Yankees dismantle Red Sox

New York Yankees crushed Boston Red Sox with a powerful display of hitting seeing them to a 20-11 win in the American League.

Victory keeps the Yankees seven wins clear of their Eastern League opponents, who nevertheless look good bets to win the wild card race.

Alex Rodriguez inspired the Yankees, going four for four, as Brad Penny was hit out of the game before the fifth inning.

Tampa Bay Rays survived a late comeback from Texas Rangers to win their meeting 5-3, with successive fifth-inning homers from Ben Zobrist and Carlos Pena giving them the cushion.

Baltimore upset an off-form Chicago White Sox to take a 5-1 victory, Brian Roberts homering twice.

West Division leaders LA Angels also slipped up, going down 5-4 at the Toronto Bluejays.

Sean O'Sullivan started things off in the worst possible fashion for the Angels, giving up four runs in the bottom of the first.

Mike Napoli made it close with a three-run homer at the death but it was not enough to force extras.

Seattle Mariners saw off Cleveland Indians 9-4, Minnesota defeated Kansas City 5-4 in the tenth and San Diego ran in four unanswered to take the prized scalp of St Louis Cardinals.

In the Central Division Detroit stay clear at the top after a 3-2 win over Oakland.

In the National League, West Division leaders Philadelphia Phillies went down 4-2 to the New York Mets.

Cole Hamels shipped all four runs against in the second and third innings.

Houston's Jeff Keppinger scored the only run of the game against a lacklustre Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco finished 6-3 winners over Colorado Rockies.

Milwaukee continued to heap misery on the hapless Washington Nationals, with a 7-3 reverse their 79th of the campaign.

Central Division back markers Pittsburgh defeated nearest rivals Cincinnati Reds to close the gap between the sides to one win and Chicago Cubs were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat against LA Dodgers.

Florida Marlins overtook Atlanta Braves with victory in their Central Division match-up, a 5-2 win enough to bring them to second in the standings behind the Phillies.