Lohse wins sixth straight as St. Louis beats Boston 5-4

Kyle Lohse had never beaten the Boston Red Sox. Now he can't be beat.

The right-hander who played for three teams the past two seasons won his sixth straight start, and the St. Louis Cardinals hit 3 homers to beat host Boston 5-4 Friday night.

Lohse (9-2) won his first game against the Red Sox after three losses.

"You try not to make the same pitches" against them, he said. "They have good memories and remember what you did the last time."

The last time the Cardinals played at Fenway Park was in Curt Schilling's "bloody sock" victory in the 2004 World Series, the second game of a four-game sweep.

The atmosphere Friday was "a tad less than it is in October," Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa said. "They're a good club. It's competitive."

The Red Sox cut the lead to one run on Mike Lowell's two-out RBI single in the ninth off Ryan Franklin, but Kevin Youkilis flied out to right with runners at first and third as Franklin got his 10th save.

Friday's win came on the same day that Schilling announced he would have shoulder surgery Monday that would end his season and, possibly, his 20-year career.

Pirates 1, Blue Jays 0 (12): Shortstop John McDonald misplayed Jason Michaels' hard-hit grounder with the bases loaded and none out for a game-ending error in the 12th as host Pittsburgh ruined Cito Gaston's return as Toronto manager.

Toronto ace Roy Halladay got a scare, but apparently wasn't injured, when he was struck in the right temple by Nyjer Morgan's line drive in the seventh inning.

"He seems to be doing well and hopefully it's a minor little bruise," catcher Rod Barajas said.

Mariners 10, Braves 2: Jim Riggleman set the pace for his first game as Seattle's manager by scheduling batting practice three hours earlier than normal.

The extra swings helped as Jose Lopez drove in 4 runs with 3 hits, including a 3-run double in the eighth, and the visiting Mariners enjoyed one of their best offensive games of the year in beating Atlanta and third baseman, Chipper Jones, who re-aggravated his strained right quadriceps.

Reds 4, Yankees 2: Edinson Volquez (10-2) pitched 7 sharp innings in Cincinnati's first game at Yankee Stadium in 32 years and the Reds beat Mike Mussina and New York to end a five-game skid.

Angels 7, Phillies 1: Ervin Santana (9-3) struck out nine in 7 impressive innings and Vladimir Guerrero hit a 2-run homer as Los Angeles launched a 17-hit attack to beat host Philadelphia.

Astros 4, Rays 3: Roy Oswalt (6-7) rebounded from a poor outing, Carlos Lee had a 2-run double and visiting Houston snapped an eight-game losing streak with a victory over Tampa Bay.

Twins 7, Diamondbacks 2: Scott Baker won for the first time in more than two months and Craig Monroe homered as Minnesota beat visiting Arizona and starting pitcher Randy Johnson (4-5).

Giants 9, Royals 4: Ray Durham had 3 hits, including a bases-clearing double in a 4-run sixth, and visiting San Francisco rallied for a victory to snap Kansas City's five-game winning streak.

Orioles 8, Brewers 5: Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5 with 2 homers and Baltimore's bullpen pitched 7 scoreless innings in a victory over host Milwaukee.

Mets 7, Rockies 2: Carlos Delgado hit a 2-run homer as part of a 5-run second and John Maine composed himself after a shaky first to lift New York to a win over host Colorado.

Nationals 4, Rangers 3 (14):ŒElijah Dukes drove in the winning run with two outs in the 14th inning with his fifth hit, giving host Washington a win over Texas.