MLB: Orioles move level with Yankees again after 9-2 win over Tampa Bay

Boston Red Sox edged a 4-3 victory over their fierce New York rivals to give Baltimore a share of the American League East lead, while Oakland have been boosted by news pitcher Brandon McCarthy is out of hospital.

Oakland's Brandon McCarthy receives help from a trainer after being struck on the head by a ball against the LA Angels.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy has been released from hospital less than a week after fracturing his skull when he was hit by a line drive during a game.

McCarthy, who underwent surgery in a San Francisco hospital to relieve pressure in his head, evacuate the haemorrhage and stabilise the fracture, said he looks forward to resuming his Major League Baseball career.

"We look forward to continuing the healing process, and returning to baseball and our normal lives in the weeks and months ahead," McCarthy, 29, said in a statement.

Baltimore starter Jason Hammel left early after a flare up of his troublesome right knee but the Orioles overcame that setback to hammer visiting Tampa Bay 9-2 and grab a share of the American League East lead.

Hammel, making just his second start after missing nearly two months with knee surgery, tweaked his knee and had to leave in the fourth inning with the Orioles leading 3-1.

"It was just one pitch, and then after that pitch, I couldn't load on the leg again," Hammel told reporters.

The veteran Hammel (8-6), who raced to an 8-2 start to the season before running into knee issues, feared his season could be in jeopardy but said: "If there's any way that I can pitch, I'm going to."

Baltimore's J.J. Hardy, who had provided the advantage for Hammel with a two-run home run in the third, carried the home team with an RBI in the sixth and a second homer in the eighth.

"I got a couple pitches to hit and didn't miss them," Hardy said.

He finished with four hits and five RBIs to help the Orioles (79-62) catch New York at the top of the AL East following the Yankees' loss to Boston.

Steve Johnson came on in relief for Hammel and pitched 1 1/3 innings to get the win for the Orioles, who lost outfielder Nick Markakis to a broken thumb on Saturday.

Tampa Bay starter Matt Moore left after allowing three runs in four innings and the Rays' bullpen could do little to quiet Baltimore's bats, who banged out 13 hits.

Elliot Johnson and Ryan Roberts each hit solo homers for the Rays (77-64), who trail the AL East leaders by two games, though Roberts left in the sixth after straining his left forearm during a tag at second bas

Jacoby Ellsbury scored the winning single as the Red Sox edged past their fierce rivals 4-3.

Ellsbury struck in the ninth inning while Pedro Ciriaco started the rally with a single of his own to give the Red Sox just their second victory in 13 matches.

The Detroit Tigers reduced the Chicago White Sox's lead in the Central League to just two games after a 5-3 victory, while Matt Harrison worked into the sixth inning for his 16th victory as the Texas Rangers claimed a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.

Kyle Seager homered and Erasmo Ramirez pitched seven innings for his first major league win to help the Seattle Mariners to a 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, Will Smith pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 9-1 hammering of the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland Athletics held off the challenge of the Los Angeles Angels for a 6-5 success.

The Philadelphia Phillies extended their winning streak to six matches in the National League after a 9-7 victory over the Miami Marlins.

Jimmy Rollins homered and drove in three runs to inspire the Phillies, improving to 4-0 in his last five starts.

The Arizona Diamondbacks used an unearned run to edge past the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0, with Ian Kennedy's pitching up until the eighth inning crucial to their success.

Madison Bumgarner struck a three-run homer despite struggling early on and Brandon Belt drove in four runs for the San Francisco Giants, who saw off the Colorado Rockies 9-8.

Rickie Weeks and Aramis Ramirez homered as the Milwaukee Brewers continued their recent good form with a 5-0 triumph over the Atlanta Braves and Bryce Harper had his first four-hit game to help the Washington Nationals to a 5-3 success over the New York Mets.

The Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3, the Houston Astros were 1-0 winners over the Chicago Cubs and the St Louis Cardinals suffered a 6-4 defeat against the San Diego Padres.

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