ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- John Lackey has lost count of how many victories Francisco Rodriguez has saved for him. So when the All-Star closer blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning on Wednesday, Lackey took it easy on him.
"That's not going to happen too often. I can't wait to hand him the ball the next time I've got the lead in the ninth," Lackey said after the Los Angeles Angels pulled out a 7-6 win over the Oakland Athletics on a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth by Maicer Izturis.
"It would have been nice to get the win, but the team got it," Lackey said after he was denied his 13th victory. "Right now we just need to win games. It doesn't matter how they look or how it happens. Frankie's a great closer. There was just some weird stuff that happened in that inning."
Yankees 7, Royals 1
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Rodriguez moved within one of the 500-home run club, helping the New York Yankees get as close to the Boston Red Sox as they've been in 2½ months.
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Rodriguez hit his 499th homer, and Melky Cabrera and Hideki Matsui also went deep in a 7-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals that extended the Yankees' winning streak to six.
Seeking to become the youngest player to reach 500 homers, Rodriguez connected in the eighth inning off Gil Meche. Kansas City's starter Thursday is Jorge De La Rosa, who gave up A-Rod's 400th homer two years ago.
Rodriguez had a chance to reach 500 in the ninth inning, but as flashbulbs popped he struck out against former teammate Octavio Dotel.
Orioles 6, Devil Rays 1
BALTIMORE -- Erik Bedard allowed one run in six innings to earn his sixth straight victory, and the Baltimore Orioles beat Tampa Bay 6-1 to extend the Devil Rays' losing streak to five.
Bedard (10-4) struck out eight -- including Ty Wigginton three times -- to increase his AL-leading total to 175. The left-hander gave up six hits, walked two and lowered his ERA to 3.05, fifth-best in the league.
