NEW YORK — Hideki Matsui, Maicer Izturis and Mike Napoli hit two-run homers to back a crisp effort from spot starter Sean O’Sullivan, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the New York Yankees 10-2 on Tuesday night.

O’Sullivan (1-0) was starting in place of Scott Kazmir, who was put on the disabled list Sunday because of shoulder fatigue. Called up from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier Tuesday, the right-hander retired 12 in a row after giving up two runs in the first inning. In six innings, he allowed two hits, three walks and struck out four.

Izturis homered in his first game back after missing 27 with a left forearm strain. His fourth-inning drive gave the Angels a 4-2 lead. Napoli connected in the fifth, and Matsui, a former Yankee, homered in the seventh.

Rangers 8, Tigers 0

DETROIT — Tommy Hunter pitched seven scoreless innings, Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler homered, and the surging Texas Rangers beat the slumping Detroit Tigers 8-0 on Tuesday night.

The AL West-leading Rangers are 5-1 since the All-Star break.

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Hunter became the first Ranger to start a season 7-0, pitching only as a starter. He gave up three hits and two walks.

Detroit has lost a season-high seven straight, following a trend during the Jim Leyland era.

The Tigers have had at least a .500 record before the break in each of Leyland’s five seasons and haven’t had a winning record once after it.

Armando Galarraga (3-3) gave up four runs and nine hits over 7 1-3 innings.

National League

Braves 4, Padres 1

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ATLANTA — Matt Diaz homered for the third straight game, Jair Jurrjens pitched seven strong innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the San Diego Padres 4-1 on Tuesday night in a matchup of first-place teams.

Diaz drove in three runs with a two-run homer in the fourth and a run-scoring single in the seventh.

Jason Heyward had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in a run for the East-leading Braves (55-38), who passed the West-leading Padres (54-38) for the best record in the National League.

Chris Denorfia hit a second-inning homer for the Padres, but Jurrjens (3-3) gave up only two hits over his last five innings.

Padres second baseman David Eckstein left the game with a right calf strain.

Billy Wagner pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

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San Diego’s Wade LeBlanc (4-8) gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.

Rockies 10, Marlins 0

MIAMI — Melvin Mora drove in five runs and Jeff Francis pitched seven crisp innings to lead Colorado to the victory.

Batting in the No. 3 spot for only the second time this season, Mora hit a bases-clearing double to highlight a six-run third inning. He also hit a two-run homer off Nate Robertson (6-8) in the fifth and finished with three hits, matching a season high.

Francis (3-3) allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked none while lowering his ERA from 5.14 to 4.63.

Robertson gave up eight runs, seven earned, and six hits in five innings for Florida, which had won three straight.

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It was the Marlins’ most lopsided loss of the season.

Cardinals 7, Phillies 1

ST. LOUIS — Chris Carpenter worked eight dominant innings and the St. Louis Cardinals got home runs from Randy Winn and Matt Holliday, winning their seventh in a row with a 7-1 victory over the slumping Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Phillies 47-year-old starter Jamie Moyer strained his elbow and lasted only one inning. The Phillies have lost five of six since the All-Star break and demoted another starter earlier in the day, sending Kyle Kendrick to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Carpenter (11-3) faced the Phillies for the first time since opening day in 2006 at Philadelphia and was removed after throwing only 90 pitches and allowing a run on five hits.


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