Al roundup: Matsui leads Yanks with 2 homers, 5 RBIs

SEATTLE (AP) - Hideki Matsui had his fourth career two-home run game and a season-high five RBIs and CC Sabathia struck out a season-high 10 as New York began its longest trip of the year with an 11-1 win over Seattle on Thursday night.

The Yankees had a 5-0 lead one out into the third inning without Alex Rodriguez, who may also miss Friday with a bruised elbow, and Jorge Posada, their bruised catcher who said he could have played.

Sabathia (13-7) allowed three hits, including a solo home run to Josh Wilson, in eight innings. It was his fifth win in six decisions.

Derek Jeter homered and Jerry Hairston Jr., filling in for Rodriguez at third base, had a double, single and two RBIs.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games to increase their lead in the AL East over the Red Sox to a season high-tying 6 1/2 games.

Ian Snell (0-1), making his third start since Seattle acquired him from Pittsburgh on July 29, allowed nine hits and eight runs in six-plus innings.

Tigers 2, Red Sox 0

BOSTON (AP) - Justin Verlander allowed four hits in eight innings and Ryan Raburn homered as Detroit avoided a four-game sweep.

Verlander (13-6) struck out eight and walked one, retiring 16 of the last 19 batters he faced. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 24th save.

Clay Buchholz (1-3) allowed five hits in seven innings, walking three and striking out three while giving up Raburn's homer to go with an unearned run in the fourth. Victor Martinez had two hits for Boston, and he also stole a base for the second time in his career and the first time since 2003.

Royals 5, Twins 4

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Gil Meche gave up four runs in five innings in his return from the disabled list, and the Royals won their first three-game series since the end of June.

After allowing an RBI double to Mauer in the first, Meche (5-9) breezed through the next three innings. He had two outs in the fifth when he walked Denard Span and gave up a single to Cabrera. Mauer followed with his 21st homer of the season to pull Minnesota to 5-4.

Willie Bloomquist had two RBIs, Alex Gordon hit his third homer and Joakim Soria pitched two innings for his 19th save. The Royals had not beaten an AL team in a series of at least three games since they took two of three in the Metrodome on May 1-3.

Carl Pavano (10-9) gave up five runs in seven innings for the Twins.

Rangers 4, Indians 1

CLEVELAND (AP) - Scott Feldman pitched six sharp innings and Josh Hamilton had four hits, including a go-ahead two-run double for the Rangers.

Feldman (12-4) worked out of trouble several times after allowing a first-inning run in winning his third straight start. The right-hander allowed seven hits and struck out six to improve to 8-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 10 road starts this season.

Hamilton's double off Jeremy Sowers (4-8) gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. He also had an infield hit in the first, a double in the sixth and another single leading off the eighth.

Frank Francisco pitched the ninth for his 15th save and his first since July 10.