Tampa Bay pitcher Jeff Niemann held Los Angeles scoreless into the eighth inning to set up a 7-2 win – just the second for the Rays in 16 games against the Angels. Niemann (3-0) was charged with two runs and six hits over 7 1-3 innings as Tampa Bay improved its MLB-leading record to 23-10 and increased their AL East lead to a full game over the New York Yankees, whose scheduled game in Detroit was rained out. Evan Longoria had a homer and four RBIs for the Rays. Angels starter Scott Kazmir (2-3) allowed seven hits in five innings to take the loss in his first game against his old side. He remains Tampa Bay's career leader in wins and strikeouts. Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 1: In Boston, Daisuke Matsuzaka had his best start since returning from a neck strain, guiding Boston past Toronto. Matsuzaka (2-1) struck out nine in seven innings and allowed just three runners while walking none. By contrast, four Toronto pitchers issued eight bases on balls one night after the Red Sox drew seven walks. Blue Jays starter Dana Eveland (3-2) gave up all of Boston's runs in four-plus innings. Athletics 7, Rangers 6, 13 innings: In Arlington, Daric Barton hit a two-out RBI single in the 13th inning after homering in the 11th, lifting Oakland over Texas in the opener of a series between the AL West's top teams. Starting the 13th, Landon Powell drew a walk against Texas pitcher Dustin Nippert (1-3), then swiped second for his first career steal. He scored when Barton's hard grounder rebounded off second baseman Ian Kinsler's glove and into right field. Barton had been 0 for 5 before his two-out solo homer in the 11th. But the Rangers tied it in the bottom half of the inning when Julio Borbobn drove in David Murphy. Tyson Ross (1-0) pitched the final three innings to take the win for Oakland. White Sox 5, Twins 2: In Minneapolis, Chicago put together its biggest inning of the season in the fifth to beat Minnesota. Indians 8, Royals 2: In Kansas City, Russell Branyan homered twice to help Cleveland beat a slumping Kansas City. Mariners 5, Orioles 1: In Baltimore, Cliff Lee allowed one run in 7 1-3 innings to earn his first win with Seattle, defeating Baltimore. Padres extend lead Barry Zito's career-best start for San Francisco ended as the San Diego Padres beat the Giants 3-2 in the National League Tuesday. Zito (5-1) allowed three runs in five innings, conceding David Eckstein's two-run single and walking a season-worst seven batters. Ryan Webb (1-1) went 1 1-3 innings to earn the win for the Padres, who extended their lead over the Giants in the NL West to 1 1-2 games. Yorvit Torrealba also drove in a run for San Diego, which is without two key pitchers for unforeseen circumstances: starter Kevin Correia following the death of his brother in a hiking accident, and Tim Stauffer, who had an emergency appendectomy Tuesday. Mets 8, Nationals 6: In New York, pinch-hitter Chris Carter, just called up from the minors, delivered a tiebreaking double in his first at-bat to help New York score six runs in the eighth inning and overwhelm Washington. Jason Bay and David Wright led the charge, lifting New York out of its recent offensive doldrums with three hits apiece. Four relievers combined for 4 2-3 scoreless innings as the Mets fought back from a 6-1 deficit. Raul Valdes (1-0) worked the eighth for his first major league win. Reds 9, Pirates 0: In Pittsburgh, Johnny Cueto pitched a shut out in his first major league complete game, steering Cincinnati past Pittsburgh. Cueto (2-1) allowed only a third-inning single that went off the shortstop's glove. He lasted as long as eight innings only once in his previous 67 major league starts. Astros 6, Cardinals 3: In St. Louis, Brett Myers worked six strong innings to help Houston overcome St. Louis. Dodgers 13, Diamondbacks 3: In Phoenix, Russell Martin hit a three-run homer as Los Angeles crushed slumping Arizona. Braves 11, Brewers 3: In Milwaukee, Tim Hudson kept pitching his way out of trouble and came inches shy of hitting a home run himself, leading Atlanta past Milwaukee. Marlins 3, Cubs 2: In Chicago, Ricky Nolasco pitched seven sharp innings to guide Florida to a tight win over Chicago.
