ANAHEIM, Calif. — Albert Pujols welcomed his new hitting coach to town with a go-ahead three-run homer, and Vernon Wells added a two-run shot to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 7-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.
Jim Eppard was with the Angels for the first time as hitting coach after replacing Mickey Hatcher, who was fired on Tuesday night by new general manager Jerry DiPoto one and a half months into Hatcher’s 13th season on the job.
Jerome Williams (4-1) won his fourth straight decision, allowing two runs and 10 hits over eight innings with five strikeouts and no walks.
INDIANS 9, MARINERS 3
CLEVELAND — Ubaldo Jimenez overcame a shaky start to get the win, and the Indians pounded out a season-best five doubles to beat Seattle.
Jimenez (4-3) gave up five hits and three runs over six innings.
Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (3-3) allowed 10 hits and six earned runs in only 3 2/3 innings.
Travis Hafner hit his fifth homer and drove in three runs, while Shin-Soo Choo had three hits in Cleveland’s third straight win.
RAYS 2, RED SOX 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jeremy Hellickson pitched six solid innings, Luke Scott had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, and the Rays snapped the Red Sox’s five-game winning streak.
Hellickson (4-0) allowed one run and five hits en route to winning a career-best sixth consecutive decision, dating to Sept. 4. The right-hander struck out six and walked two.
RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 1
ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish pitched 7 2/3 strong innings, and Adrian Beltre had a two-run homer to help the Rangers beat the Athletics.
Darvish (6-1) gave up one run and four hits while striking out seven. After giving up a run in the first, Darvish settled down and retired 11 of the last 15 batters he faced. He lowered his ERA to 2.60.
ORIOLES 4, ROYALS 3 (15)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Adam Jones homered with one out in the 15th inning, lifting the Orioles to a victory over the Royals.
Jones was hitless in six at-bats before connecting for his team-leading 12th home run — nine of them have tied the game or given the Orioles a lead. Jones sent a 2-2 pitch from Nate Adcock (0-1), the fifth Kansas City pitcher, far over the left field wall.
BLUE JAYS 8, YANKEES 1
TORONTO — Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer, J.P. Arencibia added a two-run drive, and the Blue Jays beat the Yankees.
Jose Bautista and Kelly Johnson added solo home runs as the Blue Jays tagged Yankees right-hander Hiroki Kuroda (3-5) for seven runs, matching a career-high.
TWINS 11, TIGERS 7
DETROIT — Jamey Carroll hit a two-run double in the sixth to give Minnesota the lead, and the Twins outlasted the sloppy Tigers, who made four errors in the first three innings.
