HOUSTON—Hiroki Kuroda threw seven shutout innings after coming off the disabled list, and Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

Kuroda (4-6) allowed five hits with one strikeout, looking strong in his first start since going on the DL on June 18 with tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Andre Ethier hit a solo homer and Blake DeWitt scored on Luis Maza’s squeeze bunt for the Dodgers, who’ve won five of their last six road games.

Carlos Lee homered in the ninth off Cory Wade for Houston’s only run. Wade relieved Kuroda in the eighth and retired the other six batters he faced.

Kuroda allowed only a broken-bat single to David Newhan and a walk to Lance Berkman through the first four innings, throwing only 48 pitches.



Marlins 4, Nationals 2

MIAMI—Alfredo Amezaga hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in seventh inning when play resumed after a 1 1/2-hour rain delay, and Florida beat Washington.

Florida trailed 2-1 when the game was halted with one and two outs in the seventh for 1 hour, 35 minutes. Charlie Manning (0-2) relieved starter Odalis Perez after the delay, and Amezaga his second home run of the season and 11th in 1,106 career at-bats.

Wes Helms added a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Ricky Nolasco (9-4) improved to 4-0 in his last five starts, allowing two runs and three hits in seven innings. Kevin Gregg threw a perfect ninth for his 15th save.



AMERICAN LEAGUE

Yankess 18, Rangers 7

NEW YORK—Jason Giambi and New York had an emphatic response to Hank’s latest edict.

Giambi hit a grand slam and drove in a season-best six runs, Alex Rodriguez added a three-run shot and New York pounded the Rangers 18-7 to avoid a series sweep.

The Yankees had been struggling at the plate, scoring just seven runs and batting .172 in losing three of their last four games, prompting co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner to say things were “getting ridiculous.”



Twins 7, Tigers 0

MINNEAPOLIS—Nick Blackburn combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, and Joe Mauer’s two-out, two-run single sparked a five-run third inning that led surging Minnesota over Detroit.

Minnesota took two of three from the Tigers and has won 13 of its last 15 games. Detroit, which had won 18 of 22 coming into the series, was shut out for the 10th time this season, the most in the major leagues.

The Twins have outscored the Tigers 39-17 in six games at the Metrodome this year, winning five.

Blackburn (7-4) allowed three hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked one. Jesse Crain allowed two hits in the eighth, and Boof Bonser pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.

Eddie Bonine (2-1) was chased after 2 2-3 innings, the shortest of his four major league starts. He gave up five runs—just two earned—and seven hits.



Angels 7, Athletics 4

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Joe Saunders pitched into the seventh inning to match Brandon Webb for the major league lead with his 12th win, and Juan Rivera and Eric Aybar homered for the Angels.

Saunders (12-4) allowed four runs—two earned—and six hits in 6 1-3 innings to help Los Angeles open up a 5 1/2-game lead over its AL West rivals.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless ninth for his major league-leading 34th save in 36 attempts, tying John Smoltz’s 2003 record for the most before the All-Star break.

Before the game, Oakland placed six-time Gold Glove third baseman Eric Chavez on the 15-day disabled list because of a sore right shoulder.

Keith Foulke (0-3) allowed two runs and two hits for the Athletics, recording just one out.



Orioles 5, Royals 2

BALTIMORE—Daniel Cabrera pitched a seven-hitter to earn his first victory since May 20, and Aubrey Huff homered for Baltimore.

Cabrera (6-4) retired 13 straight batters before David DeJesus singled with two outs in the eighth. He struck out two and walked none in his second complete game of the season, both against the Royals.

Cabrera is 5-0 with a 2.21 ERA lifetime against Kansas City, and the Orioles are 8-0 in his eight career starts against the Royals.

Gil Meche (6-9) allowed five runs, four earned, and nine hits in six innings. He is winless at Camden Yards in 10 career starts.

Ramon Hernandez had three hits for the Orioles, who improved to 5-2 against Kansas City to clinch the season series for a fifth consecutive year.



Rays 7, Red Sox 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs, helping surging Tampa Bay beat Boston for its second three-game sweep of the World Series champions this season.

The Rays improved the best record in baseball to 52-32, rallying from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning and extending their lead in the AL East to a franchise-best 3 1/2 games over the second-place Red Sox, who matched a season high with their fifth consecutive loss.