Twins triumph in 11th

Lew Ford singled home the go-ahead run off Mike Wood in the 11th inning, lifting the Minnesota Twins to a 6-5 victory over the Royals yesterday, completing the first 0-6 homestand in Royals history.

Kansas City lost its eighth in a row and its major league-worst record dipped to 5-17, including 2-12 at home. After being swept three games each by the White Sox and Twins, the Royals go on a 12-game road trip.

Wood (0-2) walked pinch hitter Joe Mauer leading off the 11th and Nick Punto sacrificed. Shannon Stewart was intentionally walked, Jason Bartlett struck out, and Ford singled just over the glove of third baseman Joe McEwing.

Jesse Crain (1-0), Minnesota's sixth pitcher, allowed one hit and one walk in two innings. Justin Morneau had a career-high four hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who are 5-0 against the Royals.

Kansas City tied it with an unearned run in the ninth off Joe Nathan, who had converted 19 consecutive save opportunities, six this year. Kansas City starter Runelvys Hernandez allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He got in trouble in the first when he walked Bartlett and hit Ford.

Blue Jays 7, Devil Rays 4 -- Gregg Zaun hit a three-run homer in a five-run sixth inning, and host Toronto completed a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay. The Devil Rays tied a season high with their fourth straight loss and dropped to 1-7 on the road.

Tigers 3, Indians 2 -- Mike Maroth made just two bad pitches in six innings, holding Cleveland to four hits and leading visiting Detroit to its fourth straight victory.

Maroth (2-1) gave up solo homers to Casey Blake and Jhonny Peralta in the fifth inning, but the lefthander had few other issues with the majors' worst-hitting team. Maroth walked one and tied a career high with eight strikeouts.

Mariners 4, Rangers 1 -- Ichiro Suzuki and Richie Sexson hit solo home runs, and Gil Meche pitched into the eighth inning as Seattle beat Texas at Arlington, Texas.

Suzuki pulled a pitch from Chris Young (2-2) into the right-field stands in the eighth for his second homer of the season to snap a 1-1 tie. Sexson's fifth homer led off the ninth against Carlos Almanzar, who allowed another run on a wild pitch.

Brewers 4, Cardinals 3 -- Chris Capuano won for the first time since August, helping himself with a double as Milwaukee beat host St. Louis to avoid a three-game sweep. Russell Branyan homered and Brady Clark had a two-run double for the Brewers, who won for only the third time in 13 games and defeated the Cardinals for the first time in six meetings this season.