Niemann goes distance to help Rays earn split

Boston and Tampa Bay split a doubleheader on Tuesday, with Rays’ starter Jeff Niemann pitching all nine innings in the second game to earn a share of the spoils with a 6-2 win. The Tampa Bay right-hander (8-4), unbeaten in his last 10 starts, struck out 10 to help the Rays (65-56) rebound from a 3-1 defeat to the Red Sox earlier in the day. “It’s just keeping the good roll going,” Niemann told reporters.  “Staying confident and going up there and making your pitches. And the defense played great, and the offense has given me some run support.” Tampa Bay’s offense enjoyed a three-run eighth inning to pad their slim 3-2 advantage and put away their American League East rivals.  B.J. Upton and Casey Kotchman had RBI singles in the inning, the former finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored to match the performance of team mate Ben Zobrist. Jacoby Ellsbury homered in both games for Boston, his sixth-inning blast in the second pulling the Red Sox within 3-2 after the home team fell behind 2-0 early. However, Boston (74-47) were unable to complete the comeback and their loss dropped them a half-game behind division leaders the New York Yankees (74-46), who defeated Kansas City 9-7. Erik Bedard (4-8) lost his first game on the mound since joining the Red Sox in a trade last month despite watching the Boston defense record their first triple-play since 1994. The Red Sox turned the trick in the fourth inning one night after the Milwaukee Brewers accomplished the feat against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It did not help Bedard much, however, and he allowed three runs in six innings and left trailing 3-2 before Tampa Bay got the best of Boston’s bullpen. “I love the fact that our team loses a very difficult game in the first game and comes back and plays much better in the nightcap,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said.  “That’s who we are. That’s what I appreciate about our players.” The Red Sox played without slugger David Ortiz, who was scratched just before the day’s opening game because of a right heel injury.

Ailing Giants lose Sanchez, put Beltran, Romo on DL

ATLANTA: The San Francisco Giants suffered more injury setbacks on Tuesday with pitcher Jonathan Sanchez spraining his ankle against Atlanta just hours after the team put Carlos Beltran and Sergio Romo on the disabled list. Sanchez slipped on the mound and sprained his left ankle during the third inning forcing him to leave the game, which the Giants lost 2-1 in extra innings. He was making only his third start since spending six weeks on the DL with bicep tendonitis in his left throwing arm. It is unclear if he will have to spend more time on the sidelines. Beltran, brought in last month in a trade with the Mets to bolster the Giants’ batting, was put on the DL retroactive to Aug. 8 with a strained right hand. He will be eligible to return next Tuesday. Beltran is hitting just .244 since joining the Giants (66-57), who have fallen 3.5 games behind National League West leaders Arizona. Romo, one of the team’s top relievers, joins Beltran on the sidelines with right elbow inflammation retroactive to Aug. 10.  He can return on Aug. 24 at the earliest. San Francisco were also without injured second baseman Jeff Keppinger and outfielder Nate Schierholtz on Tuesday, stoking concerns about the Giants’ chances of defending their World Series title. “We’re not going to make excuses,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told the team’s website (sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com). “We’re going to keep fighting and battle every night. That’s all you can do because you don’t have another choice.”