Santana super in Twins victory

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Johan Santana struck out 10 in eight innings to get his first victory in the slowest start of his career, leading the Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Thursday.

The Twins opened up a 5-0 lead in the second inning and Santana (1-3) cruised to his sixth straight decision over the Royals, who haven't beaten the left-hander in almost two years. Santana allowed seven hits and three runs with one walk. The only Kansas City starter who did not strike out at least once was Mark Grudzielanek. In one stretch in the fifth and sixth innings, Santana fanned four straight.

YANKEES 4, DEVIL RAYS 1: At New York, slumping Hideki Matsui hit a tiebreaking, two-run single after Mark Hendrickson walked his first two batters of the night in the sixth inning, and the Yankees beat Tampa Bay. Shawn Chacon put his early struggles behind him with his second straight strong outing. Derek Jeter went 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI double in the seventh, raising his average to .408.

ORIOLES 7, BLUE JAYS 5: At Toronto, Kris Benson worked seven strong innings and Baltimore beat Toronto to snap a four-game losing streak. Corey Patterson hit a bloop, two-run double in a four-run seventh inning for the Orioles, who salvaged the last game of the three-game series.

INDIANS 15, RED SOX 3: At Cleveland, Ben Broussard drove in a career-high eight runs and Cleveland handed Josh Beckett his first loss with his new team. Broussard homered twice and went 4-for-5 as Cleveland got to Beckett (3-1) for six hits and eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.