The Minnesota Twins won 5-1 in the American League on Thursday to inflict on the punchless Kansas City Royals their 11th consecutive loss.
Kevin Slowey pitched a six-hitter and Carlos Gomez had four hits and two RBIs for the Twins.
The 11-game skid is the longest in the majors this year and Kansas City’s worst since a 13-game skid for May 12 to May 25, 2006.
Slowey, in his 17th major league start, did not allow a runner as far as second base until David DeJesus and Alex Gordon doubled in the ninth. The right-hander struck out six and walked none.
Luke Hochevar has started three of the 11 games and gotten only one run in support. The rookie started the first game of the streak when Boston’s Jon Lester no-hit Kansas in a 7-0 win.
White Sox 5, Rays 1
In St. Petersburg, Florida, the American League Central-leading Chicago White Sox won the first Tropicana Field game between teams in sole possession of divisional leads, cooling off American League East-leading Tampa Bay.
John Danks allowed one run and six hits in six innings to beat Edwin Jackson for the second time this season. He pitched seven scoreless innings to beat the right-hander 6-0 on April 20, a loss that left Tampa Bay in last place at 8-11.
Thursday’s other result:
• Blue Jays 12, Athletics 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
David Wright hit two homers off Brad Penny as the newly inspired New York Mets dampened Joe Torre’s return home, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Thursday.
Always popular in town, Torre managed his first game in New York since parting ways with the Yankees last October. Many fans in the crowd of 52,886 at Shea Stadium stood and cheered when he made a pitching change in the seventh inning and Torre waved and doffed his cap.
Wright drew two big ovations for his first multi-homer game of the season and eighth of his career. He picked on a familiar victim, improving to 11-for-19 (.579) with four home runs and five walks against Penny (5-6).
Giants 4, Diamondbacks 3
In Phoenix, Arizona, Randy Johnson fanned nine to tie Roger Clemens for second in career strikeouts, but Arizona’s bullpen blew a lead and Randy Winn’s ninth-inning homer gave San Francisco the win.
Other results on Thursday:
• Pirates 7, Reds 2
• Braves 8, Brewers 1
• Cubs 8, Rockies 4
• Padres 5, Nationals 2
• Cardinals 3, Astros 2
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