American League
Kevin Youkilis hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning and Manny Ramirez took another step out of his deep slump with three RBIs to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-4 Tuesday night.
Tampa Bay had tied the game in the top of the eighth on Russell Branyan's two-run double off Mike Timlin (2-0).
Mike Lowell started the bottom half with a double, his sixth in seven games, off Ruddy Lugo (0-1) and pinch-hitter Trot Nixon walked. Adam Stern's attempted sacrifice bunt ended with Lowell forced out at third and Alex Gonzalez struck out.
Then Youkilis, batting leadoff since Coco Crisp went on the disabled list April 11, doubled off the left-center field wall against Chad Orvella, scoring Nixon and Stern. Mark Loretta then singled home Youkilis for a 7-4 lead.
Jonathan Papelbon got in a bases-loaded jam in the ninth but held on for his seventh save in seven chances, breaking the Red Sox record for saves by a rookie in one month set by Jeff Gray in 1990.
Until Youkilis' double, Ramirez was the hitting star of Boston's third straight win.
The slugger entered the game with 11 hits, all singles, and a .239 batting average. He began snapping out of his slump in his previous two games, going 3-for-7. He had been just 2-for-21 in the six games before that.
But he doubled home the first run of the game in the third off Casey Fossum after David Ortiz doubled. Ramirez singled in two more runs in Boston's three-run seventh.
White Sox 4, Royals 1
At Chicago, Jon Garland (2-1) allowed one run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings to send Kansas City to its ninth straight loss.
It's the Royals' longest skid since their team-record 19-game losing streak late last year. Kansas City is a major league-worst 2-11 -- beating the White Sox on April 7 and 8.
Bobby Jenks pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save in five chances, finishing Chicago's fourth win in a row.
Jeremy Affeldt (0-2) was done in by his defense, allowing three runs -- all unearned -- and four hits in six innings. Shortstop Angel Berroa made the key error.
Mark Teahen hit his first homer of the season for Kansas City.
Blue Jays 10, Yankees 5
At Toronto, Randy Johnson failed to hold a four-run lead and was chased in the fourth inning of the Blue Jays' victory.
Troy Glaus homered twice and Alex Rios tied a career high with four RBIs for the Blue Jays. Rios hit a two-run homer in the second.
Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi hit back-to-back homers in the first for New York -- helping Johnson (2-2) to a 4-0 lead -- but the Big Unit allowed seven runs and nine hits in just 3 1-3 innings.
Toronto's Gustavo Chacin (3-0) gave up five runs and seven hits in six innings.
Indians 15, Orioles 1
At Baltimore, Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore homered and the Indians finished with 20 hits in the win.
Sizemore had three hits, Martinez went 3-for-6 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games and Casey Blake went 3-for-4 to raise his batting average to .447.
Jason Johnson (2-0) allowed one run and seven hits in seven-plus innings, struck out two and walked none.
Baltimore's Brian Roberts tied a career high with four hits, going 4-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. Bruce Chen (0-2) gave up eight runs and eight hits in four innings.
Angels 8, Twins 2
At Minneapolis, Kelvim Escobar struck out 10 in 6 2-3 innings and Chone Figgins had a home run and two RBIs for the Angels.
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