The resurgent New York Yankees pounded the Toronto Blue Jays 8-1 Thursday in major league baseball action.
Jason Giambi hit a three-run home run to help the Yankees win their fourth straight game and keep the team in first place in the American League East division just ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians beat Boston 7-6, despite pitcher Jake Westbrook giving up 15 hits against the Red Sox. Cleveland's Shin-Soo Choo hit a grand slam, while teammates Travis Hafner and Aaron Boone also homered.
Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Texas were the American League's other winners Thursday. Pittsburgh, San Diego, Florida, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia won in the National League. The Chicago Cubs and Arizona split a doubleheader.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays eked out a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers. The Minnesota Twins routed the Kansas City Royals 8-2, and the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-6.
The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-2. The San Diego Padres downed the Houston Astros 5-2 to snap a three-game losing streak. The Florida Marlins beat the New York Mets 4-1, as Marlins pitcher Dontrelle Willis outlasted New York ace pitcher Pedro Martinez.
Pitcher Greg Maddux threw six no-hit innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers earn a 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. The future Hall-of-Famer was making his first start for the Dodgers, who obtained him in a trade this week from the Chicago Cubs. The Philadelphia Phillies trounced the St. Louis Cardinals 8-1, as the Phillies' Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 35 games. St. Louis has lost seven straight games.
In the first game of a doubleheader, the Arizona Diamondbacks pounded the Cubs 10-2, but the Chicago came back in the second game to record a 7-3 victory.