Red Sox 1, Twins 0

Boston – Manny Ramirez hit a run-scoring single in the eighth to lift Boston to victory over Minnesota in a splendid pitching matchup between Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Twins’ Scott Baker.

Dustin Pedroia extended his career-high hitting streak to 15 games with a double off the Green Monster on the first pitch from reliever Brian Bass (3-3) in the eighth. After J. D. Drew advanced Pedroia to second, Ramirez lined a single to right through a drawn-in infield.

The Red Sox, coming off a 3-10 road trip that dropped them into second place behind Tampa Bay, won for the 23rd time in 29 games at Fenway Park.

The Twins lost just their fourth in 22 games, ending a five-game winning streak.

Matsuzaka pitched 71â3 innings, allowing six hits, walking three and striking out five. Hideki Okajima (2-2) escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth for the win.

Baker held the opposition to three runs or fewer for the 19th time in 20 starts, dating back to last season.

Angels 9, Rangers 6

Arlington, Texas – Torii Hunter homered twice, the first capping a six-run second inning, and the Angels held on for a victory over the Rangers.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jeff Mathis and Hunter homered in the second inning that gave the Angels an 8-0 lead. All three homers were off Rangers starter Luis Mendoza (1-3), who allowed eight runs in 11â3 innings.

Hunter also homered in the seventh.

Ervin Santana (10-3), who was named an All-Star for the first time, allowed six runs and 10 hits in seven innings. He struck out six in winning for just the second time in six starts.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched the ninth for his 35th save, the most in MLB history before the All-Star break. Atlanta’s John Smoltz had 34 before the break in 2003.

Athletics 4, Mariners 3

Oakland, Calif. – Wes Bankston hit his first career home run, Dana Eveland won his third straight decision, and Oakland ended an eight-game home losing skid.

Bankston, called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday when the A’s placed shortstop Bobby Crosby on the disabled list, hit a two-run home run off Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn in the fifth inning as Oakland rallied for the victory.

Bankston also doubled and scored in the second, raising his average to .391 since being promoted to the majors.

Ryan Sweeney’s RBI single in the fifth drove in Gregorio Petit with the eventual game-winning run for the A’s, who hadn’t beaten Seattle at home since July 5, 2007.