Archer helps Rays pip Yankees
Bourn homer steers Indians past Rangers
NEW YORK: Chris Archer allowed just two hits for his second shut-out in three starts, outpitching Ivan Nova and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday.
Kelly Johnson had an RBI single off Nova (4-4) in the sixth to help the American League East-leading Rays improve to 24-5 since June 23, when they were in last place.
In the National League, Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Denard Span all homered, powering the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the New York Mets.
Dan Haren (5-11) pitched seven innings for his first win since May 9, allowing one run and three hits.
Desmond and Span hit back-to-back homers against Dillon Gee (7-8) in the second inning and Harper followed with a two-run drive in the third.
In the AL, Chris Carter hit a threerun home run, and Justin Maxwell and Matt Dominguez added solo shots as the Houston Astros downed the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6 to end a three-game losing streak.
Oakland’s Derek Norris had a pinchhit two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Athletics past the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 for their second straight win and fifth in the last seven. Jed Lowrie also drove in a run for the Athletics and Coco Crisp added two hits.
At Seattle, Brian Dozier and Justin Morneau homered for Minnesota, and Samuel Deduno pitched seven scoreless innings as the Twins eased past the Mariners 4-0.
Michael Bourn homered for the only run of the game as the Cleveland Indians blanked the Texas Rangers 1-0 and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 1-0.
The Boston Red Sox trounced the Baltimore Orioles 7-3, and the Detroit Tigers humiliated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0 in interleague play.
At Atlanta, Andrelton Simmons hit a two-run double in the eighth inning as the Braves beat the St Louis Cardinals 2-0. Julio Teheran allowed two hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
In other NL games, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Florida Marlins 7-4, the San Diego Padres dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-3, the Chicago Cubs shut out the San Francisco Giants 1-0, the Los Angeles Dodgers downed the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5.