AL roundup: A-Rod's 584th career homer helps Yankees keep rolliing

NEW YORK — For the first time since 1926 in the days of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, the New York Yankees have won four straight series to start a season.

Alex Rodriguez passed Mark McGwire for eighth place with his 584th home run, Derek Jeter also connected and A.J. Burnett (2-0) pitched seven shutout innings Saturday to lead the surging Yankees over the Rangers 7-3.

After taking two of three against Boston, Tampa Bay and the Los Angeles Angels, the defending World Series champions won the opening two games of a three-game set against Texas. Scott Feldman (1-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in 21?3 innings as Texas lost its third in a row.

Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer in the eighth off Alfredo Aceves, Cruz's major league-leading seventh

ANGELS 6, BLUE JAYS 3: At Toronto, Howie Kendrick and Juan Rivera homered, Joe Saunders pitched eight strong innings and Los Angeles beat the Blue Jays. Kendrick went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and scored twice as the Angels won back-to-back games for the first time this season. The Blue Jays lost consecutive games for the first time. Saunders (1-2), who came in with a 7.36 ERA, allowed two runs — none earned — and five hits. The left-hander walked one, struck out two, lowered his ERA to 4.26 and improved to 11-3 in April. Fernando Rodney closed it out in the ninth for his third save and second in two days. Los Angeles jumped in front before Blue Jays left-hander Brian Tallet (1-1) recorded an out. Erick Aybar led off the first with a walk and Kendrick followed with a two-run homer, his first.

TWINS 6, ROYALS 5: At Minneapolis, Orlando Hudson hit a go-ahead home run leading off the seventh inning, the Twins' bullpen pitched four scoreless innings, and Minnesota stretched its winning streak to five games with a victory over Kansas City. With the game tied 5-5, Hudson hit a shot off reliever John Parrish (1-1) that bounced off the facing of the second level of seats in left field at Target Field. It was Hudson's first home run since signing with the Twins in the offseason Brian Duensing (2-0) pitched two innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win. Matt Guerrier worked a scoreless eighth and Jon Rauch held on to secure his sixth save.

ATHLETICS 4, ORIOLES 3: At Oakland, Calif., Ryan Sweeney hit a game-ending two-run single with one out in the ninth inning, and the Athletics improved to 9-4 for their best start after 13 games since 1992. Jerry Blevins (2-0) pitched an inning for the win. The Orioles fell to 1-11, their worst start since opening the 1988 season with 21 consecutive losses, and lost third baseman Miguel Tejada to a possible leg injury in the sixth inning. Baltimore stranded nine runners and is 2 for 47 with runners in scoring position this season