Monday's Major League Baseball Roundup

American League

Nick Swisher's grand slam marked the 200th homer of his career, and Derek Lowepaid immediate dividends in his Yankees debut, as New York hammered the Texas Rangers,  8-2, Monday night. Lowe, who was signed by the Yankees on Monday after being released by Cleveland last week, gave up  just two hits and had four strikeouts over the final four shutout innings. The righty gained his first save since 2001 when he pitched for Boston.

Elsewhere in the AL:

Toronto Blue Jays 3, Chicago White Sox 2 (11 innings)
Minnesota Twins 9, Detroit Tigers 3
Cleveland Indians 6, LA Angels of Anaheim 2
Tampa Bay Rays 4, Seattle Mariners 1

National League

It took four starts, but Cole Hamels finally conquered the Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies took the opener of a three-game set, 4-0. Hamels (13-6), coming off a five-hit shutout against the Atlanta Braves, went the distance again against Miami. He struck out five and held the hosts to seven hits and a walk en route to his sixth career shutout.

Elsewhere in the NL:

Los Angeles Dodgers 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 4
San Diego Padres 4, Atlanta Braves 1
Chicago Cubs 7, Houston Astros 1
Colorado Rockies 9, Milwaukee Brewers 6
Washington Nationals 14, San Francisco Giants 2

BASEBALL

Johnny Pesky, who spent 61 of his 73 years in major league baseball with the Boston Red Sox, passed away at the age of 92. Multiple reports state that the beloved member of the franchise died Monday of natural causes. Pesky played the first seven-plus seasons of his career with Boston, from 1942-1952, excepting  1943-45  while serving in World  War II. He managed the Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate, Seattle, in  1961 and was the skipper of the Red Sox from 1963-64. Pesky then served as a coach and manager with Pittsburgh for four years, but returned to Boston in 1969 and had been with the organization ever since. He served as a radio and TV announcer, special instructor at spring training, coach, and most recently special assistant to the general manager and special assignment instructor.

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The New York Yankees signed veteran pitcher Derek Lowe and added him to the 25-man active roster. He paid immediate  dividends, tossing four shutout innings and picking up his first save since 2001 in the Yankees' 8-2 win over the Rangers on Monday. Lowe started the 2012 season with Cleveland and went 8-10 with a 5.52 ERA in 21 starts. He was designated for assignment on August 2 and released eight days later. A two-time  American League All-Star (2000,  2002), Lowe owns a career record of 174-156 with 85 saves and a 4.01  ERA in 655 games (377 starts) over 16 seasons with Seattle, Boston, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta and  Cleveland. He won a World Series title with the Red Sox in 2004.

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TUESDAY'S SCHEDULE  (All times are Central)

MLB NL
  6:05 p.m. - Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates
  6:10 p.m. - New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds
  6:10 p.m. - Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins
  6:10 p.m. - San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves
  7:05 p.m. - Houston Astros at Chicago Cubs
  7:15 p.m. - Arizona Diamondbacks at St. Louis Cardinals
  7:40 p.m. - Milwaukee Brewers at Colorado Rockies
  9:15 p.m. - Washington Nationals at San Francisco Giants

MLB AL
  6:05 p.m. - Boston Red Sox at Baltimore Orioles
  6:05 p.m. - Texas Rangers at New York Yankees
  6:07 p.m. - Chicago White Sox at Toronto Blue Jays
  7:10 p.m. - Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins
  7:10 p.m. - Oakland Athletics at Kansas City Royals
  9:05 p.m. - Cleveland Indians at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
  9:10 p.m. - Tampa Bay Rays at Seattle Mariners