Buck hits 3 homers in win over A's

TORONTO (AP) - John Buck became the first catcher to hit three home runs in six years, Travis Snider added a solo shot and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 Thursday night.

Buck led off the third inning with a drive off right-hander Justin Duchscherer into the left field bullpen. His next two homers came off left-handers. He greeted reliever Jerry Blevins with a three-run homer into the second deck in left in the fourth and connected against Craig Breslow for a solo shot in the sixth, off the center field restaurant.

Buck got a standing ovation from the crowd of 10,721 when he led off the eighth against Oakland righty Andrew Bailey. He swung and missed the first two pitches, fouled one back, then flied out to right. The fans remained standing as Buck jogged back to the dugout.

Tigers 3, Twins 0

DETROIT (AP) - Dontrelle Willis pitched four-hit ball over six-plus innings in perhaps his best performance with Detroit.

Willis (1-1) struck out six - his highest total since 2007 when he was with the Florida Marlins - and walked two. Joel Zumaya struck out two in two perfect innings and Jose Valverde pitched a hitless ninth for his seventh save in eight chances.

Carl Pavano (3-2) gave up three runs - two earned - on seven hits and two walks over eight innings for the Twins.

White Sox 7 Rangers 5

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Paul Konerko hit two home runs after Chicago took advantage of a wild pitch, two errors and two walks to go ahead of Texas and avoid a three-game sweep.

Konerko leads the majors with 10 homers after hitting a solo drive in the eighth and a two-run shot in the ninth. He also drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.

Rangers starter Scott Feldman pitched into the seventh with a two-run lead, but was gone after an error and a walk against the first two batters. Darren O'Day (0-1) was the loser.

Only one of the three runs allowed by Gavin Floyd (1-2) were earned. The White Sox right-hander struck out five with no walks over seven innings to end a five-game road losing streak.

Rays 11, Royals 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Matt Garza gave up one run over six sharp innings, Jason Bartlett and Reid Brignac drove in three runs apiece.

At 17-5, the Rays are off to the best start in the majors after 22 games since 2003 when San Francisco and the New York Yankees opened 18-4 and the Royals were 17-5. Tampa Bay has won 14 of 16, outscoring opponents 117-44 during the stretch.

Garza (4-1) scattered five hits, walked two and struck out nine. The right-hander improved to 1-4 in seven career games against the Royals.

Yankees 4, Orioles 0

BALTIMORE (AP) - A.J. Burnett pitched eight innings of three-hit ball, Robinson Cano homered twice, and the New York Yankees beat Brian Matusz and the Baltimore Orioles 4-0 Thursday night.

Marcus Thames had three hits and an RBI for the Yankees, who took two of three from Baltimore to finish a three-city road trip with a 5-4 record.

Burnett (3-0) struck out four and walked one to improve to 10-2 lifetime against the Orioles. He allowed only two runners past first base, and only one reached third.

Burnett has been pitching in the majors since 1999, and this is the first time he's 3-0.

Matusz (2-1) allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings. The left-hander had won six straight decisions since Aug. 15, including at Yankee Stadium in September.