Associated Press
The AL Roundup …
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó Scott Kazmir and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Tampa Bay beat struggling Oakland 4-0 on Monday night.
Rookie Evan Longoria homered for the third consecutive game and drove in two runs, helping the AL East leaders win for the third time in four days following a season-worst seven-game losing streak.
The A’s have lost six straight, scoring nine runs during the slide.
Kazmir pitched a scoreless 15th inning on one day’s rest to get the win in last Tuesday’s All-Star game. The Rays gave him an extra day to get ready.
The A’s were limited to Ryan Sweeney’s one-out single in the first and Jack Cust’s two-out single in the fourth.
Yankees 12, Twins 4
NEW YORK ó Alex Rodriguez had a two-run homer and RBI single to help New York to its eighth straight home win.
Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter homeered for the Yankees, who have won four straight overall.
Alexi Casilla had three hits for the Twins, but the second baseman’s throwing error led to three unearned runs in New York’s four-run second.
Minnesota dropped to 3-17 at Yankee Stadium since the start of the 2002 season. The Twins have lost six straight series in the Bronx.
Johnny Damon was activated from the disabled list and went 1-for-4 serving as the designated hitter for New York (54-45), which improved to a season-best nine games over .500.
Rangers 6, White Sox 1
CHICAGO ó Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer and Hank Blalock added a two-run shot to power Texas.
Hamilton hit his 22nd homer in the third off Javier Vazquez, as the White Sox lost their third straight, all at home.
Blalock added his fourth homer in the eighth and Texas (52-48) tied its season-best mark, at four games over .500.
Orioles 8, Blue Jays 3
BALTIMORE ó Adam Jones homered in the third, then got a key infield single in a three-run fifth for Baltimore.
Jones hit a two-run homer and scored twice. He has reached base safely in 20 straight games, going 29-for-78 (.372) with 15 RBIs.
Ramon Hernandez homered for the Orioles, who climbed out of last place in the AL East ahead of Toronto.
Tigers 19, Royals 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Miguel Cabrera had five hits and six RBIs and Matt Joyce added four hits and five RBIs for Detroit.
Joyce hit a three-run homer in the third and had two singles in the Tigers’ 10-run eighth, which also included a three-run homer by Gary Sheffield.