Rays/MLB

AL roundup

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published May 14, 2006

YANKEES 4, ATHLETICS 3: NEW YORK - Even without Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield, the Yankees have plenty of power. They're getting some pretty good pitching these days, too.

Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer, Derek Jeter connected and New York got a useful start from Jaret Wright.

"We know we have enough in the tank," Rodriguez said. "They said we can score 1,000 runs with those guys, and now we probably can score 890 - but that's still enough to win."

Wright held Oakland's lineup in check into the sixth inning. He got strong relief from Scott Proctor, and Kyle Farnsworth got the save.

Oakland's Eric Chavez (bacterial infection), back after missing four games, went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

NOTABLE: Chavez said he won't play today but will aim for a Tuesday return.

QUOTABLE: "I feel fine for a normal human being. But for a ballplayer, it isn't good enough." - Chavez

TIGERS 3, INDIANS 0: CLEVELAND - Jeremy Bonderman pitched three-hit ball through eight innings and Chris Shelton homered to extend Cleveland's losing streak to a season-high five games.

Shelton, who hadn't homered in 41 at-bats since April 28, hit his 11th of the year on a 2-0 pitch from C.C. Sabathia (2-1) leading off the third.

The Tigers improved the best road record in baseball to 15-7. They have not finished with a winning road mark since a 41-40 mark in 1993 - going 359-601 (.374) away from Detroit since then.

The Indians' skid is their longest since losing five in a row July 10-17.

Bonderman (4-2) didn't allow a hit until Todd Hollandsworth doubled with two outs in the fifth inning.

The right-hander walked three and struck out eight as he stymied a Cleveland lineup that came in leading the majors in runs (223), hits (389) and hitting (.302).

Cleveland made three errors, giving them an AL-worst 28 for the season.

Miscues by third baseman Aaron Boone and shortstop Jhonny Peralta helped Detroit score an unearned run in the sixth. Magglio Ordonez singled into the hole at short with two outs for the RBI.

Ivan Rodriguez's RBI double in the eighth made it 3-0.

Cleveland's best chance came in the sixth. Grady Sizemore and Casey Blake each singled, but Peralta lined into a broken-bat double play and Travis Hafner struck out.

Sabathia gave up two earned runs and six hits over eight innings, tying a career high with 10 strikeouts and issuing one intentional walk.

NOTABLE: Sabathia fell to 10-5 in his career against Detroit, including 4-5 at Jacobs Field.

ORIOLES 11, ROYALS 1:BALTIMORE - Kris Benson allowed one run in seven innings, Ramon Hernandez and Javy Lopez both homered and drove in three runs, and Baltimore claimed its first winning streak in May.

Miguel Tejada and Melvin Mora also homered for the Orioles. Tejada hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning to put the Orioles up 5-1. Hernandez, Lopez and Mora connected in a six-run eighth against Chris Booker.

NOTABLE: Tejada was in a 4-for-35 slump before his homer.

QUOTABLE: "This is a time we need to get back on track and closer to the Yankees." - Lopez

TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 4:MINNEAPOLIS - Justin Morneau's two-run single followed Chicago manager Ozzie Guillen's ejection and capped a five-run fifth inning.

Javier Vazquez led 4-1 with one out to get and one runner on. But Luis Castillo reached on a dribbler. After two RBI singles, Michael Cuddyer loaded the bases on a pitch that grazed his chest.

TV replays showed Cuddyer came close to going all the way around on his swing at the pitch, and Guillen was ejected after yelling at first-base umpire Dale Scott.

NOTABLE: The Twins lead the majors with 41 infield hits.

[Last modified May 14, 2006, 01:02:02]