BOSTON — Josh Beckett pitched seven strong innings, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a go-ahead two-run single in the seventh and the Boston Red Sox beat Seattle 3-1 on Saturday night, sending the Mariners to their club record-tying 14th consecutive loss.
Terry Francona earned his 1,000th win as a major league manager, the 57th to reach that milestone, and the eighth still active. Boston moved a season-high three games ahead of the New York Yankees for the lead in the AL East.
Meanwhile, the Mariners tied the 1992 team's mark after loading the bases against Daniel Bard, but the reliever got out of the jam.
Beckett (9-3) gave up seven hits, and the only run he allowed came on a homer by Mike Carp. Blake Beavan (1-2) took the loss.
ORIOLES 3, ANGELS 2: At Baltimore, Adam Jones homered and drove in two runs to back an effective pitching performance by Brad Bergesen and lead the Orioles over the Angels. Jones hit a solo shot in the fourth inning and put Baltimore ahead 3-2 in the fifth with a sacrifice fly. He has four homers and nine RBIs in his last eight games. J.J. Hardy had three singles as part of a 13-hit attack that enabled the Orioles to win for only the fifth time in 22 games. Baltimore got at least one hit in every inning except the eighth but was victimized by four double plays.
TWINS 4, TIGERS 1: At Minneapolis, Scott Baker pitched five scoreless innings and the Twins bullpen came through with four solid innings of relief in a victory over the Tigers, snapping Detroit's 11-game winning streak over Minnesota. Baker (8-5) allowed three hits and struck out five in his first start since July 5. Anthony Swarzak, Phil Dumatrait and Glen Perkins bridged the gap to Joe Nathan, who picked up his seventh save. Danny Valencia homered and Delmon Young added a two-run double for the Twins, who had not beaten Detroit since Sept. 1 of last year.
ROYALS 5, RAYS 4 (10 INNINGS): At Kansas City, Mo., Joakim Soria worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the 10th and Eric Hosmer doubled home the winning run in the bottom of the inning and the Royals rallied for a victory over the Rays. Brandon Gomes (0-1) threw two pitches in the 10th and took the loss. Billy Butler singled to right to lead off the inning. Mike Aviles ran for Butler and scored on Hosmer's double to left-center.
ATHLETICS 4, YANKEES 3: At New York, Hideki Matsui homered against his former team, Rich Harden earned his second win of the season and the Athletics snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Yankees.
RANGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 4: At Arlington, Texas, Michael Young drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Texas Rangers rallied for the victory.
WHITE SOX-INDIANS PPD: At Cleveland, intermittent rain at Progressive Field has postponed the game. The teams and fans waited for exactly two hours before a decision was made. A makeup date was not announced. The White Sox return to Cleveland for a three-game series, scheduled for Sept. 20-22.