The Kansas City Royals lost their club-record 18th straight game, moving within three of matching the longest skid in American League history by falling 11-5 to the last-place Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.
"This is tough," Kansas right-hander Jose Lima said. "This is something we didn't plan. Nothing is going our way right now."
Manager Buddy Bell rejoined the Royals after a two-game absence while attending burial services at Arlington National Cemetery for his US Marine nephew, who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq earlier this month.
PHOTO: AP
The Royals moved closer to the American League record of 21 straight losses set by the Baltimore Orioles at the start of the 1988 season. The modern Major League Baseball record for consecutive losses is 23, set by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies.
"There's a lot of history I care about, but right now I just want to move forward," Bell said. "We just need to play better. Right now we're struggling at both ends. Nobody is going to give us any pity and we're not going to pity ourselves."
Orioles 5, Athletics 3
PHOTO: AP
In Oakland, California, emergency starter Eric DuBose didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, and Baltimore sent Oakland to its fourth straight loss by completing a three-game sweep.
DuBose took the mound at the last minute after Daniel Cabrera was scratched because of a sore lower back, and allowed only one hit in six innings.
Rafael Palmeiro was removed from the Orioles' lineup because of a sprained right ankle.
Tigers 6, Red Sox 5
In Detroit, Craig Monroe's two-run double highlighted a five-run first off David Wells. Down two entering the ninth, the Red Sox rallied for a run off Fernando Rodney when Gabe Kapler doubled and scored on a single by Edgar Renteria. But David Ortiz hit into the Red Sox's fifth double play of the game to end it.
Rangers 3, Indians 0
In Cleveland, rookie Chris Young allowed two singles in eight shutout innings, helping Texas beat Cleveland and snap an eight-game losing streak.
The 2.08-meter (6-foot-10) Young (10-7), the tallest player in Rangers' history, was too much for the Indians, who had never faced him.
Cleveland didn't get a runner to third base off the right-hander, who walked one, struck out seven and retired 15 of the final 17 batters. Francisco Cordero worked the ninth for his 27th save.
Michael Young hit a two-run homer in the first off Cleveland's Kevin Millwood (6-10) and Phil Nevin connected for a solo shot in the fourth as the Rangers ended a nine-game road losing streak dating to July 30.
Devil Rays 7, Yankees 6
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Alex Gonzalez homered and drove in four runs, and Jonny Gomes snapped an eighth-inning tie when he scored on Tanyon Sturtze's wild pitch, lifting Tampa Bay over New York.
Gonzalez had a RBI single off Al Leiter in the second and tied the game with a run-scoring double off Tanyon Sturtze (4-2) in the eighth.
With Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who lives in Tampa, cheering from his private box at Tropicana Field, Gary Sheffield hit a three-run homer off Mark Hendrickson to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning.
In the eighth, the Devil Rays wiped out a 6-5 lead the Yankees took on Posada's RBI single in the seventh. Tampa Bay is 9-4 against New York this season.
Trever Miller (1-0) pitched one inning for the victory. Danys Baez worked the ninth to earn his 26th save.
Twins 5, White Sox 1
At Chicago, Johan Santana took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and Minnesota completed a three-game sweep of first-place Chicago.
Santana (12-6) gave up six hits with one walk, and struck out 10 in 8 1-3 innings. He lost his no-hit bid when Carl Everett hit a bloop single to open the seventh, and Paul Konerko ended his shutout by led off the ninth with his 31st homer.
Matthew LeCroy homered twice for the Twins, who have won six of seven. The White Sox lost their season-high five straight and continued their struggles at US Cellular Field where they are just 6-13 in their last 19 home games.
Santana had retired 16 straight before Everett's hit.
The Twins jumped out to a 5-0 lead against White Sox ace lefty Mark Buehrle (13-6) as LeCroy hit solo homers in his first two at-bats.
Blue Jays 4, Angels 1
At Anaheim, California, Orlando Hudson and Vernon Wells broke open a tie game with consecutive RBI singles, helping Josh Towers win his fourth straight road decision as Toronto beat Los Angeles.
The Blue Jays have won seven of their last nine games to move six games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 28, 2003, when they were 86-76. Towers (10-9) allowed a run and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings after shutting out Baltimore on nine hits last Friday at Camden Yards. Miguel Batista, the fourth Blue Jays pitcher, got three outs for his 23rd save in 27 attempts.
Jarrod Washburn (6-7) lost his third straight decision, allowing three runs and eight hits over six innings.
AP, MIAMI
Dontrelle Willis pitched a five-hitter for his fifth shutout this season, and the Florida Marlins shook a hitting slump to beat the San Diego Padres 6-0 on Wednesday.
Willis (16-8) doubled home two runs for the Marlins, who accounted for all of their scoring in the first two innings against Woody Williams (6-9). Carlos Delgado hit his 23rd home run, Florida's third in 12 games. Willis struck out three, walked one and benefited from three double plays. He leads the major leagues in shutouts.
In his past five starts, Willis has allowed only two earned runs in 37 innings, an ERA of 0.49.
San Diego fell a game below .500 but remained atop the National League West -- the latest a division leader has had a losing record.
Mets 5, Pirates 1
In New York, Carlos Beltran scored twice in his return from a frightening injury, sparking Tom Glavine and New York to a win over Pittsburgh.
David Wright and Jose Offerman each hit two-run singles for the Mets, who learned Wednesday that catcher Mike Piazza would miss at least a few games with a broken bone in his left hand after being hit by a foul ball Tuesday night.
A day after opting not to have facial surgery, Beltran reached base three times to help the Mets to their 12th win in their last 15 home games. Cliff Floyd was on base four times, hitting two singles and being walked intentionally twice.
Glavine (9-10) scattered nine hits in seven-plus innings, improving to 20-12 against the Pirates.
Aaron Heilman got the final six outs for his first save.
Jason Bay homered and doubled for the Pirates. Josh Fogg (6-8) took the loss.
Cubs 4, Astros 2
In Houston, Nomar Garciaparra homered one inning before leaving the game with a stiff lower back, and starter Carlos Zambrano homered and went 8 1-3 innings in Chicago's victory over Houston.
Garciaparra was said to be day to day after hitting his second homer of the season and then leaving in the fifth inning. The shortstop was making his 10th start since returning after tearing his left groin in April.
Zambrano (10-5) allowed three hits, three walks and struck out 10 for his third win in four starts.
Phillies 4, Nationals 3
In Philadelphia, Jon Lieber pitched six strong innings, and Bobby Abreu hit a two-run double to lead Philadelphia over Washington.
The victory moved the Phillies into a tie with Houston atop the NL wild-card race, and Washington remained a half-game behind.
Lieber (12-10) allowed two runs and three hits to win his third straight start after losing six of seven decisions.
Billy Wagner pitched the ninth for his 28th save.
Esteban Loaiza (7-9), who gave up four runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings, was the losing pitcher.
Giants 3, Reds 2
At Cincinnati, Noah Lowry pitched a season-high 8 1-3 innings, drove in the tying run and scored the go-ahead run as San Francisco beat Cincinnati.
Lowry left the game for an undisclosed reason after striking out Ken Griffey, Jr., to start the ninth.
Scott Eyre relieved and struck out Adam Dunn then gave way to LaTroy Hawkins, who got the final out for his sixth save, second with the Giants.
The Reds, who have won 10 of 11 on the road, dropped their fifth consecutive home game and seventh in nine.
Lowry (9-11) earned his third win in his last three starts after going 1-4 in his previous five. The left-hander limited the National League's highest-scoring team to seven hits and two runs.
Luke Hudson (4-6), who won his last three starts, went 4 2-3 innings.
Other games
The Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 and the Milwaukee Brwers beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0.
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