AL roundup: Francisco Liriano, Twins shut down the Indians

MINNEAPOLIS — Francisco Liriano is looking a lot like his old, nasty self early this season.

Liriano struck out six in eight scoreless innings to lead the Minnesota Twins to a 6-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday night.

Liriano (2-1) allowed six hits and walked two and Michael Cuddyer had a homer, a triple and three RBIs for the Twins, who are off to an 11-4 start thanks partly to Liriano regaining his form from 2006 when he was an All-Star.

David Huff (1-2) gave up only three hits in six innings for the Indians. But he walked six and allowed four runs before Aaron Laffey gave up a two-run triple to Cuddyer in the eighth that put the game out of reach.

RED SOX 8, RANGERS 7, 12 INNINGS: At Boston, Kevin Youkilis hit an RBI double off the base of the left-center field wall with two outs and the Red Sox beat Texas, sending the Rangers to their sixth straight loss. It was Boston's second straight last at-bat win after losing its previous five games. J.D. Drew hit a grand slam and Darnell McDonald homered in his second straight game for Boston. Josh Hamilton hit a three-run homer in the Texas seventh that made it 7-all.

YANKEES 3, ATHLETICS 1: At Oakland, Calif., Phil Hughes took a no-hit try into the eighth inning Wednesday night, losing his bid when Eric Chavez bounced a hard comebacker off the pitcher's side. Hughes (2-0) struck out a career-high 10 in the Yankees' sixth straight win. He was in complete control until Chavez opened the eighth with a one-hopper back to the mound. Hughes had little time to react and the ball hit near his glove, around his left hip. Hughes couldn't find the ball in front of the mound as Chavez hustled for a single.

TIGERS 4, ANGELS 3: At Anaheim, Calif., Miguel Cabrera gave Brian Fuentes a rude welcome back from the disabled list with a tying leadoff home run in the ninth inning and Ramon Santiago hit an RBI single four batters later, helping the Detroit Tigers win. Fuentes, just off the disabled list after missing 14 games with a back strain, went 3-2 on Miguel Cabrera before the Tigers' cleanup hitter homered to left-center. It was his fourth home run of the season and team-high 18th RBI.

ROYALS 4, BLUE JAYS 3, 10 INNINGS: At Toronto, Alex Gordon hit his first homer of the season, giving the Royals a victory over the Blue Jays. Jose Guillen hit a three-run homer for Kansas City and Alex Gonzalez had a two-run shot for Toronto, before the Blue Jays scored a run in the eighth inning to tie the game. Gordon drove a 1-0 pitch from Scott Downs (0-1) to center with two out in the 10th inning, disappointing the crowd of 15,577. It was just the second hit of the season for Gordon, who returned to the lineup Saturday after missing the first 10 games with a broken right thumb.