Associated Press
The AL Roundup …
NEW YORK ó Chien-Ming Wang pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Hideki Matsui hit a two-run homer, leading the New York Yankees past the pesky Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 Sunday.
With manager Joe Girardi back on the bench following an illness, Joba Chamberlain and second baseman Robinson Cano got the Yankees out of a dicey jam in the seventh.
Mariano Rivera recorded three quick outs for his third save as the Yankees, still slumping on offense, improved to 3-3. They’ve scored only 17 runs ó no more than four in any game.
Tampa Bay was looking for the best five-game start in its 11-year history. Girardi missed those games because of an upper respiratory infection while bench coach Rob Thomson managed in his place.
Matsui homered in the fourth off James Shields and finished with three hits.
Pitching in short sleeves on a 46-degree afternoon, Wang (2-0) held the Rays hitless until the fifth and took a two-hitter into the seventh.Royals 3, Twins 1
MINNEAPOLIS ó Brett Tomko (1-0) allowed six hits in five shutout innings, Alex Gordon hit a two-run single and scored after doubling in the seventh.
Joakim Soria struck out the side in order in the ninth for his third save.
Kansas City finished its opening trip to Detroit and Minnesota 4-2, its best start since 2004. The Royals had only three winning trips last season, none until May 11-20.
Boof Bonser (0-2) gave up three runs and eight hits in seven innings.
Orioles 3, Mariners 2
BALTIMORE ó Luis Hernandez singled in the winning run with two outs in the ninth off Mark Lowe (0-1), who also threw a tying wild pitch. Nick Markakis led off the ninth with a double off Eric O’Flaherty and scored on a groundout by Aubrey Huff,
Dennis Safate (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the Orioles.
Rangers 10, Angels 4
ANAHEIM, Calif. ó Gerald Laird had four hits, homered twice and drove in a career-high six runs.
Laird hit a three-run homer in the fourth off Jon Garland (1-1).
Indians 2, Athletics 1
OAKLAND, Calif. ó Cliff Lee (1-0) gave up four hits and struck out four in 6 2-3 innings to win his first start of the season, retiring 10 of his last 12 batters as Cleveland stopped a three-game losing streak.
White Sox 13, Tigers 2
DETROIT ó Nick Swisher homered on the game’s second pitch, Carlos Quentin had four RBIs and the Chicago White Sox handed the Detroit Tigers their sixth straight loss.