Pedroia double in 8th lifts Sox
Toolbox
The Associated Press - Published: July 11, 2009
BOSTON — Dustin Pedroia doubled in a run in the eighth inning, Jon Lester outdueled Brian Bannister and the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on Friday night.
Lester (8-6) allowed four hits through eight innings, but Bannister (6-7) gave up just one hit through seven.
Then Mark Kotsay, playing with a calf injury, led off the bottom of the eighth with a clean single to center. Aaron Bates, called up to the majors for the first time on Monday, pinch ran and took second on Nick Green's sacrifice bunt.
Bannister threw a wild pitch in the dirt and Bates moved to third. Pedroia, coming off consecutive three-hit games, hit his first ball out of the infield on Friday for a double off the left-field wall.
Blue Jays 2, Orioles 0
BALTIMORE — Brett Cecil outpitched Jason Berken in a duel between struggling rookies, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 Friday night to snap a three-game skid.
Alex Rios hit two doubles and scored a run for the Blue Jays, but Scott Rolen's 25-game hitting streak ended with an 0-for-4 performance.
Cecil (3-1) allowed four hits over six innings to earn his first win in five starts since May 15. The left-hander came in with a 6.23 ERA and yielded 12 runs in his previous two starts.
Scott Downs worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Phillies 3, Pirates 2
PHILADELPHIA — Joe Blanton pitched into the eighth inning, Jayson Werth drove in two runs on the same day he was named to his first All-Star team and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on Friday night.
Blanton (6-4) allowed one run and four hits over 7 1-3 innings in his second consecutive effective outing. The right-hander pitched 7 1-3 scoreless innings in Philadelphia's 2-0 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday.
Reds 3, Mets 0
NEW YORK — Bronson Arroyo became the latest struggling pitcher to overwhelm the New York Mets.
Arroyo threw a four-hitter for his second career shutout, Joey Votto and Laynce Nix homered off Fernando Nieve, and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the sinking Mets 3-0 Friday night.
Before the game, New York traded Ryan Church to the Atlanta Braves for Jeff Francoeur and cash in a swap of outfielders who had fallen out of favor with their teams.
11