Jimenez, Indians top Tigers

Ubaldo Jimenez showed why Cleveland traded for him, winning his home debut, and rookie Jason Kipnis went 5 for 5 with four runs and three RBIs as the Indians shaved another game off Detroit’s lead in the AL Central by beating the Tigers, 10-3, last night.

With its 13th straight win at Progressive Field over Detroit, Cleveland closed within two games of first place - and the Indians will have a chance to sweep the Tigers for the second time this year.

Jimenez (1-0), acquired in a deal from Colorado at the trade deadline, allowed three runs and six hits in eight power-packed innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Kipnis hit a two-run homer off Rick Porcello (11-7) in the second. He added three singles, a double, and became the first Cleveland rookie in 59 years to get five hits and score four times. Jim Fridley did it on April 11, 1952, at Philadelphia.

Indians manager Manny Acta is convinced Jimenez, who he referred to as “The Big U,’’ has the “stuff to be a No. 1 starter. The guy that gets everyone’s attention.’’

Mariners 4, Rangers 3 - Casper Wells had the tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning for visiting Seattle in its victory over AL West-leading Texas.

Wells walked twice and had two singles, the last one driving in Mike Carp, who started the seventh with a bloop single off reliever Koji Uehara (1-2).

Jason Vargas (7-10) went seven innings with three strikeouts and four walks. The lefthander threw a season-high 121 pitches to get his first win in his last seven starts - he had gone 0-5 since his shutout July 1 against San Diego.

Rays 8, Royals 7 - Sam Fuld hit a tying triple and then scored on an errant throw to complete a five-run ninth as host Tampa Bay rallied to beat Kansas City.

Fuld hit a drive to right center off closer Joakim Soria (5-5) and wound up scoring the running run when second baseman Johnny Giavotella was charged with an error for a bad relay throw to third.

Braves 6, Marlins 2 - Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 31 games and Tim Hudson pitched into the eighth inning, leading Atlanta over Florida for a sweep in Miami.

Uggla’s two-run single in the first tied Rico Carty for the second-longest hitting streak in franchise history. Tommy Holmes hit in 37 straight for the Boston Braves in 1945.

Orioles 6, White Sox 4 - Nolan Reimold hit a two-run homer off Jason Frasor in the 10th inning, and host Baltimore ended Chicago’s five-game winning streak.

Blue Jays 8, Athletics 4 - Brett Lawrie hit his first career grand slam and Toronto beat visiting Oakland.

Phillies 9, Dodgers 8 - Ryan Howard and Hunter Pence homered to help Philadelphia overcome an early six-run deficit for a three-game sweep in Los Angeles. The Phillies completed a 9-1 road trip.

Brewers 5, Cardinals 1 - Randy Wolf pitched eight sharp innings and Milwaukee jumped on Jake Westbrook early to beat host St. Louis, giving the NL Central leaders their 13th win in 14 games.

Cubs 4, Nationals 2 - Reed Johnson, Alfonso Soriano, and Geovany Soto each homered and host Chicago kept up its power surge in a victory over Washington. The Cubs have connected in eight straight games.

Pirates 9, Giants 2 - Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer, Jeff Karstens (9-6) bounced back from his worst start of the season, and Pittsburgh won its first series in three weeks with a victory in San Francisco.

Reds 3, Rockies 2 - Joey Votto hit the last of host Cincinnati’s three solo homers, spoiling Kevin Millwood’s return to the majors, and the Reds turned a season-high four double plays in a victory over Colorado.

Padres 9, Mets 5 - Will Venable sparked the offense with four hits from the leadoff spot for visiting San Diego.

Diamondbacks 6, Astros 3 - Josh Collmenter scattered four hits over seven innings and Willie Bloomquist homered to start a three-run first for host Arizona.