Rockies Drop Decision In 10th – MLB Roundup For July 30th

UNDATED (AP) — Tampa Bay is back on top of the AL East, springing past Boston with a 2-1 win over the Red Sox.

David Price allowed just two hits over 7 1/3 innings to beat Boston for the second time in six days and up his record to 6-5.

Sean Rodriguez and Wil Myers each drove in a run for the Rays and the Tampa pitching staff did the rest.

Boston threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Daniel Nava tried to score from third on a fly out to short center. He was called out at the plate by umpire Jerry Meals, but replay showed Nava touched the plate before he was tagged. Meals later admitted he missed the call after seeing the play on replay.

In other major league play;

— Pittsburgh has closed to within a half-game of the NL Central-leading Cardinals with a 9-2 win over St. Louis. Francisco Liriano won his fifth straight start, allowing one run over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked just two. Pedro Alvarez his hit NL-leading 27th home run and drove in three for the Pirates while Clint Barmes (BAR'-mehs) added a pair of RBIs.

— Andrelton Simmon's triple drove in Dan Uggla in the bottom of the tenth inning to give Atlanta a 9-8 win over Colorado. The victory was the fourth in a row for the NL East leaders. The win went to Scott Downs who the Braves acquired from the Angels earlier in the day. He arrived at the ballpark before the first pitch.

— Pinch-hitter Jason Giambi hit a walk-off homer to lead off the bottom of the ninth and give Cleveland a 3-2 win over the White Sox. Giambi connected off of reliever Ramon Troncoso to give the Indians their fifth consecutive win. The win moves the Indians to within 2½ games of idle Detroit for the AL Central lead.

— Giovany Soto's homer in the bottom of the ninth gave the scoring-challenged Rangers a 4-3 win over the Angels. A.J. Pierzynski (peer-ZIN'-skee) led off the inning with a home run to tie the game. The power display helped snap a four-game losing streak for the Rangers, who also ended a 26-inning scoreless streak during the game.

—Pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia delivered a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give San Diego a 2-1 win over Cincinnati. Denorfia connected off of Reds closer Aroldis Chapman who opened the inning by walking Yonder Alonso. The Reds have lost four straight.

— Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick each drove in three runs as Oakland rolled past Toronto 8-4. The Athletics jumped on Blue Jays starter Esmil Rogers for four runs in the first, sparked by Cespedes' two-run triple. He later homered. The AL West-leading A's won their fourth straight and seventh in nine to move a season-best 20 games over .500.

— Daniel Murphy drove in three runs to help the Mets snap a five-game losing streak with a 6-5 win over Miami. Ike Davis delivered a go-ahead double in the Mets three-run seventh inning. Jeff Mathis drove in a pair for the Marlins.

— Carlos Gomez's RBI single in the ninth broke a scoreless tie and Milwakee went on to shutout the Cubs 5-0. Jeff Bianchi and Rickie Weeks supplied two-run doubles to complete the scoring.

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball may try to suspend Alex Rodriguez under its collective bargaining agreement instead of its drug rules, which would eliminate any chance of delaying a penalty until after the case goes to an arbitrator, The Associated Press has learned.

The rehabbing Yankees third baseman has never been disciplined for a drug offense, and a first offender under baseball's Joint Drug Agreement is entitled to an automatic stay if the players' association files a grievance.

MLB may try to argue other alleged violations are punishable under the labor contract, a person familiar with management's deliberations told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.

Taking that action would prevent the New York Yankees third baseman from returning to the field, even if he recovers from a quadriceps injury cited by the team as the reason for keeping him on the disabled list.

UNDATED (AP) — The Detroit Tigers hope they've acquired a key player to address their season-long bullpen issues. The AL Central leaders have picked up reliever Jose Veras in a trade with Houston. Veras is 0-4 with 19 saves and a 2.93 ERA. The right-hander has struck out 44 in 43 innings with only 14 walks. In return, the Astros get minor league outfielder Danry Vasquez and a player to be named.

— Atlanta has added a needed left-hander to their bullpen by acquiring Scott Downs from the Los Angeles Angels for minor league righty Cory Rasmus. The NL East leaders have lost left-handed relievers Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty to season-ending elbow injuries. The 37-year-old Downs was 2-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 43 games with the Angels. He is 36-35 with a 3.47 ERA in 12 seasons.

— Tampa Bay has acquired injured reliever Jesse Crain from the Chicago White Sox in an attempt to bolster their bullpen for the AL East stretch run. The 32-year-old right-hander is 2-3 with a 1.15 ERA in 38 appearances. He was placed on the disabled list on July 3 with a right shoulder strain.

— Marlins pitcher Kevin Slowey will be out four to six weeks due to a strained right forearm muscle an MRI revealed on Monday. Slowey felt discomfort while warming up in the bullpen during Saturday's game against Pittsburgh. Slowey is 3-6 with a 4.11 ERA in 20 games, making 14 starts in his first year with the Marlins.

BOSTON (AP) — Boston designated hitter David Ortiz won't be suspended for destroying two dugout phones with his bat during this weekend's series in Baltimore.

Major League Baseball spokesman Michael Teevan said the incident remains under review but that a suspension has been ruled out.

Ortiz was tossed from the game after showing his unhappiness with two called strikes by home plate umpire Tim Timmons Saturday. He returned to the dugout after being ejected and destroyed the covers of two phones with his bat before charging onto the field.

GREENVILLE, Miss. (AP) — George "Boomer" Scott, a three-time All-Star first baseman during the 1960s and 1970s who slugged 271 career homers, has died at the age of 69. Scott spent most of his 14-year career with the Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers. He hit 27 homers during his rookie season with the Red Sox in 1966 and had his best year with the Brewers in 1975, when he hit 36 homers and had 109 RBIs. He also won eight Gold Gloves, playing primarily first base.

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities have recovered the body of former major league pitcher Frank Castillo after he apparently drowned at a lake northeast of Phoenix.

Family members and friends say the 44-year old wasn't a good swimmer, but he jumped off a pontoon boat Sunday afternoon and didn't resurface. Divers searched for several hours before suspending the search until Monday.

Castillo had an 82-104 record in 13 major league seasons.