AL roundup: Hughes helps Yankees avoid doubleheader sweep by Tigers

DETROIT — Phil Hughes was sharp for seven innings and the New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers 8-0 Wednesday to split a day-night doubleheader.

Hughes (5-0) struck out eight. Joba Chamberlain pitched the eighth and Mariano Rivera closed the game.

Jeremy Bonderman (1-2) struck out a season-best seven in a season-long seven innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and a walk.

Alex Rodriguez's two-out single in the first scored Brett Gardner, who singled and stole his 16th base this season. Mark Teixeira's two-out single in the third brought home Derek Jeter, who walked and stole second. The Yankees broke it open with a six-run ninth.

Detroit won the opener 2-0 thanks to pitcher Rick Porcello's seven shutout innings and a two-run sixth.

BLUE JAYS 3, RED SOX 2: At Boston, Shaun Marcum pitched two-hit ball for seven shutout innings and Travis Snider homered, doubled and drove in all three runs, helping Toronto beat Boston. Toronto had lost its previous five games against Boston this season. The Blue Jays closed a 10-game road trip at 7-3. Marcum (2-1) allowed just two singles to David Ortiz, struck out six and walked one. Scott Downs pitched a scoreless eighth and Kevin Gregg got the final three outs for his 10th save despite allowing J.D. Drew's RBI double and Adrian Beltre's run-scoring single. Tim Wakefield (0-2) was the tough-luck loser for Boston, which finished a 10-game homestand at 7-3. Wakefield recorded his 2,000th career strikeout.

TWINS 3, WHITE SOX 2: At Minneapolis, Denard Span and the Minnesota Twins picked up Carl Pavano this time, pecking away at John Danks to beat Chicago. Span had two singles and a walk to give the Twins a lift at the top of the lineup. Minnesota finished another 6-3 homestand at Target Field. The Twins were shut out in each of Pavano's last two outings. Pavano (4-3) put up his fourth straight start allowing two earned runs or less. Pavano went seven innings, giving up six hits, and left the game in the capable relief arms of Brian Duensing, Matt Guerrier and Jon Rauch, who pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save. Danks (3-2) took the loss.