Rays/MLB

AL roundup

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published April 20, 2006

TWINS 12, ANGELS 10 (10): MINNEAPOLIS - Pinch-hitter Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run homer against former teammate J.C. Romero in the 10th inning, lifting Minnesota.

Romero struck out Shannon Stewart to start the inning but walked Luis Castillo, who stole second without a throw and moved to third on Joe Mauer's groundout. Cuddyer then homered to right-centerfield.

The Twins were down 9-4 before a four-run sixth. After consecutive run-scoring hits by Lew Ford, Juan Castro and Stewart, Castillo drew a two-out, full-count walk. Vladimir Guerrero dropped Mike Redmond's fly to right, letting Stewart score.

It was 10-9 when Minnesota loaded the bases with no out in the ninth against closer Francisco Rodriguez. Rodriguez got the next two outs, but Ford walked to force in the tying run.

NOTABLE: Minnesota's starters have a majors-worst 7.04 ERA.

YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 1: TORONTO - Alex Rodriguez and Mike Mussina were happy to be heading home, especially after a win.

Rodriguez homered in his third straight game and Mussina made another sharp start for New York, 7-7 after playing 11 of 14 on the road. The Yankees host Baltimore on Friday night in the start of a nine-game homestand.

"We would love to be 9-5 or something like that," Rodriguez said. "But we've been on the road for basically 14 days. We're very excited to get home."

Rodriguez said the road start was okay given that the Yankees traveled to Oakland, Los Angeles, Minnesota and Toronto, all possible postseason contenders.

"There's probably eight or nine teams that are legitimate World Series contenders in the American League, and that's very unique because you probably haven't had that in over 20 years," Rodriguez said. "There is great parity in the American League. There are probably three teams in each division that can potentially win the World Series."

Rodriguez homered in the fifth, tying Juan Gonzalez for 35th place all-time with his 434th. A-Rod is hitting .462 (12-for-26) in New York's wins and .148 (4-for-27) in its losses.

NOTABLE: Yankees right-hander Carl Pavano (bruised buttocks) threw 58 pitches during his second bullpen session in three days. He said he is making progress and didn't rule out throwing batting practice in the next few days.

WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 0: CHICAGO - Javier Vazquez watched the ball roll down the third-base line, his bid for a no-hitter riding on where it ended up. Third baseman Joe Crede had no play, either. He was too far back.

As both looked on, Doug Mientkiewicz's slow roller off a checked swing didn't stray into foul territory. And after 61/3 innings, Vazquez's chance to pitch a no-hitter was over.

"I mean, what can you do?' Vazquez said. "It kind of stinks that was the first hit. That's part of the game."

Vazquez and the White Sox did get a win. Vazquez pitched into the ninth, allowing two hits, and Chicago handed Kansas City its 10th straight defeat.

The Royals, who had a 19-game losing streak late last season, managed one run and 11 hits in the three-game series. Their 2-12 start is their second worst behind 1992, when they were 1-16.

NOTABLE: Vazquez pitched a one-hitter in 1999 for Montreal against the Dodgers. He surrendered that hit in the fourth inning to Mark Grudzielanek, now with the Royals.

ORIOLES 18, INDIANS 9: BALTIMORE - Kevin Millar hit a go-ahead two-run double in a seven-run fifth capped by Corey Patterson's two-run homer, and the Orioles overcame a four-run deficit.

Ramon Hernandez had a home run and four RBIs, Jay Gibbons hit a three-run homer and Miguel Tejada and Jeff Conine had two RBIs for Baltimore.

Jhonny Peralta, Victor Martinez and Aaron Boone homered for Cleveland. Martinez extended his hitting streak to 14 games, longest in the majors.

Tejada's one-out run-scoring single in the fifth and Hernandez's two-out, run-scoring single off Jake Westbrook cut the Indians' lead to 7-5. Javy Lopez hit a run-scoring double, and Millar followed with a two-run double that bounced over the centerfield fence.

Matt Miller relieved, and Patterson hit his second pitch for his first AL homer.

NOTABLE: The Orioles stole two bases against Martinez, who has failed to nab any of the 13 attempts against him.

TIGERS 11, ATHLETICS 4: OAKLAND, Calif. - Kenny Rogers won again at the Coliseum and Placido Polanco got his 1,000th career hit and drove in three to lead Detroit.

Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge also had three RBIs each for the Tigers, who won for the third time in 10 games after starting 5-0.

Rogers improved to 24-4 in 44 starts at the Coliseum, 22-1 since 1995, to move within seven wins of 200 for his career. One of his few mistakes came on a 2-and-1 pitch to start the second that Frank Thomas sent high into the leftfield steps for his 452nd career home run, tying Gary Sheffield and Carl Yastrzemski for 27th all-time.

Rogers, in his first season with the Tigers after two in Texas, didn't allow a hit after the second until Jason Kendall's run-scoring double in the eighth.

NOTABLE: Oakland's Nick Swisher extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a second-inning single a night after he homered twice.

MARINERS 9, RANGERS 6: SEATTLE - Former Hillsborough High standout Carl Everett hit a winning three-run homer to cap a five-run ninth-inning rally for the Mariners.

Texas closer Francisco Cordero faced five batters and got only one out after entering in the ninth with a 6-4 lead. The right-hander hit Ichiro Suzuki with a pitch leading off and allowed Jose Lopez's double to left before Raul Ibanez's sacrifice fly brought Seattle within one.

Richie Sexson brought in Lopez with a ground-ball single to left, tying the score. Kenji Johjima's single to center chased Cordero, and C.J. Wilson gave up Everett's blast to left on a 1-and-1 pitch.

Everett and Adrian Beltre had back-to-back doubles off reliever Antonio Alfonseca to bring Seattle within 6-4 in the eighth.

NOTABLE: Ichiro was 4-for-4 to raise his average from .177 to .227.

[Last modified April 20, 2006, 02:15:04]