Detroit – Kenny Rogers wasn’t at his best Wednesday.
Thanks to Detroit’s defense and a friendly bounce, it didn’t matter.
Rogers allowed two runs – one earned – in 5 1/3 innings as the Tigers snapped Cleveland’s six-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory.
The 42-year-old left-hander has won all three starts after missing the first 11 weeks of the season following shoulder injury, but he knew he didn’t deserve the credit for this one.
“I wasn’t nearly as sharp as I wanted to be tonight,” he said. “Every time I made a mistake, something good happened behind me. It was incredible – guys were diving all over the place.”
Rogers (3-0) gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out three. He has a 1.04 ERA since coming off the disabled list June 22.
Rogers and four relievers got plenty of help from their defense with Brandon Inge, Carlos Guillen and Marcus Thames all making run-saving plays.
RED SOX 7, DEVIL RAYS 5 at Boston: All-star Mike Lowell homered to help carry a lineup of reserves as Boston handed Tampa Bay its 10th consecutive loss.
“We are trying to stop all the madness,” Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. “Our guys are trying so darn hard you could almost see them grinding away between the ears.”
Boston starter Tim Wakefield (9-8) left with a 7-1 lead, cruising through six innings before three of the first four batters in the seventh singled. The knuckleballer was charged with four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out two for his fourth win in five starts.
BLUE JAYS 10, ATHLETICS 3 at Oakland, Calif.: Matt Stairs homered and drove in four runs and Dustin McGowan pitched seven scoreless innings as Toronto wrapped up a 10-game trip with a victory.
McGowan (5-4) got all the support he needed in the first inning when Stairs hit a two-run double, and the Blue Jays took advantage of four walks to chase a wild Joe Kennedy (2-7) with four runs.
MARINERS 4, ROYALS 0 at Kansas City, Mo.: Jarrod Washburn scattered five hits as John McLaren got his first win as Seattle’s manager.
The Royals, after banging out 16 hits for 17 runs the night before, were handcuffed by Washburn (8-6), who won his third straight start and raised his career record against Kansas City to 8-4.
TWINS 6, YANKEES 2 at New York: Jason Kubel hit a tiebreaking homer in Minnesota’s victory.
Luis Rodriguez also hit a two-run homer for Minnesota, which snapped a three-game losing streak. The Twins scored just one run during the skid.
RANGERS 4, ANGELS 2 at Arlington, Texas: Jamey Wright allowed two runs in six innings and Marlon Byrd drove in the tiebreaking run with a sixth-inning single.
Wright (2-2) gave up five hits, struck out two and walked two.
ORIOLES 9, WHITE SOX 6 at Chicago: Jay Gibbons homered as Baltimore defeated Chicago, which has lost 14 of its past 19 home games.
