The American league East Reigns

Major League Baseball’s best division, The AL East, continues its mastery of the National League and paved the way to the American League’s 10 wins Wednesday night. It was “Happy Days are Here Again” for the AL and especially for the American League East with four of the division’s five teams registering decisive wins before the big crowds that follow the division wherever they travel.

Red Sox 3, Nationals 2

Nationals Park has 41, 530 fans there but the majority were rooting for the league leading Red Sox (44-27) as the visitors rode a three run home run by David Ortiz and a 2 run shot by Jason Varitek to outscore Washington 6-4.

John Lester recorded the win and Jonathon Papelbon recorded his 17th save.

Ortiz flagged a 2 out changeup with 2 on in the fourth to ignite the Red Sox offense. The Bosox now lead the AL East by 5 games.


Yankees 4, Braves 2

The Yankees (39-32) ended a string of 14 scoreless innings after Manager Joe Girardi was tossed from the game when rookie catcher Francesco Cervelli hit his first major league homerun in the sixth inning. The slumping A Rod (.210) finally got a clutch hit, smashing an 0-2 pitch from Kris Medlen (2-3) in to right center and plating 2 runs.

Jaba Chamberlain pitch 6.1 strong innings, striking out 5 and walking nine in recording his 4th win (402). All Star reliever Mariano Rivera notched his 16 save to seal the win. In a rare appearance at the plate, Rivera lined out in the 9th.

Blue Jays 8, Reds 2

Toronto (40-33) took the mystery out of this early as Aaron Hill, Adam Lind and Vernon Wells all homered in the first inning off shell-shocked Bronson Arroyo. It was Toronto’s third straight win.

Scott Richmond recorded his 6th win for the homestanding Jays.

Rays 7 – Phillies 1

In another faceoff between last year’s league winners, the homestanding Rays (38-35) chalked up a 5-run 8th inning to boost Matt Garza (5-5) past the Champion Phillies.

Ex-Phillie slugger Pat Burrell got Tampa started with a 2 run shot in the second and Quniton McCracken extend his 18 game hitting streak with an RBI single in the 8th.

Marlins 5, Orioles 2

On a hot night in Miami, Ricky Nolasco continued to show winning form after two weeks in the minors with his 4th consecutive strong outing. The Marlins have now won four straight and have handed the Orioles (32-39) their second loss following a five game winning streak.

Nolasco only surrendered tow unearned runs. Dan Meyer notched his first save in relief. Cody Ross had three hits for Miami.

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