American League roundup

Tigers 5, Rays 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Brandon Inge hit a grand slam in the ninth inning and the Detroit Tigers picked apart Tampa Bay's bullpen and beat the Rays 5-3 Sunday for a three-game sweep.

Detroit won its sixth in a row and opened a seven-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.

Rays starter Wade Davis pitched seven sharp innings in his major league debut, giving up one run and three hits and striking out nine. Detroit overcame a 3-1 lead in the ninth when Tampa Bay tried five relievers, with Inge capping the comeback by connecting with one out against Russ Springer (0-3) for his fifth career slam.

Edwin Jackson (12-6) went eight innings and Brandon Lyon closed for his third save.

Evan Longoria hit his career-high 28th homer and reached 100 RBIs for the Rays, who have lost eight and 11.

Athletics 5, Mariners 2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Ichiro Suzuki's 2,000th major league hit was overshadowed by the go-ahead grand slam Scott Hairston hit in the seventh inning to help the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners.

Suzuki reached the milestone on a double in the first inning against Gio Gonzalez (5-5).

The Mariners All-Star outfielder, who accumulated 1,278 hits in Japan, became the second-fastest player to 2,000 hits, recording it in his 1,402 major league game. Al Simmons did it in 1,390 games.

Andrew Bailey got three outs for his 23rd save in 27 chances, including the last 18 in a row. Hairston's slam came against Scott Kelley (4-2).

Angels 7, Royals 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Joe Saunders won his third straight start, Bobby Abreu drove in three runs and the Los Angeles Angels beat Kansas City.

The Angels opened a 51/2-game lead over Texas in the AL West.

Los Angeles are 9-0 against the Royals this season and have won 33 of the past 43 games.

Saunders (12-7) wasn't at his best, giving up 10 hits, but he surrendered only two runs in 5 1-3 innings. Luke Hochevar (6-9) was battered for seven runs on nine hits and two walks in 3 2-3 innings, and is 0-6 with an 8.12 ERA in his last eight starts.

Blue Jays 14, Yankees 8

TORONTO (AP) - Rookie Randy Ruiz hit an RBI single during an eight-run fifth, then was hit in the face by a pitch later in the inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees.

Ruiz joined the growing list of hitters to get beaned in recent weeks. Down for a few minutes after being hit by Josh Towers, Ruiz walked off the field without assistance and left the game.

The Yankees made a season-high four errors, and outfielders Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera collided while making a catch - they were OK.

Derek Jeter had three hits, and is four away from breaking the Yankees record held by Lou Gehrig (2,721).

Brian Tallet (6-9) won for the first time since June 23. Sergio Mitre (3-2) allowed 11 runs and 11 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Red Sox 6, White Sox 1

CHICAGO (AP) - Jon Lester allowed four hits over seven shutout innings and Mike Lowell and Victor Martinez homered as the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox.

Boston increased its AL wild-card lead to three games over Texas.

Lester (12-7) walked two and struck out eight, giving him 204 for the season.

Lowell hit his 17th homer in the fourth off John Danks (12-9). Martinez broke it open in the ninth with a three-run shot, his 21st.

Indians 3, Twins 1

CLEVELAND (AP) - Michael Brantley hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the seventh inning to lead David Huff and the Cleveland Indians over the Minnesota Twins.

Brantley's grounder into right field scored Luis Valbuena from second and gave the Indians a 2-1 lead. Brantley was caught in a rundown when first baseman Michael Cuddyer cut off the throw home, but made it to second safely and scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's double.

Cleveland took two of three from the Twins, hurting their chances of tracking down first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Huff (9-7) outpitched Nick Blackburn (9-10). Kerry Wood finished for his 19th save in 24 chances.

Orioles 7, Rangers 0BALTIMORE (AP) - Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven innings of six-hit ball, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Texas Rangers to earn their second series win since the All-Star break.

Brian Roberts, Jeff Fiorentino and Chad Moeller each had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, who took two of three. Baltimore's only other series win since mid-July was against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 21-23.

Guthrie (10-13) continued his late-season revival with one of his best outings of the year. Derek Holland (7-10) was chased in the fourth.