PHILADELPHIA: Jon Lester tossed two-hit ball over seven shutout innings, Jason Varitek homered twice and the Boston Red Sox avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in interleague play Thursday. The Phillies got a scare when pitcher Cole Hamels was forced to leave soon after being struck on the glove hand by Adrian Gonzalez's line drive in the fourth. The Phillies said X-rays were negative and Hamels will make his next start. The three-game series was hyped as a potential World Series preview. If it is, don't look for much offense in October: Philadelphia outscored the Red Sox 9-6. Dustin Pedroia and Varitek hit back-to-back homers in the eighth to make it 5-0. Ryan Howard hit his 17th homer in the ninth, a two-run shot off Bobby Jenks. Yankees 5, Brewers 0: At New York, CC Sabathia tied his career high with 13 strikeouts and Mark Teixeira hit his 300th homer to help New York finish off June with a season-best five-game winning streak. Sabathia (11-4) won for the eighth time in nine starts. Cubs 5, Giants 2, 13 innings: At Chicago, pinch-hitter Geovany Soto's three-run homer capped a four-run 13th inning and sent the Chicago Cubs to a wild victory over San Francisco. Tigers 5, Mets 2: At Detroit, Justin Verlander slowed down the rampaging Mets, pitching seven solid innings to lead Detroit to victory. Marlins 5, Athletics 4: At Oakland, California, Chris Volstad allowed one unearned run in seven innings and John Buck hit a two-run double to help Florida cap a miserable June by beating Oakland for its first consecutive wins in more than a month. Cardinals 9, Orioles 6: At Baltimore, Lance Berkman homered twice and Jon Jay hit a three-run shot as St. Louis completed a three-game sweep of Baltimore. Pirates 6, Blue Jays 2: At Toronto, Jeff Karstens capped a brilliant June with another strong start and Brandon Wood hit a two-run homer as Pittsburgh won its first interleague road series since 2003. White Sox 6, Rockies 4, 10 innings: At Denver, light-hitting Juan Pierre laced a tiebreaking, two-run single off the wall in the 10th inning, helping the Chicago White Sox rally past the Colorado Rockies. Astros 7, Rangers 0: At Houston, Jason Michaels homered and drove in three runs, while Wandy Rodriguez and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as Houston snapped an eight-game home losing streak. National League Cubs 5, Giants 2, 13 innings: At Chicago, pinch-hitter Geovany Soto's three-run homer capped a four-run rally with two outs in the 13th inning and sent Chicago over San Francisco.
