ChiSox top Twins for 9th straight win

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Gordon Beckham had a home run and two RBIs and John Danks recovered from his worst inning of the season to help the Chicago White Sox win their ninth game in a row, 8-7 over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night at Minneapolis.

Danks gave up six runs on six hits in the second inning, but only allowed three hits in his other five scoreless innings and the White Sox did all the little things right to push the slumping Twins 4? games behind them in the AL Central.

Former Prairie American Legion standout Bobby Jenks picked up his 20th save in 21 chances. He struck out Orlando Hudson with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, then gave up an RBI single to Delmon Young in the ninth before getting Jim Thome looking to end the game.

Rangers 7, Red Sox 2: Josh Hamilton had three doubles to take over the major league batting lead and help Texas win at Boston.

Hamilton improved his average to .351 before leaving in the seventh with soreness in his right knee.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Braves 2, Brewers 1: Jair Jurrjens gave up only one run in 6 2/3 innings, leading Atlanta past visiting Milwaukee.

Giants 2, Mets 0: Tim Lincecum pitched a six-hitter for his fourth career shutout and Pablo Sandoval hit an RBI double to help host San Francisco beat New York.

Cubs 12, Phillies 6: Aramis Ramirez hit a pair of two-run doubles, and Derrek Lee and Geovany Soto each had two-run homers to lead Chicago past visiting Philadelphia.

Cardinals 6, Dodgers 0: Chris Carpenter allowed four hits in eight innings to improve to 6-0 against Los Angeles, and host St. Louis chased an off-kilter Clayton Kershaw early.