AMERICAN LEAGUE

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Devil Rays 4, Royals 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Jeremi Gonzalez scattered three hits in eight innings and Tampa Bay spoiled Kevin Appier's first start since rejoining Kansas City as the Devil Rays beat the slumping Royals.
Gonzalez (5-5) struck out four and walked three as the Devil Rays won for the eighth time in 11 games and sent the Royals to their fourth straight loss. Jesus Colome worked the ninth to complete Tampa Bay's fourth shutout of the season.
The Royals are 9-13 since the All-Star break.
Appier (7-8) signed with his original team Wednesday just one week after being released by Anaheim.
White Sox 3, Athletics 2
CHICAGO -- Mark Buehrle pitched a five-hitter for his second complete game this season and 11th of his career.
Buehrle (10-11) allowed two runs, struck out six and walked none in outdueling Mark Mulder (15-8), who failed to join Toronto's Roy Halladay for the most wins in baseball. Buehrle, in his first complete game since June 26 at Minnesota, retired 17 of his last 19 batters.
Magglio Ordonez went 3-for-4 with home run for the White Sox, who improved to a major league-best 16-5 since the All-Star break. Chicago has won 16 of its last 20.
Mulder gave up three runs and 10 hits in eight innings in his ninth complete game this season, and 17th of his career.
Twins 4, Tigers 3
DETROIT -- Johan Santana allowed two hits in eight innings, and Matthew LeCroy homered for Minnesota.
Santana (6-3) gave up just one unearned run, struck out five and walked three in Minnesota's 18th win in its last 19 against Detroit.
But the Tigers made it close by scoring twice with one out in the ninth off closer Eddie Guardado.
Rangers 5, Blue Jays 3
TORONTO -- Hank Blalock, Mark Teixeira and Laynce Nix homered in the first inning for Texas.
Blalock hit his 20th homer, Teixeira hit a two-run shot and Laynce Nix also had a two-run homer off Corey Thurman (1-1)
The three home runs in an inning tied a club record, done 23 times previously.
Thurman, who pitched six scoreless innings in his first start of the year last Saturday, allowed five runs on six hits in just two thirds of an inning.
Carlos Delgado hit his 32nd home run for the Blue Jays, who have lost 24 of their last 35 games.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves 7, Cardinals 2
ST. LOUIS -- Russ Ortiz worked into the ninth inning to become the second 16-game winner in the major leagues and Atlanta hit four home runs.
Ortiz (16-5) allowed two runs on five hits in eight-plus innings, joining Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays as the top winners. He's won nine of his last 10 and has never lost consecutive decisions, bouncing back in this one after a loss in his last start to the Dodgers.
Gary Sheffield, Marcus Giles, Andruw Jones and Javy Lopez homered for the Braves, who lead the NL with 174.
Albert Pujols doubled in the sixth to extend his hitting streak to 22 games for the Cardinals, who have lost three of the first four on a six-game homestand. Pujols, who got his 100th RBI and scored his 100th run on Thursday, is batting .395 (34-for-86) during the streak and a major-league best .371 overall.
The Braves have won eight in a row over the Cardinals dating to last season, including a three-game sweep in Atlanta in April.
Astros 5, Expos 1
HOUSTON -- Lance Berkman hit a RBI double and made a big defensive play that helped Jeriome Robertson and Houston.
The Expos lost their fourth game in a row.
Robertson (11-5) had a six-game winning streak prior to losing his last two decisions. He pitched 6 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and one run.
Orlando Merced connected the 11th pinch-hit homer of his career, a two-run shot in the Houston seventh. It was his first pinch-hit home run of the season and the Astros' fifth of the year.
Marlins 5, Brewers 3
MILWAUKEE -- Juan Encarnacion hit a two-run homer and Carl Pavano picked up his career-high ninth victory for Florida .
-- Associated Press