New York – Carlos Guillen hit a first-inning grand slam off Mike Mussina (8-8), and Ivan Rodriguez also homered to help the Detroit Tigers beat New York 8-5 on Thursday night for the Yankees’ third straight loss after winning 9-of-10.
“I’m happy to say it seems very odd,” New York manager Joe Torre said. “We still have a great deal of confidence.”
Justin Verlander (13-4) held New York’s lineup in check and the Tigers won the opener of a key four-game series to move into first place in the AL Central, a half- game ahead of the idle Cleveland Indians.
“We’ve got a pretty good lineup, too,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.
ATHLETICS 8, WHITE SOX 5 (10) at Oakland, Calif.: Kurt Suzuki homered for the second straight day, a game-winning, three-run shot in the 10th inning, and Oakland completed a three-game sweep.
ANGELS 4, BLUE JAYS 3 at Toronto: Kelvim Escobar (13-6) shut down his former team, Gary Matthews Jr. homered and Los Angeles held on to beat Toronto.
ROYALS 6, RANGERS 2 at Arlington, Texas: Mark Teahen drove in the tiebreaking run on an eighth-inning fielder’s choice, and John Buck added a three-run double as Kansas City ended Texas’ three-game winning streak.
