League-leading Tigers edge defending Series champs
A sellout crowd of 41,075 at Comerica Park was on its feet as right fielder Magglio Ordonez ran down Brian Anderson?s fly ball at the warning track for the final out. The victory gave the Tigers a season-high 5 1/2-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.
Detroit has the best record in baseball at 64-31 after taking two of three from the World Series champions. Chicago has lost seven of nine.
Kenny Rogers allowed only one run and six hits over six innings. Rookie Joel Zumaya (5-1) gave up one hit in the seventh and eighth ? throwing between 84-102 mph ? and Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 28 opportunities.
Jose Contreras (9-2) was solid ? giving up two runs, six hits and a walk over seven innings ? but lost his second straight start. In his previous outing at Yankee Stadium, his team-record 17-game winning streak ended.
Twins 6, Devil Rays 4
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) ? Johan Santana struck out seven in six innings and the Twins won their seventh straight game.
Minnesota won for the 19th time in its last 24 games and improved to a major league-best 37-11 at home. The Twins have won 20 of their last 21 at the Metrodome.
Travis Lee and Jorge Cantu hit solo home runs for Tampa Bay, which lost its season-worst seventh in a row overall and 12th straight to Minnesota, the most in franchise history against an opponent.
Santana (11-5) allowed three runs and six hits with a season-high four walks. Joe Nathan worked the ninth to earn his 18th save in 19 chances.
Red Sox 6, Rangers 4
BOSTON (AP) ? Curt Schilling pitched seven innings to lead Boston to its fourth straight win.
Schilling (12-3) allowed four runs and a season-high 10 hits while walking one and striking out six. He allowed three runs in the second to end Boston?s string of 22 scoreless innings, including consecutive 1-0 victories over the lowly Kansas City Royals.
Mike Timlin pitched the ninth for his second save in the makeup of a May 14 rainout.
Rangers reliever Bryan Corey (1-1) gave up single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing an RBI single to Mark Loretta and a run-scoring double by Jason Varitek.
National League
Mets 4, Reds 2
CINCINNATI (AP) ? Endy Chavez?s tiebreaking double in the 10th inning sent the New York Mets to a 4-2 victory Thursday over the Cincinnati Reds, leaving the NL?s top team on an upswing.
Cliff Floyd and Carlos Delgado hit solo homers off an otherwise-tough Bronson Arroyo, helping the Mets take two of three in the series. New York has won six of its last eight overall, improving the league?s best record to 57-38.
Cubs 4, Astros 1
CHICAGO (AP) ? Carlos Zambrano won his seventh straight decision and Michael Barrett and Aramis Ramirez hit back-to-back homers for Chicago.
Zambrano (10-3) gave up one run and two hits in eight innings. He struck out 10 and walked four. The Cubs? ace had a shutout going until Willy Taveras singled and scored on Chris Burke?s sacrifice fly in the eighth.