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Red Sox win over Tigers

Johnny Damon, center, of the Red Sox dives safely back to first base as Carlos Pena, right, of the Tigers readies for the catch at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Bronson Arroyo took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, and David Ortiz's tiebreaking double in the ninth sent the Boston Red Sox over the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Thursday.

With two outs, Ortiz hit a line drive to right-center off Ugueth Urbina (0-3) to score Trot Nixon from first, giving the Red Sox their fifth win in six games.

"I was just praying to get a hit. I hadn't had a hit in a long time," said Ortiz, whose only previous hit in the four-game series was Monday. "I was happy to get an RBI, especially for Bronson."

Arroyo (4-0) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out eight in eight innings, his longest outing of the season. Keith Foulke pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

"He's really more of a breaking-ball pitcher, and that's an area we still need some work on," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said. "We get caught a lot of times with guys who throw breaking balls."

Carlos Guillen got Detroit's first hit, a one-out homer in the seventh, tying the game at 1.

Yankees starter Wang Chien-ming of Taiwan pitches to the Devil Rays during the first inning in St. Petersburg, Florida on Thursday. Tampa Bay beat New York 6-2. PHOTO: AP

Arroyo has won his last nine decisions and hasn't lost since Aug. 15.

Detroit's Jason Johnson gave up one run in seven innings

Twins 9, Indians 0

At Minneapolis, Brad Radke pitched a three-hitter, and Jason Bartlett's homer sparked a five-run fifth inning in the Minnesota Twins' testy victory over Cleveland.

Both benches emptied when Shannon Stewart and Cleveland reliever Jason Davis got into a confrontation near the plate after Stewart scored in the seventh. Davis had hit Stewart with a pitch, but no punches were thrown and there was no further trouble.

Twins third baseman Michael Cuddyer catches a foul ball hit by Travis Hafner of the Indians during the fourth inning in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday. PHOTO: AP

Radke (3-3) shed his first-inning woes, striking out eight in his 10th career shutout and 36th complete game.

For Cleveland, C.C. Sabathia (2-1) gave up five runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings.

White Sox 2, Royals 1

At Chicago, Jose Contreras pitched four-hit ball for eight innings, and the Chicago White Sox scored twice in the eighth to win their fifth straight, and achieve the best record in the major leagues at 21-7.

Contreras (1-0) outpitched Royals starter Zack Greinke (0-3), who had never pitched more than seven innings in his career, and allowed two hits in 7 1-3 innings.

Contreras struck out six and walked one in his longest outing of the season. Shingo Takatsu walked two in the ninth but earned his eighth save in nine opportunities.

Devil Rays 6, Yankees 2

At St. Petersburg, Florida, the struggling New York Yankees dropped their third straight to low-budget Tampa Bay, falling into a tie for last place in the American League East.

Mark Hendrickson pitched effectively into the eighth inning, and Alex Sanchez homered and scored four times for the Devil Rays, who won a series against the Yankees for the first time since September 2002 by taking three of four from the seven-time defending division champions.

Aubrey Huff and Josh Phelps drove in two runs apiece off Wang Chien-ming (0-1).

New York (11-18) has lost seven of its last nine games and four consecutive series to plunge seven games under .500 for the first time since July 18, 1995, when it was 33-40. The Yankees share the AL East cellar with the Devil Rays, who have won four of six meetings between the teams after going 4-15 against New York last season.

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