Backup’s Homers Help Rangers Win

Gerald Laird knocked two balls over the fence and two others went for doubles. By the time the game was over, the Rangers’ backup catcher had doubled his home-run and RBI totals for the season.

Laird homered twice and drove in a career-high four runs to lead Texas to a 10-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday at Chicago.

He had a career-high four hits and his first career multi-homer game as the AL West-leading Rangers took two of three from Chicago. Laird hit solo homers in the eighth and ninth innings and a two-run double in the sixth.

Mark Teixeria also had four hits and four runs batted in for Texas.

“I know I can do this,” Laird said. “I love playing. I’m working hard. I’m trying to do what I can to help the team win.”

Rookie John Rheinecker (2-0) pitched eight innings, giving up seven hits and two runs with four strikeouts in his third start. It was his second consecutive strong outing since being recalled from triple-A Oklahoma. He threw 8 1/3 shutout innings against Seattle on Monday to earn his first major-league victory.

Kansas City 9, Seattle 4 -- Reggie Sanders drove in a season-high three runs at Seattle and the Royals ended a nine-game losing streak at Safeco Field.

John Buck hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fourth inning off Jarrod Washburn, who gave up a season-high seven runs to a team that had scored one run in its previous 28 innings.

Oakland 5, Minnesota 1 -- Rich Harden struck out six in his first start back from the disabled list, and light-hitting Marco Scutaro got three hits for the Athletics at Oakland.

Scutaro had a two-run single and Dan Johnson homered for the A’s, who took three of four from the Twins after losing 10 of their previous 12.

Boston 8, Detroit 3 -- David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez homered and the Red Sox had three bases-loaded walks at Detroit.

Ortiz walked three times for Boston, which won two of three in the weekend series. Alex Gonzalez and Kevin Youkilis also homered for the Red Sox.

Ramirez, Ortiz and Trot Nixon had bases-loaded walks during Boston’s three-run eighth inning. Tigers Manager Jim Leyland also was ejected for arguing balls and strikes.

Detroit has lost six of eight.

Baltimore 11, New York 4 -- Javy Lopez hit two of his team’s four home runs, Rodrigo Lopez won his third straight start, and the Orioles averted a three-game sweep at Baltimore.

Baltimore’s Corey Patterson stole two bases to raise his AL-leading total to 25. He has steals in eight straight games, the longest run in the majors since Kenny Lofton had an eight-game streak in 1996.

Tampa Bay 10, Toronto 5 -- Doug Waechter won for the first time since August and Damon Hollins hit a three-run homer during a five-run fifth inning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Devil Rays hit three homers off Gustavo Chacin in the fifth to take a 6-4 lead. Chacin has given up 13 homers in 48 1/3 innings.