Texas power surge

DETROIT (AP) ― On a day full of bad news on the injury front, at least the Texas Rangers could enjoy a victory.

Choo Shin-soo homered, Chris Gimenez had four hits and the Rangers rolled to a 9-2 victory over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

This was supposed to be Prince Fielder’s first game back in Detroit after the Tigers traded him in the offseason, but the big first baseman didn’t make the trip because of a herniated disk in his neck that could keep him out the rest of the season.

Fielder is expected to have surgery Tuesday. General manager Jon Daniels announced that after the game.

Manager Ron Washington had already finished talking to reporters by then.

“You just want to go out there and give yourself a chance, hope your pitching staff gives you a chance,” Washington said. “We understand not every day we’re going to be able to put nine runs up, especially against this team.”

Yu Darvish (4-2) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking three.

The Rangers broke through quickly against Detroit rookie Robbie Ray (1-1), who lasted only 3 1/3 innings. Ray allowed seven runs, nine hits and four walks, and the AL Central-leading Tigers lost their fourth straight.

Ian Kinsler, who was traded to Detroit for Fielder in an offseason blockbuster, went 1 for 3 in his first game against the Rangers.

The Tigers breezed to a 27-12 start before being swept in a three-game series at Cleveland.

Star right-handers Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer were both knocked around in that series, and a 13-inning finale against the Indians taxed the bullpen.

Ray’s start Thursday made the situation even worse, and infielder Danny Worth ended up pitching the ninth inning for Detroit. Worth, throwing a knuckleball, actually struck out two in a scoreless frame.

“That was a lot of fun,” Worth said. “Obviously, you don’t ever want to be needed in that spot, but once I got out there, I enjoyed it.”

Jays sweep Red Sox

BOSTON (AP) ― Mark Buehrle won his major league-leading eighth game, Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista homered on consecutive pitches, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-2 on Thursday for a three-game sweep.

Toronto improved to 8-2 in its past 10 games, while Boston lost its seventh straight. The Red Sox went 0-6 on their homestand, the first time since June 1994, when they also lost six in a row at Fenway Park, that they were winless on a homestand of at least six games.

Buehrle (8-1) allowed two runs in the first two innings and left after giving up seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts in seven innings. He retired 11 of his last 12 batters.

He began the day tied with Zach Greinke, Rick Porcello and Adam Wainwright with seven wins each.

Buehrle’s only loss came at home against Boston on April 25 when he allowed seven runs in an 8-1 loss.

Jon Lester (4-6) had his worst outing of the season, allowing seven runs on seven hits through 1 1/3 innings.

Then he settled down and retired 12 straight batters before giving up a single to Kevin Pillar with one out in the seventh. But Pillar was caught stealing.

Lester left with one out in the seventh after allowing 10 hits and striking out just three. He had averaged an AL-best 10.83 strikeouts per nine innings.

Mets end Greinke’s run

NEW YORK (AP) ― Mets rookie Eric Campbell earned a start in left field because of his bat. He should be getting even more playing time because of his glove.

In his first career major league game in the outfield, Campbell doubled Yasiel Puig off second base after making a spectacular diving catch in the eighth that helped preserve New York’s 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.

“As it always goes, put a guy in for his offense and his defense saves the game,” manager Terry Collins said.

Campbell had a sacrifice fly in the first inning and is hitting .368 in his first eight big league games. Collins said he is going to use the versatile 27 year old who plays mostly at the corner infield spots at second base and shortstop, too.

Campbell, who even worked out a bit behind the plate to be the Mets emergency catcher with Travis d’Arnaud on the 7-day concussion list, is ready.

“I can handle it,” Campbell said of playing second and short.

“Just fielding a groundball and throwing to first.”

Jonathon Niese (3-3) hit an RBI double to provide himself some much-needed run support and pitched seven sharp innings for New York, which won for just the sixth time in 20 games this month and avoided a three-game sweep. Juan Lagares had a go-ahead RBI single in the seventh.

The dynamic yet, at times, frustrating Puig made a sensational catch of his own on a sinking liner to right-center that was so good it elicited a warm ovation from the 23,416 in attendance. But he made two baserunning mistakes that could have cost the Dodgers runs.

Miami 4, Philadelphia 3

Tampa Bay 5, Oakland 2

Cleveland 8, Baltimore 7

Pittsburgh 3, Washington 1

Atlanta 5, Milwaukee 4

St. Louis 4, Arizona 2

Chicago White Sox 3, NY Yankees 2

Seattle 3, Houston 1

Chicago Cubs 5, San Diego 1