Six-run 7th powers streaking Red Sox  —  BOSTON (AP) - Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered during a six-run seventh inning and drove in five runs and the suddenly successful Boston Red Sox routed the Cleveland Indians 12-1 on Sunday.  —  Rookie Will Middlebrooks hit his fourth homer for the Red Sox …

Five Dodgers greet surprised fans at gates  —  LOS ANGELES — On Sunday morning, the first thing fans walking into Dodger Stadium did was a double take.  —  Stationed at entrances throughout the ballpark when the gates opened at 11:15 a.m. PT were five Dodgers players, waiting to greet the fans, chat with them and sign autographs.

Mariners dispatch Yankees to spoil Andy Pettitte's return … NEW YORK — Andy Pettitte made his much-anticipated return to the Yankees on Sunday, getting lavished with adoration while pitching into the seventh inning despite giving up a pair of two-run homers in New York's 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Mets Likely to Offer Wright a Long-Term Deal  —  MIAMI—The Mets waved goodbye to one franchise player last winter.  They are not about to lose another, at least not without making an aggressive push to re-sign him.  —  The team is quietly preparing to offer third baseman David Wright …

Johnson, Zobrist Homer as Rays Beat Orioles 9-8  —  BALTIMORE (AP) — Elliot Johnson and Ben Zobrist homered, Carlos Pena ended an extended slump with two doubles and two RBIs, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-8 Sunday and avert a three-game sweep.

Hamels Returns to Pitch Phillies Over Padres 3-2  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cole Hamels was stellar on the mound in his return from a five-game suspension, working seven innings of one-run ball Sunday to help the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 3-2.

Stewart, Cubs Beat Brewers 8-2 to Avoid Sweep  —  MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ian Stewart hit a solo homer and scored the go-ahead run on an error, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep by their division rivals.  —  It was the fourth homer of the season …

Cabrera, Blanco Lead Giants Past Arizona 7-3  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Melky Cabrera singled four times to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, Gregor Blanco drove in three runs with a pair of hits and the San Francisco Giants beat Arizona 7-3 on Sunday to take two of three from the Diamondbacks.

Balfour unhappy with closer demotion  —  OAKLAND — Grant Balfour is upset that he's lost his job as the A's closer, and he told manager Bob Melvin as much.  —  “I told him I wasn't happy,” Balfour said before Sunday's series finale against the Tigers.  “I was [ticked] off.  That's fine.  Whatever.

Marlins' Stanton shocks Mets with walkoff slam  —  MIAMI (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-out grand slam to cap a ninth-inning rally by the Miami Marlins , who beat an angry Frank Francisco and the New York Mets 8-4 Sunday.  —  The walk-off victory was the second in the three-game series for the Marlins …

Votto's Slam, 3 HRs Rally Reds Past Nationals 9-6  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — Joey Votto hit a grand slam in the ninth inning for his third home run of the game, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a rain-delayed 9-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.  —  Votto hit solo homers …

Royals left-hander Duffy to have MRI on elbow  —  CHICAGO — Left-hander Danny Duffy is scheduled for an MRI on Monday after he left the Kansas City Royals' 9-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox with elbow tightness.  —  Duffy faced three batters in the first inning and recorded two outs …

Axford reflects on his famous note  —  MILWAUKEE — Brewers closer John Axford had only a few moments to stew over the end of his long saves streak before life snapped things back into focus.  —  Clubhouse manager Tony Migliaccio was waiting for Axford when the upset right-hander retreated …