AL roundup: Giambi leads A's to win over Mariners

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) " Jason Giambi's two-run single capped a four-run rally in the seventh inning, and the Athletics rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Mariners on Tuesday.

A's starter Dallas Braden (4-5) was unexpectedly rewarded for battling through seven innings of nine-hit ball when his teammates pounded Seattle relievers Miguel Batista (2-1) and Mark Lowe, who wasted six scoreless innings by Jarrod Washburn.

After Orlando Cabrera singled home a run and Matt Holliday drew a bases-loaded walk, Oakland went ahead with a single up the middle by Giambi, who has struggled to get his average above .220 during his return to the Bay Area.

Oakland has won two straight over Seattle after losing five of the clubs' first six meetings.

Royals 6, Tigers 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. " Zack Greinke struck out eight while pitching his fifth complete game and Mitch Maier drove in three runs after coming off the bench, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Detroit Tigers 6-1 Tuesday night.

Greinke (8-1), who leads the majors in ERA, complete games and shutouts (two), allowed six hits and one first-inning run. For the rest of the night, his varied assortment of 98 mph fastballs and corner-biting breaking pitches dealt nothing but zeros to a Detroit lineup that scored 13 runs the day before.

Greinke threw a season-high 116 pitches and did not allow a walk while his ERA rose from 0.82 to 0.84. In two starts against the Tigers this year, he has allowed one earned run in two complete-game wins.

Rangers 7, Yankees 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) " Chris Davis homered twice and Jarrod Saltalamacchia made up for a rough game behind the plate by driving in the go-ahead run, sending the Rangers to a victory over the Yankees.

The start was held up 2 hours, 24 minutes because of rain. Due to the delay, the Yankees knew that Boston had lost, which meant a win would've tied them with the Red Sox for first place in the AL East. But New York fell behind 3-0 and never led " despite stealing a season-high five bases off Saltalamacchia and getting two more free bases on a passed ball and a wild pitch from Texas starter Kevin Millwood.

Orioles 7, Blue Jays 2

BALTIMORE (AP) " Aubrey Huff, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold homered, right-hander Jason Berken won his major league debut and the Orioles defeated Toronto to stretch the Blue Jays' losing streak to eight games.

Only 10,130 fans " the smallest crowd in the 18-year history of Camden Yards " showed up on a miserable night. The temperature dipped into the low 50s and a steady mist swirled through the stadium from the outset.

Summoned from Triple-A Norfolk to replace Adam Eaton in the rotation, Berken (1-0) gave up two runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings. He retired the side in order only once, but stranded five runners in scoring position.

Indians 5, Rays 1

CLEVELAND (AP) " Carl Pavano won for the fifth time in six starts and Ryan Garko hit one of four homers for the Indians in a win over the Rays.

Asdrubal Cabrera, Kelly Shoppach and Mark DeRosa also connected for the Indians, who won for the fifth time in seven games and earned their 15th consecutive home win over the Rays since Sept. 29, 2005.

Pavano (5-4) allowed one run and four hits over seven innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out six to continue an outstanding month. He's 5-1 with a 3.58 ERA and only seven walks against 30 strikeouts since May 1, when he got his first win of the season in Detroit.

Twins 5, Red Sox 2

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) " Justin Morneau's three-run homer capped a five-run fifth inning for Minnesota against Boston starter Jon Lester, and the Twins beat the Red Sox.

Nick Blackburn (4-2) struck out a career-high seven in seven innings for Minnesota, yielding a double and a walk to new No. 6 hitter David Ortiz, and the suddenly powerful Twins set up Morneau's shot with the small ball they're more familiar with.

They began the game with the fifth-most home runs in the majors after finishing next-to-last in each of the last two years. Minnesota has homered in nine straight games, the longest such streak since 12 in a row in 2002.

White Sox 4, Angels 2

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) " Jayson Nix homered twice, Bartolo Colon pitched effectively into the seventh inning against his former team and the White Sox beat the Angels.

Nix, who had been 0 for 7 on Chicago's road trip, hit solo shots in the fifth and seventh for his first career multihomer game. Scott Linebrink earned his first save of the season for Chicago, which beat the Angels for the second consecutive night.

Both of Nix's homers to left field came off starter Joe Saunders, who gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings.