MLB ROUNDUP | Wednesday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 1, Royals 0
BOSTON -- Not since Babe Ruth was pitching for Boston had the Red Sox won a pair of home games like this. Josh Beckett held punchless Kansas City to four hits over eight innings and Manny Ramirez homered, leading Boston to its second consecutive 1-0 victory over the Royals. The last time the Red Sox won two straight 1-0 games at Fenway Park was 1916, when the ballpark was only four years old and Boston was on its way to its second World Series title in a row. Ruth beat the New York Yankees on June 22 and Ernie Shore edged the Philadelphia Athletics the next day. Beckett (12-5) struck out seven and walked none to join Toronto's Roy Halladay as the AL's only 12-game winners.
Mariners 3, Yankees 2
NEW YORK -- Ichiro Suzuki touched off Seattle's go-ahead rally in the eighth inning with his third hit of the game and the Mariners snapped a four-game losing streak, defeating New York. The loss ended a five-game winning streak for the Yankees, who had won nine of 10.
Athletics 5, Orioles 1
BALTIMORE -- Barry Zito pitched seven innings of five-hit ball, Frank Thomas homered and drove in three runs, and Oakland beat Kris Benson and Baltimore. Milton Bradley and Eric Chavez also connected for the Athletics, who took two of three from the Orioles to improve to 5-2 since the All-Star break. Milton Bradley went 3-for-4 and is 9-for-19 in five games since returning from the disabled list.
Tigers 5, White Sox 2
DETROIT -- Craig Monroe hit Detroit's first grand slam of the season and Jeremy Bonderman allowed two runs over 71/3 innings to lead the Tigers to the win. Detroit beat the defending World Series champions for just the second time in eight games. Javier Vazquez (9-5) held the Tigers scoreless for five innings, but they started the sixth with four consecutive singles and Monroe followed with his 14th homer of the season for a 5-2 lead. Bonderman (10-4) gave up four hits and struck out six. He is 5-0 in his last nine starts. Joe Crede and Juan Uribe homered for the White Sox.
Rangers 5, Blue Jays 4
TORONTO -- Kevin Millwood earned his 10th win and Gary Matthews Jr. hit a go-ahead double in a four-run seventh inning to help Texas beat Toronto on a troubling night for the Blue Jays. Designated hitter Shea Hillenbrand refused to sit in the dugout with his Toronto teammates after he was chastised during a team meeting. Hours before, Hillenbrand criticized the organization and said he expects to be traded. The Blue Jays designated him for assignment and he was not in the clubhouse after the game. Mark DeRosa hit a tying homer for the Rangers, who rallied from a 3-1 deficit. Millwood (10-5) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings.
Twins 7, Devil Rays 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Rondell White hit two home runs to lead the Twins to their sixth straight victory. Brad Radke won his fourth straight decision for Minnesota, which has won 18 of 23 overall and 19 of the last 20 at home. Radke (8-7) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Astros 4, Cubs 2
CHICAGO -- Roger Clemens outpitched Greg Maddux in a rare matchup of 300-game winners. Clemens (2-3) threw six shutout innings to earn his 343rd career victory and move into sole possession of eighth place on the career list. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out five. Maddux (7-11) allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings with no walks and three strikeouts. He lost his sixth straight decision and hasn't won since June 9. Maddux, who turned 40 in April, threw 102 pitches and remained at 325 wins.
Phillies 5, Padres 4
SAN DIEGO -- Bobby Abreu hit a two-run double in the ninth inning off a suddenly shaky Trevor Hoffman and the Phillies rallied to avoid a three-game sweep. Hoffman has two blown saves in his last three chances, plus one in the All-Star game last week. Padres manager Bruce Bochy came out to get the relief ace after he allowed Abreu's hit to right-center with none out -- Hoffman's third blown save in 28 chances. Bochy also pulled Hoffman (0-2) on Friday night after he blew the save in a game the Atlanta Braves won 15-12 in 11 innings.
Giants 7, Brewers 6
SAN FRANCISCO -- Ray Durham hit a two-run single off closer Derrick Turnbow's glove in the ninth inning to help the Giants get the win. Durham also hit a two-run homer in the fifth. Rookie Eliezer Alfonzo hit a solo homer in the eighth for San Francisco and Barry Bonds' pinch-hit single in the ninth started the rally.
Marlins 1, Nationals 0
MIAMI -- Rookie Anibal Sanchez allowed one hit in seven innings and Cody Ross homered for the Marlins. The Nationals' lone hit off Sanchez was a line drive to right-center by Austin Kearns leading off the third inning.
Associated Press