Dodgers Stomp Rockies 6-1 – MLB Roundup For July 12th

UNDATED (AP) — Chris Davis hit his major league-leading 34th homer to back a dominating pitching performance by Miguel Gonzalez, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 to earn a split of the four-game series.

Davis snapped an 0-for-17 skid and reached career highs in homers and RBIs at 86. He hit a second-inning solo shot off Ross Wolf, who was making the spot start in relief of Rangers ace Yu Darvish, who is on the disabled list.

Davis's 34 home runs are the most in the majors before the All-Star break since 2001, when Barry Bonds had 39 and Luis Gonzalez hit 35.

In other AL action:

— Derek Jeter returned to the Yankees line-up for the first time in nine-months and singled on his first pitch in an 8-4 win over Kansas City. Jeter has been sidelined following a broken ankle in last year's playoffs. Jeter was the designated hitter and went 1-for-4 in his season debut. He left in the eighth inning with a tight right quadriceps. Jeter is expected to start at shortstop tonight.

— The Boston Red Sox rallied from a four-run deficit for the second time in a four-game series to beat the Seattle Mariners 8-7 in 10 innings. Daniel Nava hit a two-out single in the top of the 10th inning to score pinch-runner Jackie Bradley Jr. with the go-ahead run. The Red Sox have won eight of 10 to move 20 games over .500.

— Rookie Danny Salazar pitched six strong innings to win his major league debut as Cleveland beat Toronto 4-2. Salazar, who began the season in Double-A ball, allowed just one run and two hits. The right-hander didn't give up a hit until the sixth and struck out seven. Chris Perez gave up a run in a shaky ninth but got his 11th save.

— The Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth straight by completing a four-game sweep of Minnesota, 4-3. All-Star Matt Moore won his 13th game, giving up three runs on three hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.

— Josh Phegley hit a go-ahead grand slam to lead the White Sox to a 6-3 win over AL Central-leading Detroit. Benches cleared two hitters later when Detroit's Luke Putkonen threw a pitch behind Alexei Ramirez, but nothing further happened.

In the NL:

— The Philadelphia Phillies survived making four errors to beat Washington 3-1 to take three of four from the Nationals. Kyle Kendrick outdueled 12-game winner Jordan Zimmermann for the victory. Kendrick and two relievers combined on a five-hitter.

— The Atlanta Braves have a six-game lead in the NL East over Washington. The Braves nipped Cincinnati 6-5 to improve to 30-13 at home. Newly named All-Star Freddie Freeman went 3-for-4 with four RBIs.

—The Chicago Cubs blanked St. Louis 3-0. Edwin Jackson and four relievers combined on the four-hit shutout. The Cubs have won 10 of their last 15. Cards outfielder Matt Holliday left the game in the fourth inning with a hamstring injury.

— Martin (mahr-TEEN') Prado lined a two-run single in the eighth inning, and the Arizona Diamondbacks ended a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win over Milwaukee. Wade Miley pitched eight effective innings and improved to 6-7.

__ The L.A. Dodgers remained two and a-half games back of NL West-leading Arizona by beating Colorado 6-1. Mark Ellis had three hits and drove in four. Winning pitcher Chris Capuano struck out eight in his six and a-third innings.

—In the battle of last place in the NL West, San Francisco rallied to beat San Diego 4-2 to end a four-game losing streak. Gregor Blanco drove in the go-ahead run with a ground rule double in the eighth.

NEW YORK (AP) — Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman and Toronto reliever Steve Delabar have won the fan voting for the last spots in the All-Star game.

Freeman's victory means Los Angeles Dodgers sensation Yasiel Puig (pweeg) will not get to play in the July 16 game at Citi Field unless he is added as an injury replacement. Puig is off to a terrific start in his first stint in the majors, but he's only been up for five weeks, leading some to question whether he belongs on the NL team.

Freeman set a record with 19.7 million votes, and Puig was second. Delabar won with 9.6 million votes

In another All-Star note, Pedro Alvarez of the Pittsburgh Pirates has replaced Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies for the NL team in the All-Star Home Run Derby. MLB says Gonzalez pulled out because of a sprained middle finger on his right hand.