OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Coco Crisp homered, hit an RBI double and scored three runs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 on Wednesday for their second straight winning series.
Yoenis Cespedes hit a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning that held up for Tommy Milone, and Crisp also singled and stole his 28th base to give the A's a much-needed boost only a couple of hours after right-hander Bartolo Colon received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test a day before he had been scheduled to start the opener of a series at Tampa Bay.
Milone (10-9) allowed one run and two hits, struck out five and walked one in eight impressive innings to end a five-start winless stretch.
Minnesota starter Liam Hendriks (0-6) is still searching for his first major league win after 13 career starts, and nine this season.
RANGERS 12, ORIOLES 3
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Adrian Beltre hit three home runs, including two in a nine-run fourth inning, and had five RBIs for the Rangers in a victory over the Orioles.
Beltre hit his first homer leading off the second against former teammate Tommy Hunter. He connected again off Hunter for a two-run shot with none out in the fourth. He then hit another two-run drive with two outs while facing Kevin Gregg.
Mitch Moreland hit his first grand slam in the fourth, when the Rangers sent 12 batters to the plate. He matched Beltre with a career high-tying five RBIs.
The power surge supported a solid effort by Derek Holland (8-6). The left-hander pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and five hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Hunter (4-8) allowed eight runs on eight hits - three home runs - in three-plus innings.
MARINERS 3, INDIANS 1
SEATTLE (AP) - Eric Thames hit a tiebreaking, two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners beat Cleveland for their eighth straight win.
Seattle completed a three-game sweep and is on its longest winning streak since taking eight in a row from June 23 to July 1, 2007. The Mariners have won 15 of their last 16 home games.
Cleveland has lost eight in a row.
Vinnie Pestano (3-1) was the loser.
Stephen Pryor (3-0) pitched two-thirds of an inning of hitless relief, and Tom Wilhelmsen threw a hitless ninth for his 19th save in 21 chances.
RAYS 5, ROYALS 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - James Shields took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, leading Tampa Bay over the Royals for the Rays' 16th win in 21 games.
Shields (12-7) retired 12 in a row after Alcides Escobar's two-out single in the third and allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one, improving to 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in his last five starts.
Escobar ended Shields' day with a two-out RBI triple in the eighth.
Luis Mendoza (7-9) gave up two runs, five hits and four walks in 4 1-3 innings. He also hit a batter and balked.
WHITE SOX 2, YANKEES 1
CHICAGO (AP) - Chris Sale struck out 13 in 7 2-3 stellar innings for his 15th victory, Alex Rios hit a go-ahead homer and the White Sox beat the Yankees to complete a three-game sweep.
Sale (15-4) outpitched New York's Phil Hughes, allowing one walk and three hits, including Derek Jeter's solo homer in the sixth - the Yankees star's third homer in as many nights. Addison Reed worked the ninth for his 23rd save in 26 chances.
Hughes (12-11) allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
Chicago scored first for the first time in the series when Gordon Beckham doubled, Dewayne Wise reached on a bunt single and Kevin Youkilis hit a sacrifice fly in the third.
TIGERS 3, BLUE JAYS 2
DETROIT (AP) - Anibal Sanchez pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and Detroit held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Wednesday night.
Sanchez (2-3), acquired from Miami in a five-player deal last month, allowed one earned run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out six and walked two, leaving with the tying run on third base.
Aaron Laffey (3-5) allowed two earned runs and five hits in six-plus innings. He walked three and struck out two.
The Blue Jays have been held to three or fewer runs for six straight games.
ANGELS 7, RED SOX 3
BOSTON (AP) - Jered Weaver rebounded from a terrible start by pitching seven solid innings, and the Angels beat the fading Red Sox.
Howie Kendrick hit a solo homer and Torii Hunter had a two-run single for the Angels.
Los Angeles slugger Albert Pujols left in the fourth inning with tightness in his right calf. He went 2 for 2 and scored a run.
Ryan Lavarnway and Mike Aviles had RBI doubles for Boston, which lost for the sixth time in eight games and fell to 6-14 in August.
Weaver (16-3) gave up two runs and seven hits, struck out five and walked one.
Boston's Clay Buchholz (11-4) matched his season high for runs allowed, giving up seven in 5 1-3 innings. The 12 hits allowed equaled a career worst.