AL: Royals edge Kansas City

Royals 3, Indians 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Melky Cabrera sent a bases-loaded, two-run single into left field off Cleveland closer Chris Perez with one out in the ninth inning, lifting Kansas City over the Indians.

Perez (0-1), who had been 6 for 6 in save opportunities and was unscored upon in 7 2-3 innings, started the ninth and got in immediate trouble when Kila Ka'aihue doubled leading off.

Pinch runner Mike Aviles went to third when Mitch Maier hit a pinch single. Alcides Escobar grounded to third baseman Jack Hannahan, who threw out Aviles at home for the first out. Chris Getz walked, loading the bases and Cabrera delivered.

Rookie Aaron Crow (2-0) pitched one inning for the victory, which gave the Royals a 2-2 split of the four-game series between AL Central leaders.

Twins 3, Orioles 1

BALTIMORE (AP) - Jim Thome hit his 591st career home run and had two RBIs to back a dominating pitching performance by Scott Baker, and Minnesota beat Baltimore to salvage a split of the four-game series.

Michael Cuddyer also connected for the last-place Twins, who came in with a major league-low six home runs in 18 games.

Baker (1-2) allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out nine and walking one. He is 6-0 with a 2.17 ERA in eight career starts against Baltimore.

Thome hit a solo home run in the second inning and added an RBI single in the sixth. The 40-year-old slugger began the night with a .163 batting average and five RBIs.

Thome needs 19 more homers to tie Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the lifetime list.

Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie (1-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in seven innings. He struck out four, walked none and lowered his ERA to 3.12.

White Sox 9, Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - Omar Vizquel, A.J. Pierzynski, Carlos Quentin and Paul Konerko each drove in two runs and Chicago stopped a seven-game losing streak.

The White Sox had been outscored 11-2 in losing the first three games of the four-game series against Tampa Bay.

Gavin Floyd (2-1) allowed two runs in six innings. He struck out seven and hit two batters.

Sam Fuld had two RBIs for the Rays, who lost for just the second time in 10 games.

Juan Pierre opened the first with a bunt single and went to third when Rays third baseman Felipe Lopez was charged with an error for an errant throw to first on the play. Pierre then scored to make it 1-0 on Vizquel's grounder.

Pierre also started a four-run third against Jeff Niemann (0-3) with another bunt single. Vizquel doubled home a run, Konerko and Adam Dunn each had RBI singles and Pierzynski hit a sacrifice fly.