Thome’s 2-run HR clips Choo, Indians

CLEVELAND (AP) ― Jim Thome’s two-run homer in the seventh inning led the Baltimore Orioles to their fourth straight victory, a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night.

Thome, who passed Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the all-time home run list on Friday, hit his 611th and second with Baltimore since being acquired from Philadelphia on July 1 off Zach McAllister (4-2).

Chris Tillman (2-1) allowed only Choo Shin-soo’s leadoff homer in the first in 6 2/3 innings. He gave up six hits, struck out four and walked one.

Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his league-leading 29th save.

The Indians have lost three straight and six of eight. Cleveland has scored three or fewer runs six times in that stretch.

Porcello, Tigers take over 1st in AL Central

DETROIT (AP) ― The Chicago White Sox fell back to second place for the first time in nearly a month.

It had been even longer since Chris Sale left the ballpark with a loss.

Sale allowed five runs in seven innings, and the Detroit Tigers took over first place in the AL Central on Saturday with a 7-1 victory over the Chicago. The White Sox had occupied the top spot since a June 24 win over Milwaukee put them a half-game ahead of Cleveland.

Now the Tigers lead by a half-game over Chicago. Sale (11-3) lost for the first time since May 12.

Detroit will go for a three-game sweep Sunday, sending rookie Jacob Turner (0-1) to the mound against Philip Humber (4-4).

“You just keep coming out and playing,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Nobody said it would be easy.”

Atlanta 4, Washington 0 Gm. 1

Washington 5, Atlanta 2 Gm. 2

LA Dodgers 8, NY Mets 5

Texas 9, LA Angels 2

San Francisco 6, Philadelphia 5

Pittsburgh 5, Miami 1

Toronto 7, Boston 3

Kansas City 7, Minnesota 3

Cincinnati 6, Milwaukee 2

Seattle 2, Tampa Bay 1

St. Louis 12, Chicago Cubs 0

Arizona 12, Houston 3

Oakland 2, NY Yankees 1

Colorado 8, San Diego 6