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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Red Sox walk over Blue Jays


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Toronto shortstop Alex Gonzalez tosses the ball to second baseman Aaron Hill after catching a line drive by Boston’s Victor Martinez in the eighth inning.

MICHAEL DWYER | Associated Press

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BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox kept crossing the plate because Toronto starter Brandon Morrow couldn't find it.

Morrow set a Blue Jays record by walking five batters in one inning as the Red Sox scored four runs in the second and went on to a 7-6 win last night.

"I hate walks," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "I just absolutely hate them because most of them score, quicker than a base hit. But his next time, hopefully, he can work it out."

The Red Sox needed just one hit in that inning to take the lead, a cushion that came in handy when John Lackey (4-1) struggled through six innings before Hideki Okajima, Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon held the Blue Jays hitless. Papelbon worked the ninth for his ninth save in nine chances.

Boston trailed 4-2 heading into the second and led 6-4 after the wild streak by Morrow (2-3).

"There's something to be said for patience" at the plate, Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "I know Morrow was having a tough time commanding, but we didn't go out of the zone and we got some runs because of it."

Dustin Pedroia's RBI single made it 7-4 in the third. Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer, his seventh, to cut it to 7-6, but Toronto lost for the second time in nine games. Boston is 6-2 in its last eight.

Morrow, a 25-year-old right-hander in his first full season as a starter, had tied the club record of four walks in an inning on April 9 in his debut with Toronto after being traded by Seattle on Dec. 23 for Brandon League.

In 35 innings this season, Morrow has 26 walks and 46 strikeouts. Yesterday, he had four strikeouts and allowed three hits in 1 2/3 innings.

"I was just a mess," said Morrow, who has been working on his release point. "That's an embarrassing start to go out there and walk six in not even two innings."

ANGELS 5, RAYS 4

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Juan Rivera's sacrifice fly in the 11th inning gave Los Angeles a victory over Tampa Bay after Angels closer Brian Fuentes blew a three-run lead in the ninth. Kendry Morales led off the 11th with a single against Grant Balfour (0-1), advanced on Reggie Willits' bunt and went to third on a wild pitch.

Trevor Bell (1-0) struck out the only batter he faced in his season debut.

TIGERS 5, YANKEES 4

DETROIT — Johnny Damon hit a homer in his first game against the team that didn't re-sign him, helping Detroit beat New York. Austin Jackson, a former Yankees prospect, gave Detroit a three-run lead in the second inning. Mark Teixeira's two-run home run pulled New York within a run in the third inning.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BRAVES 8, BREWERS 2

MILWAUKEE— Martin Prado hit a grand slam, Tommy Hanson got plenty of run support in eight scoreless innings and the scuffling Atlanta Braves snapped a pair of power droughts. Atlanta had gone 253 games without a grand slam before Prado's in the sixth. The Braves had also gone four days without a homer before Troy Glaus led off the inning with a shot off starter Doug Davis (1-4).

REDS 2, PIRATES 1

PITTSBURGH—Bronson Arroyo limited Pittsburgh to one run over seven-plus innings, Scott Rolen and Laynce Nix doubled in runs and Cincinnati held off the Pirates. Arroyo (2-2), trying for his fourth career shutout, had permitted only three singles until Ronny Cedeno led off the eighth by homering down the left-field line, his third of the season.

MARLINS 4, CUBS 2

CHICAGO —Nate Robertson pitched six solid innings, Ronny Paulino homered and Florida beat Chicago after dropping five of six. Paulino's two-run shot highlighted a three-run seventh in which Cody Ross stole home, giving the Marlins a 4-2 lead and sending the Cubs to their sixth loss in seven games.

NATIONALS 3, METS 2

NEW YORK — Adam Kennedy and Ryan Zimmerman hit consecutive homers as Washington beat New York. Ivan Rodriguez had an RBI single in the seventh inning among his four hits and stole a base for Washington. Kennedy homered to right and Zimmerman to left off John Maine (1-2) in the third.

PHILLIES 9, ROCKIES 5

DENVER — Carlos Ruiz had four hits, including a homer in the sixth inning and a tiebreaking single off Manny Corpas in the ninth that sent Philadelphia past mistake-prone Colorado.

DODGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 3

PHOENIX — Andre Ethier had three hits, including a two-run double, and James Loney homered and drove in two runs for Los Angeles in a victory over Arizona. Chad Billingsley (3-2) allowed two runs and three hits in 5 1/3 innings.