WASHINGTON: Pitcher Jordan Zimmermann trailed 2-0 after the first two batters, he did not allow a run the rest of the way as team-mate Jayson Werth had two hits and two RBIs and Denard Span added two hits, two runs and an RBI in a 6-2 win over the Giants.
Zimmermann (9-5), despite a rocky start, allowed two runs and struck out eight in eight innings as he remained unbeaten in his last seven outings.|
First-place Washington (74-54) won for the 11th time in 12 games. The Giants (68-60) fell to a still impressive 22-11 against the National League East.
Pirates 10, Brewers 2
Pedro Alvarez belted two home runs, Russell Martin and Neil Walker added three RBIs and Pittsburgh blasted first-place Milwaukee.
Edinson Volquez earned the win despite allowing 11 hits, while Major League wins co-leader Wily Peralta gave up eight runs in five innings to fall to 15-8.
The Pirates (67-62) have won three straight while the Brewers (71-58) have dropped three in a row.
Mariners 7, Red Sox 3
Dustin Ackley blasted a three-run home run as the Seattle Mariners scored seven runs in the fourth inning to beat Boston yesterday.
Seattle (70-58) starter Chris Young only lasted 3 2/3 innings but Tom Wilhelmsen came on and was credited with the win.
Yankees 5, White Sox 3
Carlos Beltran hit a home run in his return from a brief absence and Martin Prado had three hits, leading the New York Yankees to a victory over the Chicago White Sox.
Beltran returned after missing the previous three games because of the right elbow pain that sidelined him for 21 games and kept him from playing the outfield until last weekend.
Cubs 7, Orioles 2
Chris Coghlan hit a bases-clearing triple and rookie Javier Baez slammed his seventh home run in only 19 games as the Chicago Cubs shrugged off a three-hour rain delay for an inter-league victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
Cubs reliever Justin Grimm (4-2) got the win in a game ended six hours after it started.
The first-place Orioles fell to 73-54.
Twins 12, Tigers 4 (Game One)
For the second straight game, the Minnesota Twins posted a six-run second inning en route to a big win over the Detroit Tigers, taking game one of a day-night doubleheader. Kennys Vargas pounded out five RBIs and Yohan Pino tossed five innings to get the win for the Twins.
Tigers 8, Twins 6 (Game Two)
Back-to-back two-run innings in the sixth and seventh innings helped lead the Detroit Tigers to victory over the Minnesota Twins in game two of a split doubleheader.
Detroit (69-59) right-hander Justin Verlander was far from his normal self, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings of work.
But he got the win anyway, evening his record at 11-11.
REUTERS
