Red Sox Walk Their Way Past White Sox

Johnny Damon drew three of Boston’s 12 walks, including two with the bases loaded, and the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox, 7-4, Friday night at Fenway Park despite getting only five hits.

The Red Sox drew three walks while scoring four runs in the second inning. In the fifth, they drew five walks -- including four in a row -- to score two runs without getting a base hit.

Boston has a 1 1/2-game lead in the wild-card race over the Seattle Mariners. The Red Sox trail the East Division-leading New York Yankees by four games. The White Sox remained tied with Minnesota for the lead in the Central Division.

*

Cleveland 4, Minnesota 3 -- C.C. Sabathia, pitching with more on his mind than baseball, matched his win total of last season, and Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer at Cleveland.

Sabathia (13-8) yielded two runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. The left-hander took the mound while his wife, Amber, awaited the birth of the couple’s first child. She was due on Wednesday.

*

Detroit 3, Kansas City 0 -- At Detroit, Mike Maroth (7-20) won for the first time since beating Minnesota on Aug. 2, combining with three relievers to give the Tigers their fifth shutout of the season. Maroth gave up five hits in six innings. The Royals lost for the ninth time in 13 games.

*

Oakland 9, Texas 3 -- Erubiel Durazo’s go-ahead two-run single keyed a five-run seventh inning as the Athletics rallied from three runs behind at Arlington, Texas. Barry Zito (12-12) improved to 10-0 in 16 starts against the Rangers.

*

New York 10, Tampa Bay 4 -- Jason Giambi, who entered the game at Yankee Stadium with four hits in his last 49 at-bats, had four hits with a homer, and Aaron Boone hit a three-run homer to help the Yankees win their sixth in a row.

*

Toronto 4, Baltimore 2 -- At Toronto, Josh Towers (6-1) struck out a career-high nine against his former team. He yielded two runs, nine hits and walked none in 7 2/3 innings.