Twins 9, Royals 0
In Minneapolis, Brad Radke (5-4) pitched a four-hitter for his ninth career shutout and first win since May 22. He had been 0-2 in his previous seven starts.
Kansas City has lost six straight for the second time this year and, at 29-51 have the franchise's worst record after 80 games.
Jacque Jones and Nick Punto hit two-run homers for Minnesota, which scored six runs in the second and won for the third time in four games.
Jimmy Gobble (4-6) allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings, dropping to 0-2 with an 8.05 ERA in four starts against the Twins this season.
Rangers 8, Indians 5
In Cleveland, Kenny Rogers (12-2) became the first 12-game winner in the major leagues, allowing five runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. He has won eight straight decisions since May 9, a career high.
Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 25th save.
C.C. Sabathia (5-4), rusty in his first start since June 26, gave up six runs and eight hits in three innings. Sabathia, who missed a turn because of a sore left shoulder, entered with a league-leading 2.77 ERA but it rose to 3.23.
Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, 12-5 since June 18.
For Curt Schilling, starting next week's All-Star game would be a bonus -- a US$50,000 bonus.
The Boston Red Sox pitcher would receive that amount if American League manager Joe Torre selects him to start against the National League in Houston on July 13, according to a survey of contracts by AP.
"Maybe I could split it with him," Torre said Monday with a playful smirk.
Oakland's Mark Mulder, 11-2 with a 2.95 ERA, remains the most likely AL starter, with Houston's Roger Clemens the probable starter for the NL.
Schilling, 11-4 with a 3.08 ERA, already is a winner at the bank for making the AL All-Star team.
Under the contract he personally negotiated last November when he was traded from Arizona to Boston, Schilling receives a US$100,000 bonus for his selection to the AL squad. The deal calls for the six-time All-Star to receive an additional US$50,000 if he starts the game.
"I'm sorry you told me that," Torre, the New York Yankees manager, said Monday. "I never like to know a player's incentives."
Schilling, who receives a US$12 million salary this year, has many incentive clauses in his deal, including one that would raise his 2005 salary from US$12.5 million to US$14.5 million if the Red Sox win the World Series. Boston, which was off Monday, is 43-37, beginning the night 7 1/2 games behind the Yankees in the AL East.
Cincinnati first baseman Sean Casey, who will miss the All-Star game because of a strained right calf, had a vested interest in his selection. Casey's contract calls for the Reds' US$8.5 million 2006 option to become guaranteed if he becomes an All-Star twice from 2002-2005. If he is an All-Star next year, that would trigger the clause.
Forty-three players in all earned US$2.05 million in bonuses. Six players will receive US$100,000 each: San Francisco's Barry Bonds, Anaheim's Vladimir Guerrero, the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez, Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia and Schilling.
Among the original picks for last year's All-Star game, 47 players received US$2.25 million in bonuses.



