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Twins rout the White Sox twice

Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins watches his RBI single during the seventh inning of their baseball game against the Chicago White Sox on Friday in Chicago. PHOTO: AP

AMERICAN LEAGUE Justin Morneau homered three times in the second game of a double header as Minnesota enjoyed a day out by routing Chicago twice on Friday, 20-14 and then 12-0.

Morneau became the fourth Twins player to hit three homers in a game, joining Bob Allison, Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva.

Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer and Jeff Cirillo also homered in the second game for Minnesota.

Minnesota's Matt Garza (1-0) pitched six shutout innings, allowing five hits to win the second game, with Chicago's Gavin Floyd (0-1) allowing six runs and eight hits in five innings for the loss.

The 34 runs in the first game of the doubleheader were the most in a game since 1999, when Cincinnati beat Colorado 24-12.

Minnesota's Jason Kubel hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high seven runs as the Twins handed Chicago's Jon Garland one of the worst beatings of his career.

It was the most runs in a game for the Twins since they scored 23 against Cleveland in 2002. The White Sox had not surrendered 20 since 1998 against Texas.

Garland (6-6) tied a career-high by allowing 12 runs, 11 earned, and 11 hits in three innings.

Scott Baker (3-3) got the win despite allowing seven runs and nine hits in five innings.

Despite losing, Chicago set season highs for runs and hits.

Tigers 9, Red Sox 2

In Detroit, Curtis Granderson led off the fifth with a home run and Marcus Thames added a grand slam in the inning as Detroit downed Boston.

Detroit's rookie pitcher Andrew Miller (4-2) gave up just one run and three hits over seven innings.

Boston's Julian Tavarez (5-7) allowed a season-high eight runs over four innings to lose his third straight start.

Granderson hit the first pitch of the fifth for his 12th homer, giving Detroit a three-run lead and then Thames' third career grand slam made it 8-1.

Yankees 14, Angels 9

In New York, Alex Rodriguez tied Yankees great Lou Gehrig on the career homer list as New York beat Los Angeles.

A day after missing his only game this year, Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the sixth for a 12-9 lead. His 493rd homer matched Gehrig and Fred McGriff for 22nd place.

New York set season highs for runs and hits and won for the fourth time in five games. Los Angeles has now lost seven of 10.

Chone Figgins' two-out, two-run single off Yankees rookie Edwar Ramirez (1-0) tied the game in the sixth after the Angels had been five runs behind, but the Yankees struck back in the bottom half off Chris Bootcheck (2-2).

Other American League scores on Friday:

* Blue Jays 8, Indians 6

* Devil Rays 6, Royals 5

* Rangers 4, Orioles 3

* Mariners 7, Athletics 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE Ken Griffey Jr tied Frank Robinson for sixth most homers in Major League Baseball history and Kyle Lohse pitched a four-hitter as Cincinnati beat Arizona 8-1 on Friday.

Griffey capped the Reds' three-run fifth inning with his 586th homer -- 23rd of the season -- a two-run shot off Micah Owings.

Adam Dunn and Brandon Phillips also homered for the Reds, who won consecutive games for the first time since June 12.

Pirates 8, Cubs 4

In Pittsburgh, Xavier Nady homered and drove in three runs to support Paul Maholm's pitching and hitting as Pittsburgh won its fourth straight by beating Chicago.

The Cubs had won 11 of 13 and were 21-10 since June 3, the best record in MLB over that span, until being limited to five hits over seven-plus innings by Maholm (5-11). Maholm is 4-0 in five career starts against the Pirates.

Brewers 6, Nationals 2

In Washington, Ryan Braun homered twice, Dave Bush took a shutout into the seventh inning and Milwaukee snapped a three-game losing streak with victory over Washington.

Braun hit a solo shot and Kevin Mench a three-run drive in a four-run first inning against Mike Bacsik (2-6). Milwaukee have homered in 15 consecutive games, its longest streak since a 19-game run in 1996.

Bush (7-7) improved to 4-1 in his last five starts. He went seven innings, allowing one run and seven hits. He matched a season high with seven strikeouts.

Astros 4, Mets 0

In Houston, Wandy Rodriguez threw a four-hitter for his first complete game as Houston shut out New York.

Rodriguez (6-7), whose previous longest outing was seven-and-two-thirds innings, struck out eight, tying a career high, and walked one.

It was the third time the Mets have been shut out this season and also the third shutout for Houston.

Houston's Lance Berkman hit his 15th homer of the season in the fifth.

New York's Mike Pelfrey (0-7), in his second start since being recalled from Triple-A, allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Giants 4, Cardinals 3

In St Louis, Noah Lowry struck out five in six innings to win his third straight start as San Francisco beat St Louis.

San Francisco's Barry Bonds remains stuck on 751 homers, four shy of matching Hank Aaron's all-time record.

Giants starter Lowry (9-6) allowed one run and four hits and didn't let a runner past second base until the sixth inning. Randy Messenger came on with two on and two out in the ninth and secured his first career save.

Mike Maroth (0-1) gave up four runs, one earned, and five hits in five innings in his third start with St. Louis.

Other National League scores on Friday:

* Rockies 7, Phillies 6

* Braves 7, Padres 4

* Marlins 6, Dodgers 5
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