American League Roundup

The Indians led 5-3 after five innings but three Seattle relievers combined to throw 4 1-3 shutout innings, allowing five hits and no walks.

Julio Mateo (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the win, George Sherrill got two outs and J.J Putz gave up two hits over the final two innings.

Lopez tied the score at 5-5 with a two-run homer off reliever Rafael Betancourt with one out in the seventh. Scott Sauerbeck (0-1) then yielded a sharp single to Raul Ibanez and was replaced by Guillermo Mota, who walked two batters to make it 6-5. Richie Sexson then scored on Kenji Johjima's grounder when third baseman Aaron Boone throw home pulled catcher Victor Martinez off the plate.

Johjima added a two-run double in the ninth.

Blue Jays 8, Red Sox 6

BOSTON -- Vernon Wells hit a grand slam in a six-run second inning and Ted Lilly dominated Boston again, striking out 10 in seven innings.

Eric Hinske had three hits for the Blue Jays, who have won two in a row. Toronto outhit the Red Sox 12-7.

David Ortiz homered to make it 8-3 in the eighth.

Lilly (1-0) gave up Mark Loretta's double and then Ortiz's single in the first for his only earned run before settling down and retiring 20 of his last 23 batters.

Matt Clement (1-1) gave up seven runs and eight hits with four walks, striking out one in four-plus innings.

Yankees 9, Royals 3

NEW YORK -- Randy Johnson won despite lasting only five innings, and the New York Yankees got home runs from Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon to polish off a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 9-3 victory Thursday.

Bernie Williams, who finished with three hits, and Robinson Cano each had an RBI single off Denny Bautista (0-1) for the Yankees, who have won 14 straight home games against Kansas City -- a streak that dates to August 2002.

The loss matched the Royals' record for consecutive defeats in an opposing ballpark, set at Detroit's Tiger Stadium from August 1987 to May 1990.

Johnson (2-1) was pulled after 87 pitches, but New York general manager Brian Cashman said it was not for any medical reason, it was simply a baseball decision.

White Sox 13, Tigers 9

DETROIT -- Jim Thome homered in his fourth straight game to lead the Chicago White Sox.

Tadahito Iguchi also homered and drove in three runs and Alex Cintron had a pair of RBI triples for the White Sox, who have won four straight. Chicago swept the three-game series and is 10-2 at Comerica Park since the start of last season.

Despite three hits, including a homer, from red-hot Chris Shelton, the Tigers fell to 5-4 after winning their first five games. Shelton is hitting .514 with a 1.297 slugging percentage.

Jon Garland (1-1) got the win despite allowing seven runs and 13 hits, tying a career high, in five innings.

Justin Verlander (1-1) gave up seven runs and seven hits in just 2 2-3 innings in the loss.<