Jon Lester pitches Red Sox back to winning ways

Reuters/New York

Jon Lester pitched effectively into the seventh inning and the Boston Red Sox returned to winning ways on Tuesday following their loss to the in-form Tampa Bay Rays one night earlier.

Lester (9-6) held the Rays to two runs in 6 1/3 innings as the Red Sox (61-41) snapped Tampa Bay’s six-game winning streak to forge a 1 ½-game-lead over their opponents in the American League East.

Jose Iglesias had a two-run single, and Mike Napoli had two hits and scored two runs for Boston, while Evan Longoria and Wil Myers blasted solo homers for the Rays.

    Yankees 5, Rangers 4

The New York Yankees rallied with two runs in the ninth off All-Star closer Joe Nathan to beat the Texas Rangers.

Brent Lillibridge delivered the game-winning hit, driving home Eduardo Nunez with one out in the ninth after Nunez had tripled off the wall to tie the game.

Nathan failed to convert a save for only the second time in 33 attempts this season while future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth for his 32nd save, the second most in the Majors.

    Tigers 6, White Sox 2

The Detroit Tigers beat the struggling Chicago White Sox even without reigning American League MVP Miguel Cabrera, who was sidelined after suffering a hip injury on Monday.

Rick Porcello threw seven scoreless innings while Jhonny Peralta went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs.

    Astros 5, A’s 4

The Houston Astros broke through with their first victory of the season against the Oakland Athletics, rallying for three runs in the ninth to claim an improbable win.

Houston (34-65) came back against Athletics closer Grant Balfour, who had converted all 26 of his opportunities this season and had boasted a streak of 44 consecutive converted saves.

Matt Dominguez hit a two-run, game-tying blast and Jonathan Villar followed with the go-ahead hit.

    Dodgers 10, Blue Jays 9

The Los Angeles Dodgers overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.

Trailing 8-3 after six innings, the Dodgers (52-47) scored three in the seventh and tacked on four in the eighth to take their first lead and remain undefeated since the All-Star break.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth for the National League West leaders.

Pirates 5, Nationals 1

Gerrit Cole pitched the best game of his brief Major League career to end a personal three-game losing streak and the Pittsburgh Pirates moved back to 20 games over .500 with a victory.

Cole (5-3) held the punchless Nationals to a career-low two hits over seven innings of work to pick up his first win since June 28.

    Cardinals 4, Phillies 1

St Louis rookie Shelby Miller tossed six scoreless innings as the Cardinals dumped Philadelphia.

In his first outing since muddling through five erratic innings in a no-decision on July 10 against Houston, Miller allowed just three hits and the Cardinals maintained a 1 ½-game lead in the National League Central over the Pirates.

    Reds 9, Giants 3

Left-hander Tony Cingrani held the San Francisco Giants to two runs in 6 2/3 innings and recorded his first career RBI as the Cincinnati Reds rolled to victory in the first game of a doubleheader.

On the heels of an 11-0 thumping of the Giants in the series opener Monday, the Reds jumped all over San Francisco as shortstop Zack Cozart drove in two runs with four hits, while Devin Mesoraco and Joey Votto both homered.

    Giants 5, Reds 3

Bruce Bochy recorded the 1,500th win of his managerial career as the San Francisco Giants used a three-run first inning as a springboard to a victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a doubleheader.

The Reds rolled to a 9-3 victory in the first game before the Giants hit back.

    Mets  4, Braves 1

Ike Davis’ RBI double in a three-run sixth gave the Mets the lead for good, and Carlos Torres earned his first win as a starter in almost four years.

Torres, who last won as a starter on Sept. 3, 2009, allowed the one run on seven hits and two walks.

    Royals 3, Orioles 2

Bruce Chen and three Kansas City relievers combined for a five-hitter as the Royals beat Baltimore, ending the Orioles’ five-game winning streak.

Chen, who was making his second start since replacing Luis Mendoza in the rotation, allowed just three hits in six innings long after Kansas City had seized a 3-1 lead in the third.

Marlins 4, Rockies 2

Miami rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez pitched seven innings as the Marlins beat the Rockies.

Left fielder Christian Yelich made his Major League debut for the Marlins and went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Mariners 4, Indians 3

Starter Erasmo Ramirez was called up from the minor leagues earlier in the day and earned his first win since last September as the Seattle Mariners captured their eighth straight victory.

Ramirez allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings and the Mariners rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the third inning with a go-ahead RBI from Mike Zunino.

Diamondbacks 10, Cubs 4

Eric Chavez and A J Pollock drove in three runs apiece, and Patrick Corbin became the third National League pitcher reach to 12 wins in Arizona’s victory.

Corbin (12-1) gave up one run and four hits in six innings to join Adam Wainwright (13-5) and Jordan Zimmermann (12-5) as the winningest NL pitchers.