Blue Jays
LH J.A. Happ earned his first victory in three starts. “The curveball was as good or better than it’s been so far this year,” Happ said. “That was a big pitch tonight.” Happ (8-5) allowed seven hits in six innings vs. the Red Sox last week, walked one and struck out four to win for the first time since beating the White Sox on June 26. “It might have been his best outing of the year,” manager John Gibbons said. … Canadian tennis star Milos Raonic served a first pitch with a racket, skipping it past pitcher Mark Buehrle to the backstop.
Orioles
For the second straight night, the team got a strong performance from a starting pitcher who spent the All-Star break in the minor leagues and stayed on his regular routine. Miguel Gonzalez (5-5) took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning to lead the Orioles to a 4-2 victory over the Angels on Tuesday. Gonzalez (5-5) was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, where he was optioned on July 11 so that he wouldn’t get stale after consecutive eight-inning no-decisions. Bud Norris, who was optioned to Double-A Bowie on July 10, beat the Angels 4-2 Monday in his return to the rotation.
Rays
Manager Joe Maddon was impressed with how rookie C Curt Casali handled himself behind the plate in his major-league debut, specifically in receiving and blocking balls and remaining calm. “The guy is definitely ready to be here, emotionally, too, so I’m not afraid to use him,” Maddon told the Tampa Bay Times. … The Rays were among the teams scouting Cuban OF Rusney Castillo — said to have plus-plus speed and power — at a workout in Miami.
Red Sox
David Ortiz moved past Boston great Carl Yastrzemski into 36th place on the all-time home run list. … Jake Peavy (1-9) lost his ninth straight decision and has not won since beating Toronto on April 25. He allowed five runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings, walked three and struck out seven. “I’ve got to be better,” Peavy said. “That’s all there is to it.” Peavy has received two runs of support or fewer in each of his past eight starts.
Yankees
Chase Headley became the first player to get a game-ending hit in his Yankees debut since Roy Weatherly against the Washington Senators on April 22, 1943, according to research by the Elias Sports Bureau. … Manager Joe Girardi did not completely attribute Mark Teixeira’s recent struggles to the lat injury, but he said it could be a factor. “These guys right now are always dealing with aches and pains,” Girardi said. “It’s been his lat. There’s been a couple of other little things, his neck was kind of stiff … so you don’t know if it’s all related.” Former Atlanta Braves Kelly Johnson and Brian McCann help fill in for the 34-year-old first baseman. … The Yankees issued a statement strongly disputing a story in the New York Post that claimed the team was raising prices for the Sept. 7 game in which Derek Jeter will be honored.
Compiled by Rick Crotts from wire reports.
