MLB ROUNDUP | Thursday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Athletics 9, Mariners 6
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Esteban Loaiza earned a win after spending one night in jail this week, helping Oakland capture their season-high seventh straight victory. Dan Johnson matched career highs with four hits and four RBIs for Oakland, which swept the Mariners for the second time this season. Loaiza, who spent Tuesday night in jail on suspicion of drunken driving, got through six innings to earn his second straight victory since coming off the disabled list.
Twins 5, Red Sox 3
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jason Kubel homered for the third straight game, Carlos Silva pitched six-plus shutout innings and the Minnesota Twins earned a three-game sweep. After an awful start to the season that sent him to the bullpen for 21/2 weeks, Silva (3-8) turned in by far his best outing and stuck the Red Sox with their first four-game losing streak in more than a year.
Tigers 6, Devil Rays 2
DETROIT (AP) -- Zach Miner allowed only two unearned runs and three hits in seven innings, pitching Detroit past Tampa Bay. Brandon Inge and Vance Wilson drove in two runs apiece, and Carlos Guillen had an RBI double. Detroit (43-24) matched its 2003 win total -- the Tigers lost an AL-record 119 games that year. Miner (2-1) earned his second consecutive win. Casey Fossum (2-3) took his first loss since May 14, allowing six runs and 10 hits in 52/3 innings.
Blue Jays 4, Orioles 2
TORONTO (AP) -- Eric Hinske homered and Ted Lilly pitched six scoreless innings to lead Toronto over Baltimore. Shea Hillenbrand hit a two-run single for the Blue Jays, who tied a season high by winning their third straight. Toronto took three of four from the Orioles. Lilly (6-7) allowed just four hits while striking out eight to win for the first time in four starts. Former Baltimore closer B.J. Ryan pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 18 chances. Hinkse homered off Daniel Cabrera (4-3), who won his previous four decisions.
White Sox 8, Rangers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Mark Buehrle pitched eight strong innings, Juan Uribe homered and drove in three runs for Chicago. Buehrle (7-4) won for the first time since May 24, allowing two runs and six hits. He struck out two and walked one.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets 5, Phillies 4
PHILADELPHIA -- David Wright hit a three-run homer and the New York Mets won their eighth straight game, getting off to another fast start. Steve Trachsel pitched six effective innings and the NL East-leading Mets (42-23) extended their lead to 91/2 games over second-place Philadelphia by completing a three-game sweep.
Astros 3, Cubs 2
CHICAGO -- Brad Ausmus hit a two-run single in the eighth inning, rallying Houston to a victory and three-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Carlos Zambrano held Houston in check for seven innings, but reliever Bob Howry couldn't hold a 2-1 lead. Juan Pierre stole a career-best four bases and Jacque Jones homered for the Cubs, who have lost 15 of their last 21 home games.
Dodgers 7, Padres 3
SAN DIEGO -- Chad Billingsley pitched impressively in his major league debut and drove in two runs with his first hit, helping Los Angeles beat the Padres to avoid a three-game sweep. Billingsley, the Dodgers' first-round pick in the June 2003 draft, left with the score tied at 2 in the sixth. Rafael Furcal drove in the go-ahead run with Los Angeles' third straight single to open a four-run seventh against the Padres' bullpen, and Jeff Kent added a two-run double.
Rockies 8, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON -- Jason Jennings threw eight strong innings and Brad Hawpe homered and drove in four runs, leading Colorado over the Nationals to complete a four-game sweep. Jennings (5-6) shut out Washington until the seventh, when third baseman Garrett Atkins' two-base error allowed an unearned run to score.
Marlins 3, Braves 2
MIAMI -- Cody Ross hit a two-run homer, Ricky Nolasco pitched seven strong innings as Florida completed a three-game sweep. Atlanta, which has won a record 14 straight division titles, fell 13 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the NL East -- its largest deficit since the streak started in 1991, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Dan Uggla also hit his 11th homer for Florida, which extended its winning streak to a season-high five games and improved to 15-6 since May 22.
Giants 8, Diamondbacks 2
PHOENIX -- Pedro Feliz had a career-high six RBIs, Matt Morris pitched a complete game and the San Francisco Giants routed Arizona, ending another dismal day for the Diamondbacks. Morris (4-7) threw a seven-hitter, going the distance for the first time since June 6, 2005, with St. Louis against Boston. The right-hander struck out five and walked two in his 19th career complete game.
Associated Press