Joe Saunders, a minor league traveler last season, allowed one earned run in seven innings to become the American League's first nine-game winner and Maicer Izturis drove in three runs to help the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 5-4 on Tuesday. Jose Arredondo pitched a perfect eighth and Francisco Rodriguez struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save in 24 chances to put Los Angeles a season-best 12 games over .500. Saunders (9-2) allowed six hits and likely would have cruised with a 5-1 lead but for two errors in the fifth inning for the Angels, who scored more than four runs for the first time in 14 games. The resourceful AL West leaders have won 10 of those games. Blue Jays 9, Yankees 3: At New York, Joba Chamberlain lasted just 2 1-3 innings in his first major league start and Roy Halladay held New York in check despite some control problems of his own, leading Toronto to victory. Alex Rios extended his hitting streak against the Yankees to 24 games and David Eckstein had three RBIs for Toronto, which patiently concentrated on Chamberlain's pitch count and forced New York to use six pitchers total. Halladay (7-5) won his fourth straight decision and improved to 5-1 with a 2.58 ERA in his last seven games. He allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. In other games it was: Red Sox 7, Rays 4; Orioles 5, Twins 3; Rangers 12, Indians 7; White Sox 9, Royals 5; Athletics 5, Tigers 4, 11 innings. Phillies edge Reds In Philadelphia, Pat Burrell hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, Adam Eaton pitched 6 2-3 impressive innings and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 Tuesday. Ken Griffey Jr. walked as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning to remain one shy of 600 home runs. Griffey wasn't in the Reds' lineup for the second straight game because of general soreness. He's been bothered by a sore left knee, though he could return Wednesday. Edwin Encarnacion hit a solo homer and tripled for two of Cincinnati's four hits. Rookie sensation Jay Bruce had a checked-swing, infield single in three at-bats. Junior represented the tying run when he came up with one out, but walked on four pitches and pitcher Bronson Arroyo ran for him. A sellout crowd gave Griffey a standing ovation and booed when reliever Tom Gordon didn't throw a strike. Braves 5, Marlins 4: At Atlanta, Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer and Greg Norton came through with a two-run double in the eighth inning that gave the Atlanta another come-from-behind victory. The Braves actually won a one-run game, improving their mark in those contests to 3-16, despite two more homers by Florida's slugging second baseman, Dan Uggla. Elsewhere it was: Astros 2, Pirates 0; Brewers 7, Diamondbacks 1; Rockies 3, Dodgers 0; Mets 9, Giants 6; Cardinals 6, Nationals 1; Cubs 9, Padres 6.
