eight games.

Sabathia (3-1) gave up a two-run homer to Paul Goldschmidt in the first, then settled down for his third straight win after struggling on opening day. It was his second consecutive outing of eight innings.

Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his fourth save. Injured for most of last season, Rivera posted his first back-to-back saves since April 10-11, 2012.

Hafner sent the first pitch he saw from reliever David Hernandez (0-1) into the right-center stands for his fourth home run with his new team.