Angels rally past Red Sox

ANAHEIM, Calif. — While the scrappy Los Angeles Angels are showing they've got what it takes to beat the Boston Red Sox, they say doing so in July means no more than beating anyone else.

Pinch hitter Erick Aybar hit a bases-clearing triple to highlight a four-run seventh, and the Angels rallied for a 4-2 victory over the defending World Series champions Saturday. Los Angeles pinch hitters were just 6-for-38 with five RBIs this season before Aybar's clutch hit.

The Angels, going for their fourth AL West title in five years, won their fourth straight game, including an 11-3 triumph over the Red Sox on Friday night, to move a season-high 21 games over .500 and extend their division lead over Oakland to eight games.

The Angels have won a big league-leading 59 games, including four of five against the Red Sox, who swept them in the first round of the playoffs on their way to World Series championships in 2004 and again last year. Boston has won nine of the last nine postseason games between the teams.

"It's a series in July," said Angels reliever Scot Shields, who struck out Jed Lowrie on three pitches with the bases loaded to end the eighth. "I do think we're a better team now than we were in the past. I'm not saying we're a better team than they are. (But) we've always come to the park thinking we can win."

American League

YANKEES 4, ATHLETICS 3 (12 INNINGS): At New York, Jose Molina was hit by Lenny DiNardo's pitch with the bases loaded in the 12th inning, and the Yankees outlasted the Athletics. Robinson Cano had four hits and David Robertson earned his first major league win as New York pulled out a tight game that lasted 4 hours, 45 minutes in 93-degree heat.

MARINERS 9, INDIANS 6: At Seattle, one-time Seattle prospect Shin-Soo Choo homered and doubled in his first two at-bats, Jeremy Sowers picked up his first win of the season and the Indians beat the Mariners to snap a 10-game road losing streak.

RAYS 6, BLUE JAYS 4: At St. Petersburg, Fla., rookie All-Star Evan Longoria hit his first career grand slam during a five-run sixth and Matt Garza threw 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help the AL East-leading Rays beat Toronto. Garza (8-5) allowed two hits and struck out six.