MLB ROUNDUP \ Monday’s other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Royals 4, Red Sox 3

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Gil Meche won his fourth straight start and Alex Gordon homered to help Kansas City hold off Boston. Joakim Soria allowed a run in the ninth before Sean Casey flied out with runners at second and third to end it. Meche (10-9) struck out nine in six innings for Kansas City, which won for the seventh time in eight games. The right-hander improved to 4-0 in five home starts against the Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia had a double and two singles, extending his road hitting streak to 25 games — the most by a Boston player since Hall of Famer Tris Speaker 95 years ago.

Blue Jays 6, Athletics 1

TORONTO — Roy Halladay pitched eight strong innings and Toronto handed Oakland its season-high seventh straight loss. Oakland is a major league-worst 2-14 since the All-Star break, and 9-23 since June 28. Halladay (13-8) had retired eight in a row and 16 of 18 overall when Bobby Crosby ended his shutout bid with a homer to left in the eighth. It was Crosby’s fifth of the year. Halladay gave up four hits, walked one and struck out eight. Oakland right-hander Sean Gallagher (1-1) allowed five runs — four earned — and four hits in three innings, his shortest start of the year. He walked four and struck out four.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Reds 6, Brewers 3

CINCINNATI — Right-hander Bronson Arroyo lasted six innings on a muggy night and hit a bases-loaded double. After Brewers left-hander Manny Parra (9-5) left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, first baseman Prince Fielder went up to him in the dugout and exchanged words. Fielder then shoved Parra twice before teammates pulled him away. Since they were tied with the Cubs for first place in the NL Central on July 26, the Brewers have dropped seven of nine. Arroyo (10-8) extended his midseason surge, winning for the sixth time in his last seven starts. He also had a two-run double in the fifth inning off Parra that put the Reds ahead to stay. Jay Bruce added a two-run homer for the Reds, who won for only the second time in the last 10 games.

Associated Press