AL roundup: Twins rally to stun Detroit

MINNEAPOLIS — The latest ball lost in the Metrodome's deceiving roof spoiled Justin Verlander's stellar start in the eighth inning, and the Minnesota Twins rallied past the Detroit Tigers 6-2 Saturday to move within two games of the AL Central lead.

Jason Kubel's two-run single with the bases loaded sent Verlander (16-9) to the dugout after a season-high 128 pitches, and Michael Cuddyer greeted Brandon Lyon with a three-run homer to break the game open.

The Twins won their sixth straight and moved four games above the .500 mark, both season highs, in front of the largest crowd, 43,338, at the Metrodome since opening day.

WHITE SOX 13, ROYALS 3: At Chicago, Jake Peavy allowed three runs and three hits over five innings in his first start in over three months as Chicago got a grand slam from Carlos Quentin, scored six times in the eighth and beat the Royals.

Peavy (1-0) hadn't pitched in a major league game since June 8 when he beat the Diamondbacks while with the Padres. Five days later, he went on the disabled list with a strained tendon in his right ankle.

RANGERS 3, ANGELS 2: At Arlington, Texas, Hank Blalock homered to help lift Texas' slumping offense, Scott Feldman picked up his 17th victory and the Rangers kept their slim playoff hopes alive, beating the Angels.

The Rangers, who snapped a five-game losing streak, moved within 6.5 games of the division-leading Angels in the AL West. Texas is also 6.5 games behind Boston in the wild-card chase. The Red Sox played at Baltimore on Saturday night.

ATHLETICS 8, INDIANS 4: At Oakland, Calif., Oakland's Mark Ellis homered to break the franchise record for second basemen and the Athletics extended their winning streak to six games.

Ellis connected in the second inning against Jeremy Sowers for his 79th career homer and No. 77 while playing second for the A's, moving past Dick Green on the club's list.

Matt LaPorta, Trevor Crowe and Jamey Carroll had two hits apiece for Cleveland, which has lost 10 straight on the road and 17 of 21 overall.

Brad Kilby (1-0) struck out three in 1 2-3 innings for his first major league win. Kurt Suzuki had three hits, including a homer, for Oakland.

RAYS 4, BLUE JAYS 0: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Matt Garza struck out 10 while stopping a personal nine-game winless streak and the Rays beat the Blue Jays.