AL roundup: Halladay strikes out 14 in win

TORONTO (AP) " Roy Halladay struck out a career-high 14 to win his major league-leading ninth game, Alex Rios backed him with a home run and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-4 on Tuesday night.

Halladay (9-1) threw his second complete game of the season, allowing four runs, no walks and seven hits to win his sixth straight decision. Working on an extra day of rest, he threw a season-high 133 pitches.

The right-hander, whose only defeat this season was an April 21 loss to Texas, moved ahead of Kansas City's Zack Greinke for the major league lead in wins.

Joe Saunders (6-4) took the loss for Los Angeles.

Rays 6, Royals 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) " Matt Joyce hit a tiebreaking two-run double and added a two-run homer, and Andy Sonnanstine allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings to lead the Rays past the Royals.

Joyce made it 4-2 on his two-out double during the sixth off reliever Horacio Ramirez. He extended the Tampa Bay advantage to 6-2 on his third homer of the season in the eighth.

Sonnanstine (4-5) gave up six hits and had three strikeouts, rebounding from a start last Wednesday at Cleveland when the right-hander allowed eight runs and nine hits in three innings.

Tampa Bay, which won for the third time in nine games, also got a homer from Ben Zobrist.

Kyle Davies (2-5) took the loss.

Yankees 12, Rangers 3

NEW YORK (AP) " Mark Teixeira sparked the Yankees with a takeout slide at second base after being hit with pitches twice, Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada hit three-run homers and New York beat the Rangers to take over best record in the American League.

Derek Jeter became the fourth active player with 1,500 runs " and just the fourth in Yankees history " when Teixeira sent rookie shortstop Elvis Andrus tumbling on Alex Rodriguez's fourth-inning grounder. A-Rod beat out the relay to avoid an inning-ending double play as Jeter scored for a 4-3 lead, keeping alive what would turn into a seven-run inning.

Robinson Cano chased Vicente Padilla (3-3), making his first start after a stint on the disabled list.

Red Sox 5, Tigers 1

DETROIT (AP) " Daisuke Matsuzaka pitched five strong innings to win for the first time this season and manager Terry Francona earned his 500th victory as the Red Sox beat the Tigers.

Francona became the third Boston manager to reach that plateau with the Red Sox, joining Joe Cronin (1,071) and Mike Higgins (560).

Matsuzaka (1-3) came into the game with a 8.82 ERA in four starts, but allowed just one run and six hits with three walks. He matched a season-high with six strikeouts, and the Red Sox helped him with three double plays.

Rookie Rick Porcello (6-4) lost for the first time since April, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk in 4 1-3 innings.

Twins 4, Indians 3

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) " Joe Mauer homered and had three RBIs to help Kevin Slowey win again in the Twins' victory over the Indians.

Slowey (8-1) won his fourth consecutive start pitching six strong innings. The Twins needed a good pitching performance to make up for the absence of two sluggers. Michael Cuddyer missed the game with a strained right index finger and Joe Crede sat out with a swollen left knee.

Joe Nathan recorded four outs for his 10th save in 12 chances, forcing pinch-hitter Ryan Garko to ground out to end the eighth inning and strand Mark DeRosa on third.

Rookie David Huff (0-2) allowed all four Twins runs over five innings.

Mariners 8, Orioles 2

SEATTLE (AP) " Erik Bedard pitched like an ace against his former team, Ichiro Suzuki extended his hitting streak to a team-record 26 consecutive games and the Mariners beat the Orioles.

Bedard (4-2) allowed one run and four hits in 6 1-3 innings to lower his ERA to 2.37, fourth-best in the AL. He struck out seven while throwing a season-high 112 pitches.

Ken Griffey Jr. and new No. 2 hitter Russell Branyan homered for Seattle, which busted out for 16 hits.

David Hernandez (1-1) allowed five runs and 10 hits over 5 1-3 innings in his second major league start for Baltimore.