AL roundup: Blue Jays win again, beat White Sox

CHICAGO (AP) " Scott Rolen hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, helping the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Chicago White Sox 4-3 Sunday to secure their sixth straight series win this season.

Rod Barajas had three hits for the Blue Jays, who have won eight of 11 games.

Vernon Wells led off the eighth with a double off White Sox reliever Scott Linebrink (0-1). Adam Lind walked then Rolen drove in Wells.

After a shaky start, Toronto ace Roy Halladay (4-1) settled down and retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced.

He allowed three runs and scattered eight in seven innings. Halladay had six strikeouts and walked his first batter in two starts.

Red Sox 4, Yankees 1

BOSTON (AP) " Jacoby Ellsbury stole home and the Boston Red Sox ran off with a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees.

Boston's speedster surprised left-hander Andy Pettitte with his dash in a three-run fifth inning that gave the Red Sox their 10th straight win.

They came from behind in all three games and trailed Sunday on Brett Gardner's sacrifice fly in the third. But the Red Sox tied it on a sacrifice fly by David Ortiz in the bottom of the inning.

In the fifth, Ortiz doubled in the go-ahead run before Kevin Youkilis was walked intentionally to load the bases. As Pettitte began his windup with J.D. Drew at bat, Ellsbury raced home and slid in headfirst ahead of Jorge Posada's tag. Drew then made it 4-1 with a ground-rule double.

Orioles 8, Rangers 5

BALTIMORE (AP) " Adam Jones hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning and Baltimore rallied for a victory.

With one out, Cesar Izturis was hit on his left foot and Brian Roberts singled to left before Jones hit an 0-1 slider from reliever Jason Jennings (0-1) into the seats in left-center to give Baltimore a 7-5 lead. Jones' third homer completed the Orioles' comeback from a 5-1 deficit.

Chris Davis, David Murphy and Hank Blalock connected for the Rangers, who lead the major leagues with 38 home runs and have hit two or more in a game 14 times this season, also most in the majors.

Danys Baez (1-1) got the victory with three hitless innings. George Sherrill worked the ninth for his fourth save.

Indians 4, Twins 2

CLEVELAND (AP) " Aaron Laffey pitched into the seventh inning and rookie Tony Sipp came up with two big strikeouts, helping Cleveland avoid a three-game sweep.

Laffey (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.

The Indians were held to one run in each of the first two games of the series, but Ryan Garko's two-run single off Glen Perkins (1-2) in the third gave them a 4-0 lead.

It was the shortest outing of the year for Perkins, who allowed four runs in five innings.

Tigers 3, Royals 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) " Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer and Armando Galarraga pitched six solid innings for Detroit.

Inge connected in the second, driving a 1-1 pitch from Sidney Ponson (0-3) out to left with Jeff Larish aboard after a single. It was his seventh of the year.

Galarraga (3-0) allowed one run and three hits, struck out seven and walked five.

Jose Guillen singled in Coco Crisp in the third but the Royals left the bases loaded when Alberto Callaspo grounded out. Kansas City is 2-for-17 with the bases loaded this season.

Athletics 7, Rays 1

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) " Kurt Suzuki drove in three runs, Dana Eveland pitched into the sixth inning and the Athletics beat Tampa Bay.

Every Oakland starter got at least one hit and seven different players scored for the A's, who won their second straight after a season-high five-game skid.

After failing to make it out of the fourth in each of his previous two starts, Eveland (1-1) allowed one run and four hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Andy Sonnanstine (0-3), who has gone 11 consecutive regular-season starts without a win. The right-hander gave up 10 hits.

Angels 8, Mariners 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) " Howie Kendrick homered and had a career-high four RBIs, Jered Weaver combined with two relievers on a five-hitte , and the Angels avoided a three-game sweep.

Weaver (2-1) allowed three hits over seven innings.

Kendrick had a pair of RBI singles in addition to his two-run homer in the second inning against former Angels left-hander Jarrod Washburn (3-1). Washburn was charged with six runs and eight hits over 5 1-3 innings

Juan Rivera hit his first home run of the season. Torii Hunter had three hits, including an RBI single, to raise his average to .338.