Oakland snaps losing streak

OAKLAND, Calif. — Lenny DiNardo pitched seven shutout innings and the Oakland Athletics ended their longest losing streak in nine years with a 6-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.

DiNardo, making his second start since taking Rich Harden's spot in the rotation, allowed three hits, struck out three and walked none. The left-hander gave up a pair of doubles and a bunt single but was otherwise untouchable in the longest outing of his major league career.

Bobby Crosby homered and drove in two runs for Oakland, which had lost its previous nine games. The losing streak was the A's longest since 1998 and had dropped them 12 games out of first place in the AL West.

Oakland won despite getting just six hits off Texas starter Kevin Millwood and reliever Willie Eyre. Three of the hits came off Millwood (6-8) during a four-run second inning, the A's most productive inning since scoring seven runs in the second inning against the New York Yankees on July 1.

The loss prevented Texas from matching its longest winning streak of the season. The Rangers, who had won three straight, also failed in their bid to sweep a series for just the second time this year.

WHITE SOX 5, INDIANS 1: At Cleveland, Mark Buehrle finally beat Cleveland for the first time in more than two years and Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer for the White Sox.

Buehrle (7-5) had been winless in his previous eight starts against the Indians, last defeating them on July 16, 2005. He gave up one run and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Konerko's homer in the fourth off Jake Westbrook (1-5) gave the White Sox a 3-0 lead.

YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 1: At New York, Alex Rodriguez hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning and the surging Yankees won their fifth straight game.

Roger Clemens pitched out of trouble for six gritty innings to keep New York close, and Andy Phillips delivered another clutch hit as the Yankees (48-44) moved a season-high four games above .500.

ROYALS 6, RED SOX 5: At Boston, Billy Butler doubled in the go-ahead run in a four-run fifth inning and Kansas City battered Julian Tavarez.

After managing just one hit in the first three innings, the Royals scored twice in the fourth, then went ahead 6-4 in the fifth when they chased Tavarez (5-8) after his third straight poor performance.