Hideki Matsui had his fourth career two-home run game and a season-high five RBIs and CC Sabathia struck out a season-high 10 as the New York Yankees began their longest trip of the year with an 11-1 win over the Seattle Mariners in the American League Thursday. The Yankees had a 5-0 lead one out into the third inning without Alex Rodriguez, who may also miss Friday with a bruised elbow, and Jorge Posada, their bruised catcher who said he could have played. Sabathia (13-7) allowed three hits, including a solo home run to Josh Wilson, in eight innings. It was his fifth win in six decisions. Derek Jeter homered and Jerry Hairston Jr., filling in for Rodriguez at third base, had a double, single and two RBIs. The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games to increase their lead in the AL East over the Red Sox to a season high-tying 6 1/2 games. Tigers 2, Red Sox 0: At Boston, Justin Verlander allowed only four hits in eight innings as Detroit beat Boston to avoid a four-game sweep. Verlander (13-6) struck out eight and walked one, retiring 16 of the last 19 batters he faced. Clay Buchholz (1-3) allowed five hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out three while giving up Ryan Raburn's homer to go with an unearned run in the fourth. Victor Martinez had two hits for Boston, and he also stole a base for the second time in his career and the first time since 2003. Royals 5, Twins 4: At Minneapolis, Gil Meche gave up four runs in five innings in his return from the disabled list, and Kansas City won its first three-game series since the end of June. Rangers 4, Indians 1: At Cleveland, Scott Feldman pitched six sharp innings and Josh Hamilton had four hits, including a go-ahead two-run double for Texas. Gomes' three homers backs Arroyo's two-hitter Jonny Gomes homered in his first three at-bats to back Bronson Arroyo's two-hitter and help the Cincinnati Reds to a commanding 7-0 win over the Washington Nationals in the National League Thursday. Gomes hit two-run homers in the second and fourth innings and added a solo shot in the sixth to help the Reds take a 7-0 lead. He struck out in the eighth inning. It is the second time in Gomes' career he hit three homers, the first on July 30, 2005, against Kansas City. He is the sixth player to hit three homers in a game this season. Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen was the last on Aug. 1. Gomes, who has 14 homers, became the 24th player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game. Arroyo (11-11) had been 0-3 in his previous four starts and hadn't won since beating Milwaukee 4-0 on July 17. He allowed just one runner as far as second base. He walked one, hit a batter and struck out three. Collin Balester (1-2) allowed three home runs and five runs for the second straight start. In other games it was: Phillies 6, Cubs 1; Brewers 12, Padres 9; Rockies 10, Pirates 1; Marlins 9, Astros 2.
