Royals end losing stresa with win over Athletics

AP Worldstream
08-21-2005
Dateline: OAKLAND, California
The Kansas City Royals ended baseball's longest losing streak in 17 years Saturday, defeating the Oakland Athletics 2-1 to snap a club-record 19-game skid.

Emil Brown doubled in a run, Matt Stairs added an RBI groundout and Mike Wood (4-4) pitched five effective innings, helping the Royals stop their slide two shy of the American League record. They also ended a 12-game road losing streak that tied the franchise single-season mark.

It didn't come without a couple of bloopers that so defined the play of the lowly Royals for 23 days since their previous victory, a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox in 13 innings on July 27.

Kansas City (39-82), which owns the majors' worst record, beat A's ace Barry Zito (11-10) and got clutch outs when Oakland had a runner on third base with fewer than two outs in the fifth and sixth.

Mike MacDougal got four outs for his 15th straight save and 16th in 18 chances _ his first since July 24.

Angels 4, Red Sox 2

At Anaheim, California, rookie Ervin Santana took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning, and Los Angeles beat Boston in a matchup of AL division leaders.

The loss was the sixth in 22 games for the Red Sox, who lead the New York Yankees by three games in the AL East. Boston will move Curt Schilling back into the rotation Thursday night in Kansas City, ending his inconsistent stint as the team's closer.

Santana (7-5) gave up five hits and two runs in 7 2-3 innings. Scot Shields allowed a two-run single to Edgar Renteria before striking out David Ortiz with two on to end the eighth.

Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his 28th save.

Yankees 5, White Sox 0

At Chicago, Shawn Chacon throttled Chicago's punchless offense and Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run double as New York sent the White Sox to their seventh straight loss.

Chacon (2-1) allowed four hits in eight sharp innings for his second straight win, and the Yankees again beat former teammate Orlando Hernandez, who had a frustrating day.

El Duque was warned for throwing a pitch behind Rodriguez, committed his first two errors in 109 games and was also called for a balk. He gave up six hits and five runs _ four earned _ in six-plus innings.

Hernandez (8-6) lost to his former team for the second time this month. He's dropped three straight starts and five of six decisions.

Mariners 8, Twins 3, 10 innings

At Minneapolis, Richie Sexson hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, and Seattle snapped Minnesota's six-game winning streak.

Seattle rookie Felix Hernandez allowed five hits and struck out nine in eight innings. Sexson added a solo homer in the seventh and had five RBIs.

Jamal Strong led off the 10th with a pinch-hit triple off Matt Guerrier (0-2) and scored on Yuniesky Betancourt's single to give the Mariners the lead. Sexson removed all doubt with a bases-loaded blast _ his second grand slam of the season and eighth of his career.

The Mariners' six-run 10th snapped an 18 1-3 innings scoreless streak for Guerrier and a 23 2-3 innings scoreless streak for the Twins' bullpen and gave Seattle its fourth win in six games.

George Sherrill (2-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Indians 6, Orioles 1

At Cleveland, Cliff Lee remained unbeaten since July 8, pitching seven superb innings as Cleveland stayed with the rest of the AL wild-card pack by beating the Baltimore.

Lee (13-4) allowed one run and four hits, but only two after the first inning. The left-hander hasn't lost in his last seven starts, going 4-0.

Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez each hit a two-run homer off Rodrigo Lopez (12-7). Cleveland (67-56), which is 11 games over .500 for the second time, is 8 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago _ the closest the Indians have been since June 19.

The Orioles made four errors and bobbled several other balls, perhaps still feeling the effects of a 5-4 loss in 10 innings on Friday.

Devil Rays 4, Rangers 2

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Jorge Cantu homered and tied a career high with four RBIs, Scott Kazmir (7-8) allowed one run and struck out 10 in six innings, and Tampa Bay beat Texas.

Cantu hit a two-run homer in the fourth and drove in two more runs with a single one inning later. He has a team-best 19 homers and 81 RBIs.

Chad Orvella, Joe Borowski and Danys Baez, who pitched the ninth for his 28th save, completed Tampa Bay's fourth straight win. The Devil Rays have won seven of eight and are 22-12 since the All-Star break.

Gary Matthews and Alfonso Soriano homered for Texas, making the Rangers the third major league team with 200 homers in five consecutive seasons. The Rangers are 1-11 on a 13-game road trip.

Tigers 3, Blue Jays 2, 13 innings

At Detroit, Magglio Ordonez doubled in the winning run with one out in the 13th inning, leading Detroit past Toronto for its third straight victory.

Placido Polanco singled off Miguel Batista (5-4) to open the inning, then moved to second when Chris Shelton walked. Ordonez's hit sailed over left fielder Reed Johnson to the wall.

Franklyn German (4-0) worked the last 1 1-3 innings for the Tigers, who have won six of seven.

Tigers starter Jason Johnson gave up two runs _ one earned _ and four hits in eight innings. It was the eighth time in 25 starts Johnson has worked at least eight innings.

Copyright 2005, AP News All Rights Reserved
Royals end losing stresa with win over Athletics
AP Worldstream
08-21-2005
Dateline: OAKLAND, California
The Kansas City Royals ended baseball's longest losing streak in 17 years Saturday, defeating the Oakland Athletics 2-1 to snap a club-record 19-game skid.

Emil Brown doubled in a run, Matt Stairs added an RBI groundout and Mike Wood (4-4) pitched five effective innings, helping the Royals stop their slide two shy of the American League record. They also ended a 12-game road losing streak that tied the franchise single-season mark.

It didn't come without a couple of bloopers that so defined the play of the lowly Royals for 23 days since their previous victory, a 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox in 13 innings on July 27.

Kansas City (39-82), which owns the majors' worst record, beat A's ace Barry Zito (11-10) and got clutch outs when Oakland had a runner on third base with fewer than two outs in the fifth and sixth.

Mike MacDougal got four outs for his 15th straight save and 16th in 18 chances _ his first since July 24.

Angels 4, Red Sox 2

At Anaheim, California, rookie Ervin Santana took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning, and Los Angeles beat Boston in a matchup of AL division leaders.

The loss was the sixth in 22 games for the Red Sox, who lead the New York Yankees by three games in the AL East. Boston will move Curt Schilling back into the rotation Thursday night in Kansas City, ending his inconsistent stint as the team's closer.

Santana (7-5) gave up five hits and two runs in 7 2-3 innings. Scot Shields allowed a two-run single to Edgar Renteria before striking out David Ortiz with two on to end the eighth.

Francisco Rodriguez worked the ninth for his 28th save.

Yankees 5, White Sox 0

At Chicago, Shawn Chacon throttled Chicago's punchless offense and Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run double as New York sent the White Sox to their seventh straight loss.

Chacon (2-1) allowed four hits in eight sharp innings for his second straight win, and the Yankees again beat former teammate Orlando Hernandez, who had a frustrating day.

El Duque was warned for throwing a pitch behind Rodriguez, committed his first two errors in 109 games and was also called for a balk. He gave up six hits and five runs _ four earned _ in six-plus innings.

Hernandez (8-6) lost to his former team for the second time this month. He's dropped three straight starts and five of six decisions.

Mariners 8, Twins 3, 10 innings

At Minneapolis, Richie Sexson hit a grand slam in the 10th inning, and Seattle snapped Minnesota's six-game winning streak.

Seattle rookie Felix Hernandez allowed five hits and struck out nine in eight innings. Sexson added a solo homer in the seventh and had five RBIs.

Jamal Strong led off the 10th with a pinch-hit triple off Matt Guerrier (0-2) and scored on Yuniesky Betancourt's single to give the Mariners the lead. Sexson removed all doubt with a bases-loaded blast _ his second grand slam of the season and eighth of his career.

The Mariners' six-run 10th snapped an 18 1-3 innings scoreless streak for Guerrier and a 23 2-3 innings scoreless streak for the Twins' bullpen and gave Seattle its fourth win in six games.

George Sherrill (2-2) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Indians 6, Orioles 1

At Cleveland, Cliff Lee remained unbeaten since July 8, pitching seven superb innings as Cleveland stayed with the rest of the AL wild-card pack by beating the Baltimore.

Lee (13-4) allowed one run and four hits, but only two after the first inning. The left-hander hasn't lost in his last seven starts, going 4-0.

Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez each hit a two-run homer off Rodrigo Lopez (12-7). Cleveland (67-56), which is 11 games over .500 for the second time, is 8 1/2 games behind AL Central-leading Chicago _ the closest the Indians have been since June 19.

The Orioles made four errors and bobbled several other balls, perhaps still feeling the effects of a 5-4 loss in 10 innings on Friday.

Devil Rays 4, Rangers 2

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Jorge Cantu homered and tied a career high with four RBIs, Scott Kazmir (7-8) allowed one run and struck out 10 in six innings, and Tampa Bay beat Texas.

Cantu hit a two-run homer in the fourth and drove in two more runs with a single one inning later. He has a team-best 19 homers and 81 RBIs.

Chad Orvella, Joe Borowski and Danys Baez, who pitched the ninth for his 28th save, completed Tampa Bay's fourth straight win. The Devil Rays have won seven of eight and are 22-12 since the All-Star break.

Gary Matthews and Alfonso Soriano homered for Texas, making the Rangers the third major league team with 200 homers in five consecutive seasons. The Rangers are 1-11 on a 13-game road trip.

Tigers 3, Blue Jays 2, 13 innings

At Detroit, Magglio Ordonez doubled in the winning run with one out in the 13th inning, leading Detroit past Toronto for its third straight victory.

Placido Polanco singled off Miguel Batista (5-4) to open the inning, then moved to second when Chris Shelton walked. Ordonez's hit sailed over left fielder Reed Johnson to the wall.

Franklyn German (4-0) worked the last 1 1-3 innings for the Tigers, who have won six of seven.

Tigers starter Jason Johnson gave up two runs _ one earned _ and four hits in eight innings. It was the eighth time in 25 starts Johnson has worked at least eight innings.

Copyright 2005, AP News All Rights Reserved