Saarloos gives A's big lift
Damian Miller hit two of Oakland's five home runs, and the Athletics completed a three-game sweep of the Anaheim Angels with a 7-3 victory yesterday in Oakland, Calif.
Kirk Saarloos (1-0) pitched five-plus shutout innings in a spot start, receiving a standing ovation when he left following back-to-back singles by Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero.
Saarloos was 0-5 in his previous 10 major league starts and hadn't won a start since Aug. 25, 2002, when he beat Cincinnati. He has two relief wins since.
Bobby Crosby, Jermaine Dye, and Bobby Kielty also connected for Oakland.
After Anaheim scored three runs in the seventh against Justin Lehr, Chad Bradford and Octavio Dotel finished up. Jarrod Washburn (8-4) failed to win for the seventh time in eight starts following a six-start winning streak.
Blue Jays 14, Devil Rays 0 -- Eric Hinske drove in three runs and had three of Toronto's season-high 20 hits, leading Miguel Batista and the Blue Jays to a rout of host Tampa Bay.
Batista (7-5) has won seven of his last nine decisions after going winless in his first seven starts. The righthander allowed five singles in seven sharp innings, struck out three, and walked one.
White Sox 2, Twins 1 -- Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer, Jon Garland pitched seven strong innings, and visiting Chicago completed a three-game sweep of Minnesota.
The White Sox, who moved two games ahead of Minnesota in the Central, have won six of seven at the Metrodome this year. Chicago is nine games over .500, matching its season high. Garland (6-5) won for the first time in five starts, dating to June 4.
Mariners 8, Rangers 4 -- Australian lefthander Travis Blackley won his major league debut, and Randy Winn drove in three runs to help host Seattle beat Texas.
Ichiro Suzuki and Bret Boone each had two doubles among their three hits. Seattle finished with six doubles and 12 hits, gaining a split of the four-game series with the West-leading Rangers.
Orioles 3, Royals 2 -- Rafael Palmeiro homered and David Newhan drove in the go-ahead run in a three-run seventh inning, leading visiting Baltimore past Kansas City.
Rodrigo Lopez (6-4) survived a rough first inning and retired the last 15 batters he faced to lead Baltimore to its third win in four games against Kansas City -- the Orioles' first series win since late May.
Indians 7, Tigers 6 -- Jody Gerut hit a home run in the 10th inning off Ugueth Urbina to send visiting Cleveland over Detroit, ending the Tigers' six-game winning streak.
