Gabe Gross hit his first major league home run, Josh Towers took a shutout into the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays won in John Gibbons's first game as manager, beating the New York Yankees 5-4 on Monday to stop a five-game losing streak.
A day after Toronto fired manager Carlos Tosca and replaced him with Gibbons for the rest of the season, the last-place Blue Jays built a 5-0 lead in winning the finale of the four-game series. They kept Esteban Loaiza (9-6) winless in two starts since the Yankees acquired him from the Chicago White Sox on July 31 for Jose Contreras.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Bernie Williams hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Towers, and Hideki Matsui added a two-run drive in the ninth off Jason Frasor, who finished for his 15th save in 16 chances.
Towers (7-4) won for the fifth time in six starts, allowing five hits in seven innings. New York had won five straight and eight of nine.
Athletics 8, Twins 2
In Minneapolis, Mark Kotsay and Scott Hatteberg each drove in two runs, and Rich Harden gave Oakland's bullpen a rest in a victory over Minnesota.
A day after each team used seven pitchers in Oakland's 18-inning victory, starters Harden and Kyle Lohse each pitched into the seventh. The A's took three of four from Minnesota in a matchup of American League division leaders.
The Athletics broke the game open with four runs in the eighth off relievers Aaron Fultz and Jesse Crain. Kotsay's two-run double was the key hit.
Harden (6-5) allowed two runs in 6 2-3 innings to win his third straight decision. Lohse (5-9) gave up four runs in 6 1-3 innings for the Twins, who have lost four of five.
Orioles 7, Rangers 3
In Baltimore, Melvin Mora homered twice and drove in three runs, and Baltimore extended its winning streak to seven by completing a four-game sweep of Texas.
Larry Bigbie also connected for the Orioles, who finished their first 7-0 homestand since September 1969. Baltimore moved within four games of .500 (53-57) for the first time since June 13.
Dave Borkowski (3-2) pitched six innings of four-hit ball, beating Mike Bacsik (1-1) and giving the Orioles their longest winning streak since September 1999.
David Dellucci and Alfonso Soriano homered for the Rangers, outscored 30-10 in their first four-game sweep in Baltimore in 13 seasons. Texas has lost nine straight to the Orioles since May 29, 2003.
Mora set a career high with his 20th homer.
Devil Rays 8, Red Sox 3
In Boston, Aubrey Huff hit one of Tampa Bay's four homers and the Devil Rays handed Curt Schilling his first home loss this season, snapping a nine-game road losing streak with a victory over Boston.
Schilling was 7-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 11 previous starts for the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Toby Hall hit a two-run homer, and Tino Martinez and Julio Lugo each added a solo shot for Tampa Bay, which had scored just three runs in 23 1-3 innings against Schilling this season.
Gabe Kapler was 3-for-4 with a solo homer for the Red Sox, who played at home for the first time since trading All-Star shortstop Nomar Garciaparra to the Chicago Cubs on July 31.
John Halama (6-5) won for just the second time in eight starts.
Schilling (13-6) allowed six runs and 10 hits in five innings, including a season-worst three homers. His ERA rose from 3.38 to 3.73.
Indians 13, White Sox 11
In Chicago, Ben Broussard hit his second career grand slam and Omar Vizquel, Travis Hafner and Casey Blake added solo home runs to send Cleveland over Chicago.
Jose Valentin homered twice for the White Sox, who trailed 8-0 in the sixth inning. But after Chicago rallied for three runs in the ninth, Valentin popped up with a runner on for the final out.
Cleveland hung on for its fifth win in six games and moved past the White Sox for second place in the AL Central. Chicago lost for the 12th time in 15 games.
Indians starter Jake Westbrook (10-5) sailed through the first five innings before he was chased in the sixth. Felix Diaz (1-3) gave up seven runs in 2 1-3 innings.
Angels 5, Royals 3
In Kansas City, Missouri, second baseman Ruben Gotay's throwing error allowed the go-ahead runs to score, and Anaheim rallied in the ninth inning again to beat the Royals.
The Angels completed their first four-game sweep in Kansas City and extended their winning streak to five.
Dee Brown homered and Brian Anderson did not allow an earned run in seven solid innings for the Royals, who took a 3-1 lead into the ninth. But Jaime Cerda (1-2) and Scott Sullivan couldn't hold it. Some poor defense also cost Kansas City.
Kevin Gregg (4-1) got the win despite balking home Gotay in the eighth. Troy Percival earned his 21st save.
Vinny Castilla's tiebreaking, two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning led the Colorado Rockies past the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 Monday night.
The Phillies fell six games behind NL East-leading Atlanta in their first home game since starting a 13-game road trip just a half-game back of the Braves.
Before the game, Philadelphia bolstered its ailing rotation, acquiring right-hander Cory Lidle from Cincinnati for two minor leaguers and a player to be named.
But the Phillies also learned slugger Pat Burrell will have season-ending wrist surgery on Friday.
Luis Gonzalez led off the eighth with a tying homer against Todd Jones (8-3), pitching for the first time in Philadelphia since coming to the Phillies in a trade on July 30.
Tim Harikkala (5-2) got two outs for the win and Shawn Chacon worked the ninth for his 27th save in 35 chances.
Preston Wilson homered and doubled for the Rockies. His double in the fifth was the Rockies' first hit off Eric Milton.
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