Victorino drives in 5 as Phillies end skid

BALTIMORE » Jim Thome felt right at home — in the cleanup spot, in the DH slot.

Thome broke loose for the first time this year, Maui’s Shane Victorino homered and drove in five runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies emphatically ended a season-worst six-game losing streak by beating the Baltimore Orioles 9-6 on Friday night.

"You always want to get at-bats. You always want to contribute," Thome said.

Thome doubled twice, legged out an infield hit and got his first RBI of the season. Mike Fontenot also homered, to the delight of a Camden Yards crowd full of spirited Phillies fans.

Beset by back problems, the 41-year-old Thome came off the disabled list this week. He had been just 2-for-20 with 11 strikeouts overall.

Thome’s dribbler past Jake Arrieta (2-8) went for a two-out single in the first inning when shifted second baseman Robert Andino had no chance to make a play from short right field, and set up Victorino’s RBI single.

Thome lined a ground-rule double to right-center in the second that let Juan Pierre score the 1,000th run of his career. Thome doubled again in the fourth and scored on Victorino’s eighth homer for a 9-3 lead.

Nationals 7, Red Sox 4

Stephen Strasburg (7-1) struck out 13 in six innings, Bryce Harper homered and Washington picked up the franchise’s first victory at Fenway Park.

Harper hit a two-run shot in the fourth and an RBI single in the sixth as the club improved to 1-9 at Boston’s iconic home.

The Montreal Expos dropped all six of their games at Fenway before moving to Washington.

Rangers 5, Giants 0

Craig Gentry had a career-high five hits and drove in two runs, Matt Harrison pitched his third career shutout and visiting Texas beat San Francisco in a rematch of the 2010 World Series.

Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler homered for the Rangers.

Yankees 9, Mets 1

Robinson Cano homered twice and hit one of three straight long balls off an ineffective Johan Santana, leading the Yankees to a rout of the Mets.

Santana is 0-3 with a 12.21 ERA at the new Yankee Stadium.

Reds 6, Tigers 5, 10 innings

Wilson Valdez’s squeeze bunt with one out in the 10th inning scored Miguel Cairo and gave Cincinnati a win over visiting Detroit.

Joey Votto had three hits for Cincinnati, including a three-run homer.

Pirates 4, Royals 2

Erik Bedard (4-6) pitched seven solid innings and Neil Walker had three hits as Pittsburgh defeated the visiting Royals.

Astros 8, White Sox 3

Jed Lowrie, Brett Wallace and Brian Bogusevic homered for visiting Houston, which got shutout ball from its bullpen over the final 32/3 innings.

Rays 5, Marlins 1

Matt Joyce homered, doubled and scored three times, and visiting Tampa Bay escaped several jams to beat Miami.

Diamondbacks 9, A’s 8

Ryan Roberts hit a three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Arizona over visiting Oakland.

Braves 4, Blue Jays 3, 10 innings

Jason Heyward stole third base and scored on catcher J.P. Arencibia’s throwing error in the 10th inning as Atlanta beat visiting Toronto.

Indians 6, Cardinals 2

Josh Tomlin scattered eight hits over seven innings, Johnny Damon hit a two-run homer and visiting Cleveland topped St. Louis.

Angels 7, Rockies 2

Torii Hunter homered twice and drove in six runs to lead visiting Los Angeles over Colorado.

Twins 8, Cubs 7, 10 innings

Josh Willingham’s RBI single in the 10th inning lifted Minnesota to victory over visiting Chicago.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Brewers 9, Padres 5

Corey Hart hit two homers and rookie Martin Maldonado connected for a three-run shot as Milwaukee defeated visiting San Diego.