Twins 6, Yankees 3
NEW YORK (AP) - Jason Kubel hit a stunning grand slam off Mariano Rivera with two outs in the eighth inning and the Minnesota Twins snapped a nine-game losing streak against the New York Yankees with a 6-3 victory Sunday.
Rivera replaced Joba Chamberlain (1-2) with the bases loaded and a 3-1 lead and walked Jim Thome. Kubel pulled a drive into the seats in right, startling the crowd of 46,628.
Kubel's third homer of the season and sixth career slam snapped a string of 51 straight converted save opportunities for Rivera at home, tying the major league record set by Eric Gagne with the Dodgers. It was the first grand slam off Rivera since Bill Selby's game-ending shot for Cleveland on July 14, 2002.
Rivera hadn't allowed a run in 11 innings this year. The ace closer issued his fourth career bases-loaded walk and first since May 6, 2005, before allowing his fourth grand slam, according to STATS LLC.
Jon Rauch gave up two singles to start the ninth, then struck out Derek Jeter, Brett Gardner and Mark Teixeira to hold on for his 10th save in 11 chances.
Nick Blackburn (4-1) helped the Twins beat New York for the first time since Aug. 13, 2008. They had lost 12 straight overall against the Yankees, counting the sweep in last year's AL division series.
Rays 2, Mariners 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Sean Rodriguez delivered a seventh-inning double and Gabe Kapler added an eight-inning sacrifice fly as the Tampa Bay Rays overcame a frustrating afternoon against Cliff Lee to rally past the Seattle Mariners.
Lee (1-2) took a 1-0 lead into the seventh, limiting the team with baseball's best record to doubles by B.J. Upton and Willy Aybar up to that point. Upton doubled again with one out in the seventh, then scored when Rodriguez followed with his hit off the right-center field wall.
Carl Crawford tripled into the left-field corner, just beyond the reach of Michael Saunders, and scored on Kapler's sacrifice fly.
Dan Wheeler (2-0) retired the only two batters he faced to get the win. Rafael Soriano got three outs for his 10th save in 10 opportunities.
Tigers 5, Red Sox 1
DETROIT (AP) - Ramon Santiago hit a two-run homer and Armando Galarraga was sharp in his first start of the season, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Boston Red Sox.
Detroit became the first team to win four straight series at home against reigning playoff teams since 1995, when baseball began putting four teams in the postseason, according to STATS LLC. The Tigers took two of three against Boston after winning three of four over the defending champion Yankees, sweeping the Angels and beating the Twins in two of three games.
Galarraga (1-0) gave up one run on three hits over 5 2-3 innings, while John Lackey (4-2) allowed five runs on nine hits and four walks over seven innings for Boston.
Angels 4, Athletics 0
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Joel Pineiro pitched a three-hitter for his sixth career shutout, Bobby Abreu hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics.
Pineiro (3-4) struck out five, walked one and threw just 98 pitches.
Trevor Cahill (1-2) allowed three runs, five hits and no walks over seven innings.
Indians 5, Orioles 1
BALTIMORE (AP) - Jake Westbrook worked around nine hits for his 13th career complete game, and the Cleveland Indians beat the Baltimore Orioles.
Matt LaPorta and Russell Branyan homered for the Indians.
Westbrook (2-2) didn't pitch at all last season while recovering from reconstructive right elbow surgery. He was 0-2 in his first six starts this year.
Westbrook missed his fourth career shutout when Luke Scott hit a two-out homer in the ninth. The right-hander struck out eight and walked none.
David Hernandez was scheduled to start for the Orioles, but was scratched with a sore shoulder. Mark Hendrickson (1-1) made his first start of the year.
Royals 5, White Sox 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Brian Bannister pitched six strong innings, Jose Guillen drove in three runs and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox.
Bannister (2-3), who had lost his previous two starts while allowing 11 runs in nine innings, retired 13 of 14 in one stretch.
Guillen, who had hit .127 in his previous 18 games, had an RBI single in the Royals' three-run fourth, then singled home two more in the fifth.
Joakim Soria finished for his ninth save in 11 opportunities.
Gavin Floyd (1-4) gave up five runs on 10 hits in six innings, falling to 1-7 in 10 starts against the Royals.
Blue Jays 5, Rangers 2
TORONTO (AP) - Brandon Morrow rebounded from the shortest start of his career, Jose Bautista homered for the third time in two games and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers to complete a three-game sweep.
Toronto turned four double play and extended its winning streak to four. The game drew 25,518, Toronto's biggest home crowd since opening day.
Morrow (3-3) allowed two runs and eight hits in six-plus innings and struck out eight. Kevin Gregg finished in the ninth for his 11th save. Colby Lewis (3-2) took the loss.