Rays/MLB

AL roundup

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 19, 2006

BLUE JAYS 10, YANKEES 5: TORONTO - Randy Johnson failed to hold a four-run lead and was chased in the fourth inning of the Blue Jays' win.

Troy Glaus homered twice and Alex Rios tied a career high with four RBIs for the Blue Jays.

Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi hit back-to-back homers in the first for New York - helping Johnson (2-2) to a 4-0 lead - but the Big Unit allowed seven runs and nine hits in just 3 1-3 innings.

Johnson lasted just five innings in his last start, raising some concerns about his health.

Glaus went 3-for-4 with three RBI and scored three runs for the Blue Jays, who spent the offseason remaking their roster in the hopes of finally competing with New York.

Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield drew jeers in the seventh when he dropped a fly ball, allowing Bengie Molina to reach.

Molina later scored on Shawn Chacon's wild pitch, giving Toronto a 10-5 lead.

Rios platoons with Eric Hinske in right, but he's making a case to play every day. His two-run drive off Johnson in the second gave Toronto a 6-4 lead.

NOTABLE: Rios is 6-for-11 in his career against Johnson. The 25-year-old is among the league leaders with a .395 average and has five home runs.

ANGELS 8, TWINS 2: MINNEAPOLIS - Kelvim Escobar struck out 10 in 62/3 innings and Chone Figgins had a home run and two RBIs to lead Los Angeles.

Escobar struck out the side twice and scattered seven hits, and Orlando Cabrera added three hits and two RBIs for the Angels, who had lost four of five going in but continued their recent dominance at the Metrodome.

Lew Ford had two hits and scored twice for the Twins, who have lost six of their past seven home games to the Angels.

After the Angels tacked on two of their three ninth-inning insurance runs to chase starter Carlos Silva, the frustrated pitcher barked at home-plate umpire Jerry Meals as he exited. Meals ejected Silva and Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, who came to Silva's aid.

WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 1: CHICAGO - Jon Garland led Chicago to its eighth win in nine games and extended Kansas City's deep slump.

Garland allowed six hits in 61/3 innings.

Kansas City has lost nine in a row, its longest skid since its team-record 19-game losing streak late last year, and is a major league-worst 2-11 - beating the White Sox on April 7 and 8.

Jeremy Affeldt (0-2) was done in by his defense, allowing three runs - all unearned - and four hits in six innings.

Joe Crede and Juan Uribe had RBI singles as the White Sox scored three runs in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Crede was 2-for-4.

Scott Podsednik had two singles - his third straight multihit game - and stole two bases for Chicago, 9-5 after a 1-4 start.

INDIANS 15, ORIOLES 1: BALTIMORE - Jason Johnson took a five-hitter into the eighth inning, Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore homered and Cleveland got 20 hits during the rout.

The Indians scored their most this season right on the heels of a 10-run outburst one night earlier in Detroit.

Johnson, the former Devil Ray, allowed one run and seven hits in seven-plus innings, struck out two and walked none. He was lifted after giving up a run-scoring double to Brian Roberts.

NOTABLE: Roberts tied a career high with four hits, with an RBI and two stolen bases.

A'S 4, TIGERS 3: OAKLAND, Calif. - Nick Swisher hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the seventh for his second drive of the game to lead the Athletics.

Swisher also had a two-run homer in the second inning, the second time this season he's hit two in a game and the fourth in his career. Swisher has six homers, tying him with Eric Chavez for the team lead.

Justin Duchscherer (1-0) pitched two innings for the victory, helping the A's win for only the second time in their last seven games. Huston Street pitched a perfect ninth for his fourth save in five chances, bouncing back from Sunday's loss in which his consecutive saves streak ended at 21.

NOTABLE: Ivan Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a walk and is batting .312 (185-for-593) with 21 homers and 83 RBIs in 149 career games against the A's.

RANGERS 7, MARINERS 4: SEATTLE - Texas starter John Koronka got his second AL win by holding the Mariners to one run in five innings.

Koronka, acquired from the Cubs on March 31, allowed five hits and four walks but held Seattle to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Felix Hernandez allowed early two-run home runs to Phil Nevin and Brad Wilkerson, pitching five spotty innings for the Mariners.

Hernandez struck out nine and walked one. But he allowed four runs and six hits, leaving him with a 6.14 ERA.

He has given up four homers in 102/3 innings.

NOTABLE: Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki was 0-for-4 and has two hits in his past 24 at-bats.

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 02:19:37]