AL: Radke cools torrid Bosox

MINNEAPOLIS - Brad Radke's seven strong innings and a number of bad throws by the Red Sox helped the Twins to a 12-0 victory Friday night, snapping Boston's eight-game winning streak.

Radke, who nearly signed with Boston last winter before taking an $18-million, two-year contract to return for his 11th season in Minnesota, finally got some support from his struggling offense. The former Jesuit standout didn't need much, picking up his first win since the All-Star break and matching a season best with eight strikeouts.

Radke, who retired 15 straight at one point, gave up four hits and one walk.

Manny Ramirez, who collided with teammate Edgar Renteria while making a catch Wednesday against Kansas City, returned from a one-game absence and went 1-for-3 for the Red Sox.

Joe Mauer had three hits and three RBIs and Lew Ford had three hits and three runs for the Twins, who won for the fourth time in 15 games and sent Boston starter Bronson Arroyo, the former Hernando High standout, to an early exit.

Terry Tiffee's two-run double and Jacque Jones' two-run homer highlighted a five-run eighth against former Devil Ray Jeremi Gonzalez. Minnesota set a season high for runs.

Ford, a former Red Sox farmhand who was traded to the Twins in 2000 for reliever Hector Carrasco, has followed a breakout 2004 with an unproductive season as the regular DH. But Ford, filling in for injured Gold Glove centerfielder Torii Hunter, gave the Twins a big lift with his glove and at the plate.

He led off the first with a triple and quickly scored on Nick Punto's groundout. In the fourth, with the infield in, Ford hit a chopper that Renteria couldn't handle, reaching on a single and later scoring.

He took an extra-base hit from Kevin Millar by running down a fly ball and smashing into the wall as he caught it to start the second. In the sixth, Ford made a sliding catch in shallow center of Johnny Damon's sinking line drive just before it hit the turf.

Then, with Ramirez on first, Ford raced back and jumped over the wall to steal a sure home run from Millar in the seventh.

A'S 5, ROYALS 4: Rookie Dan Johnson homered for the third consecutive game and visiting Oakland rallied from a three-run deficit.

Kansas City has lost eight straight. The Athletics have won eight of nine.

The Royals took a 4-3 lead into the eighth, but relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Ambiorix Burgos allowed two runs, three walks, a single and a wild pitch. Bobby Kielty's single off Burgos scored Bobby Crosby with the first run. Burgos' wild pitch allowed Eric Chavez, who had walked, to score the go-ahead run.

YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 2: Gary Sheffield homered and journeyman Aaron Small won again to lead visiting New York.

In his first at-bat, Sheffield hit a two-run shot off Gustavo Chacin.

Small has helped stabilize the back of the Yankees' battered rotation, winning three of his four starts since being brought up from the minors July 17. The right-hander, 33, hadn't started a major-league game since 1996 before last month.

ORIOLES 10, RANGERS 5: Jay Gibbons and Brian Roberts homered in a six-run third, and visiting Baltimore won its second straight under interim manager Sam Perlozzo. The Orioles lost eight straight before Lee Mazzilli was fired as manager Thursday, then won their series finale against the Angels.

MARINERS 4, WHITE SOX 2: Richie Sexson homered, then doubled in the go-ahead run, helping Joel Pineiro earn his first win in a month for Seattle. Chicago (70-38) has the best record in the majors but has lost 10 of its past 14 home games.

INDIANS 9, TIGERS 6: Casey Blake and Coco Crisp homered and drove in three as visiting Cleveland scored all their runs in the sixth inning. Blake and Jhonny Peralta both had three of the Indians' 16 hits.

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 01:43:02]