Craig Gentry and Adrian Beltre each had three RBIs and the Texas Rangers avoided a four-game sweep in a matchup of AL division leaders, rallying past the New York Yankees 10-6. Texas had lost eight straight at Yankee Stadium. Josh Hamilton doubled twice and scored three times. Boston avoided a three-game sweep by Baltimore by beating the Orioles 6-3. Clay Buchholz shook off a rocky start to earn his 11th win. Dustin Pedroia singled in the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning.
In the NL the New York Mets halted Cincinnati's five-game winning streak, 8-4. Ike Davis hit his 21st homer. Jason Bay also went deep for the Mets. Rookie pitcher Matt Harvey drove in two runs with his bat and only allowed one run on four hits in seven and two-thirds innings pitched.
The Yankees are still holding court in the AL East, 6 games ahead of Baltimore and Tampa Bay, 12½ ahead of fourth place Boston. In the NL East, the Mets hanging tight in third place behind Atlanta and 17 back from the first place Nationals. Yanks and Sox start a weekend series tonight in New York, the Mets play in Washington tonight.
Less than three weeks before the season kicks off, the NFL and the NFL Referees Association are no closer to an agreement to end the lockout of the officials. As replacement officials work preseason games — and generally get criticized for their performances — the league and officials Thursday disputed such issues as full-time employees and adding officiating crews. While the NFL has offered to add three full officiating crews to the league to reduce stress on officials, but the Referees Association says the compensation being offered with the increase would reduce pay across the board.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press