Byrd lifts Indians past Tigers

Casey Blake and Victor Martinez hit first-inning homers off Nate Robertson and the Cleveland Indians beat the Tigers, 7-4, last night in Detroit.

The game was the first of seven between the AL Central's top teams in the next 10 days. The Indians' victory gave them a half-game lead over Detroit.

Paul Byrd (5-1) allowed four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 4-0 in his last six starts. He struck out four, walked none, and hasn't lost since April 21 at Tampa Bay.

Rafael Betancourt came in for Byrd and allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Joe Borowski pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 17 tries.

Blake hit a drive to left off Nate Robertson with one out in the first for his fifth homer in 26 career at-bats against the lefthander. It was Blake's sixth of the season. Robertson (4-4) struck out Travis Hafner before Martinez homered into the tunnel beyond the right-field fence to make it 2-0.

Phillies 8, Braves 3 -- Greg Dobbs snapped a tie with a two-run single in the seventh inning and Ryan Howard padded visiting Philadelphia's lead with a two-run double in the eighth as Jamie Moyer beat Atlanta for the first time in 20 years.

Moyer's win came 20 years and two days after the only other time he beat the Braves. On May 23, 1987, Moyer earned the win in relief as the Cubs beat the Braves in Chicago.

Mariners 10, Royals 2 -- Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Vidro homered and visiting Seattle hit seven doubles in a victory over Kansas City in which both starters left with stiff lower backs.

Felix Hernandez (3-2) pitched five strong innings for Seattle in his third start since coming off the disabled list. He gave up an RBI triple to Shane Costa and an RBI double to Alex Gordon in the sixth and was relieved after a long conference. Gil Meche (3-3) gave up 11 hits and seven runs in 4 1/3 innings, his poorest outing in 11 starts.

Mets 6, Marlins 2 -- Carlos Gomez scored the go-ahead run on an error in the ninth inning, and Carlos Beltran's two-run double broke the game open to help visiting New York beat Florida.

The Mets' Orlando Hernandez, making his first start since April 24, allowed two hits and walked none in six shutout innings. Florida's Sergio Mitre was just as good until New York scored in the eighth after second baseman Dan Uggla bobbled a two-out broken-bat grounder.

Pirates 10, Reds 4 -- Ronny Paulino's bases-loaded double highlighted visiting Pittsburgh's biggest rally in nearly three years, an eight-run splurge in the 10th inning in a win over Cincinnati.

The Pirates overcame Ken Griffey Jr.'s 574th career homer by sending 12 batters to the plate in the 10th inning and repeatedly delivering with the bases loaded.

Twins 4, Blue Jays 3 -- Torii Hunter followed a two-out fielding error by reliever Scott Downs with an RBI single in the seventh inning, sending host Minnesota over Toronto.

Toronto's Frank Thomas went deep for the second straight day, evening it at 3 in the sixth with home run No. 494 to move past Lou Gehrig and Fred McGriff into sole possession of 21st place all-time.

Dodgers 9, Cubs 8 -- Juan Pierre hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the go-ahead run in host Los Angeles's four-run eighth inning. Jeff Kent homered and drove in four runs for the Dodgers, who blew a 5-0 lead.

Athletics 3, Orioles 2 -- Dan Haren pitched seven innings of two-hit ball for his fifth straight victory, Nick Swisher hit a two-run homer, and Oakland beat Baltimore for its 14th win in its last 16 games at Camden Yards.

Padres 8, Brewers 6 -- Rookie Kevin Kouzmanoff's grand slam carried Greg Maddux and host San Diego over Milwaukee, which lost its third sraight and ninth in 12 games.

Diamondbacks 13, Astros 3 -- Rookie Mark Reynolds homered twice and went 5 for 5 with four RBIs for host Arizona, which scored eight runs in the sixth inning and handed Houston its sixth straight loss.

Rockies 5, Giants 3 -- Kaz Matsui singled in the go-ahead run in the ninth, helping visiting Colorado to its third straight win.

Nationals 5, Cardinals 4 -- Brian Schneider homered, Micah Bowie won as a starting pitcher for the first time in more than seven years, and visiting Washington won its fourth straight.

White Sox 5, Devil Rays 4 -- Joe Crede's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the ninth lifted host Chicago over Tampa Bay for its fourth win in five games.