Hamels back to best, Phillies beat Pirates
The Padres have scored just seven runs over their six consecutive defeats.
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Philadelphia's Cole Hamels, who leads the major leagues in losses, provided an overdue reminder of his quality by pitching seven strong innings and leading the Phillies to a 6-4 win over Pittsburgh in Thursday's Fourth of July action.
Hamels (3-11) gave up one earned run, striking out eight without a walk. The former World Series MVP won for the first time in a month.
Among other games, Boston handed San Diego its season-worst sixth-straight loss, the Los Angeles Angels scored three runs in the ninth to edge St. Louis, and Detroit routed struggling Toronto.
Texas avoided a series sweep by Seattle, Kansas City rallied past Cleveland, and a passed ball accounted for the only run as Oakland beat the Chicago Cubs.
Boston's Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run double and David Ortiz had a two-run single as the Red Sox beat San Diego 8-2.
Boston won eight of nine to match its best homestand in three years.
The Padres have scored just seven runs over their six consecutive defeats.
Los Angeles' Josh Hamilton hit a tying two-run homer in the Angels' three-run ninth inning, leading the hosts to a 6-5 win over St. Louis.
St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright took a 5-3 lead into the ninth before giving up a leadoff single by Albert Pujols, who was 1 for 11 in his first series against his former team.
Cardina;s manager Mike Matheny then brought in Edward Mujica, and Hamilton drove the right-hander's second pitch into the center field trees for his 11th homer. Howie Kendrick and Mark Trumbo followed with singles, and Mujica (0-1) retired his next two batters before Erick Aybar drove in the winning run with single to left.
Detroit's Justin Verlander pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Tigers to an 11-1 thrashing of Toronto.
Verlander (9-5) won for the first time in a month, and made his first start in Toronto since he pitched a no-hitter there in 2011.
Austin Jackson hit a two-run homer, went 4 for 5 with a walk and scored four times as the Tigers pounded out 16 hits despite resting Miguel Cabrera.
Texas' Adrian Beltre homered twice and the Rangers used a four-run seventh inning to edge Seattle 5-4.
Beltre finished with three hits and two RBIs.
With Texas trailing 3-1, Beltre led off the seventh with a drive against Hisashi Iwakuma (7-4). A.J. Pierzynski then singled and Lance Berkman walked before Moreland bounced a tying single up the middle.
Andrus came up with a go-ahead sacrifice fly and Ian Kinsler capped the big inning with an RBI single.
Kansas City's Lorenzo Cain hit his first career grand slam to help the Royals record a comeback 10-7 win over Cleveland.
Kansas City trailed 5-0 before Cain's slam and a solo shot by George Kottaras tied it in the sixth. The Indians regained the lead on Carlos Santana's two-run double in the seventh, but the Royals answered in the bottom half on a two-run homer by Eric Hosmer.
Three straight walks to start the eight loaded the Royals bases, and pinch-hitter Salvador Perez hit a double down the left-field line to drive in three runs.
Oakland's Derek Norris scored on a passed ball with two outs in the seventh inning and that was enough for the Athletics to beat the Cubs 1-0.
Dan Straily (5-2) pitched seven scoreless innings for the A's after being recalled from the minor leagues earlier in the day to give a sore Jarrod Parker two extra days of rest.
Colorado's Michael Cuddyer hit a solo homer and drove in three runs to help the Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 and avoid a three-game sweep.
Chicago's Adam Dunn hit a game-ending solo homer off Tommy Hunter in the ninth inning, lifting the White Sox to the 3-2 win over Baltimore.
New York's Vernon Wells drove in three runs as the Yankees pounded Minnesota rookie Kyle Gibson in a 9-5 win which completed a four-game sweep.
Miami's Donovan Solano had a go-ahead single off Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning to lift the Marlins to a 4-3 win over the Braves.
Arizona's Cliff Pennington hit an RBI single with two outs in the 15th inning as the Diamondbacks outlasted the New York Mets 5-4.
Washington's Wilson Ramos hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning in his return to the Nationals lineup, producing an 8-5 win over Milwaukee.
Tampa Bay's Yunel Escobar drove in three runs, including a tiebreaking double in the 11th inning that sent the Rays to a 7-5 win over Houston.
