Royals squander 10-run first inning

The visiting Cleveland Indians allowed 10 runs in the first inningWednesday, then rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 15-13 whenRyan Garko and Hector Luna hit run-scoring singles in the 10th.

Mark Sweeney hit a three-run home run and Mark Grudzielanek a two-run shot for the Royals, who set a team record for runs in the firstbefore letting the game get away.

The Indians began chipping away almost immediately, scoring twicein the third, three times in the fourth, once in the fifth and twicein the sixth to pull to 10-9. After the Royals padded their lead to13-9, the Indians forced extra innings by scoring four times in theninth against Joe Nelson and Ambiorix Burgos. Victor Martinez, Garkoand Luna each had RBI doubles against Nelson before pinch hitter Shin-Soo Chin tied the score with a run-scoring triple against Burgos.

"It was like climbing a mountain, and you finally get to the top,"Garko said.

Luna was 4-for-6 with four RBI, and Grady Sizemore, Aaron Booneand Travis Hafner homered for the Indians. Sweeney was 4-for-6 withfour RBI, and Joey Gathright drove in three runs for the Royals.

TWINS 4, ORIOLES 1: Rookie Matt Garza (1-2) allowed an unearnedrun and five hits in six innings to earn his first major-leaguevictory, and Michael Cuddyer had three hits and two RBI to leadMinnesota past host Baltimore. The result kept the Twins a half-gamebehind the White Sox in the wild-card race.

Torii Hunter homered for the Twins, who scored only four runsagainst losing pitcher Rodrigo Lopez (9-13) despite roughing him upfor 13 hits in six innings.

ATHLETICS 6, BLUE JAYS 0: Esteban Loaiza (7-7) pitched a four-hitter for his first shutout since April 2004, and Frank Thomas andMilton Bradley homered to fuel visiting Oakland past Toronto. The A'sare 19-5 in their last 24 games.

Thomas hit his 27th homer of the season and the 475th of hiscareer -- tying him with Willie Stargell and Stan Musial for 23rd onthe all-time list -- against losing pitcher Gustavo Chacin (6-3) inthe first inning.

YANKEES 9, MARINERS 2: Chien-Ming Wang (15-5) allowed two runs andseven hits in seven innings, and Robinson Cano drove in three runswith two hits as New York thumped host Seattle. The Yankees playedwithout third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who was sent back to the hotelbefore the game with a throat infection.

RED SOX 5, ANGELS 4: David Ortiz and Wily Mo Pena hit two-runhomers, and visiting Boston snapped a season-worst six game losingstreak by edging Los Angeles. Ortiz leads the majors with 45 homersand 119 RBI.

DEVIL RAYS 7, RANGERS 3: Jorge Cantu and Carl Crawford hit two-run homers to power host Tampa Bay past Texas. The Devil Rays will gofor a four-game sweep today.

NOTES: The Yankees put right-hander Mike Mussina (13-5, 3.61 ERA)on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin muscle and releasedright-hander Sidney Ponson, whom they had designated for assignmentSaturday.

- Devil Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer said he wants to return forhis 59th season in baseball in 2007, and principal owner StuartSternberg said: "If I'm here, he's got a home."