Saturday's American League Capsules

BALTIMORE (AP) - Yoenis Cespedes and Chris Carter hit two-run homers to back an effective pitching performance by Bartolo Colon, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-1 Saturday night for their ninth win in 10 games.

Jemile Weeks had three hits and scored twice for the surging A's, who are on course for the best July in franchise history. They are 18-3 (.857) this month, and need only one victory in the next three games to finish with a better winning percentage than the 1931 club (26-7, .788).

Oakland can reach the mark by completing a three-game sweep Sunday.

Colon (7-8) scattered seven hits over 5 2-3 shutout innings, striking out five and walking one, to earn his first win in six starts since June 12.

Nick Markakis' ninth-inning homer off Evan Scribner enabled the Orioles to avoid being blanked for the eighth time. Baltimore went down in order only once but stranded 11, went 0 for 6 with men in scoring position and lost for the fifth time in six games.

Tommy Hunter (4-6) gave up five runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander has yielded 23 home runs this season.

RED SOX 8, YANKEES 6

NEW YORK (AP) - Curtis Granderson misplayed Pedro Ciriaco's ninth-inning flyball into a go-ahead triple, and Boston beat the New York Yankees after Mark Teixeira had tied the score with a two-run homer off nemesis Vicente Padilla in the eighth.

Down 6-1, the Yankees closed in the fifth on Jayson Nix's two-run homer off Jon Lester and Derek Jeter's RBI grounder.

After Teixeira's homer, Rafael Soriano (2-1) walked Jacoby Ellsbury with one out in the ninth and Ciriaco hit a fly that could have been caught.

Andrew Miller (3-1) got one out for the win, just the second for Boston in eight games against the Yankees this year. Alfredo Aceves finished for his 22nd save in 26 chances.

WHITE SOX 5, RANGERS 2

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Adam Dunn hit his major league-leading 31st home run, Philip Humber pitched six solid innings, and the Chicago White Sox won their fifth straight game by beating Texas.

Paul Konerko added a two-run homer for Chicago, which increased its AL Central lead to 2½ games over Detroit. The White Sox have won the first two in a three-game series between division leaders.

Humber (5-5) didn't allow a hit through three innings and won for the second time in three starts. He yielded one run and four hits, and struck out four.

Matt Harrison (12-6), who lost his second straight start, gave up five runs and seven hits in seven innings. The left-hander walked three and struck out four.

BLUE JAYS 5, TIGERS 1

TORONTO (AP) - Edwin Encarnacion, Colby Rasmus and Yunel Escobar homered off Detroit newcomer Anibal Sanchez, leading Toronto over the Tigers.

The Tigers have lost three straight and four of five after a five-game winning streak that briefly lifted them into first place in the AL Central.

Sanchez, acquired from Miami earlier in the week along with infielder Omar Infante, gave up five runs and eight hits in six-plus innings in his Detroit debut.

Sanchez (5-8 overall) lost to Toronto for the second time this season; he gave up six runs in 3 1-3 innings of a 12-5 loss on June 22 while pitching for the Marlins.

Henderson Alvarez (7-7) pitched seven innings for the win.

Encarnacion hit his 28th home run and Rasmus went 2 for 3 with three RBIs in his first start of the season at designated hitter.

RAYS 3, ANGELS 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Matt Moore outpitched C.J. Wilson, scattering four hits over 6 1-3 innings, and Ben Zobrist homered to lead Tampa Bay past the Los Angeles Angels.

Moore (7-7) struck out six to increase his season total to 112, second-most among rookies behind Texas' Yu Darvish. The 23-year-old lefty pitched a career-high eight innings in his previous start and retired his final 17 batters in a 2-1 loss to Seattle last Sunday. He is 6-2 with a 3.32 ERA in his last 10 outings.

Fernando Rodney worked a perfect ninth for his 29th save in 30 attempts, dropping his ERA to 0.79 in 46 appearances.

Wilson (9-7) threw 121 pitches in 6 2-3 innings, allowing three runs - two earned - and four hits. He struck out seven and walked three. The All-Star lefty is 0-3 with a 4.23 ERA over his last six starts after going 5-0 with a 1.30 ERA in his previous seven.

MARINERS 4, ROYALS 3

SEATTLE (AP) - Kevin Millwood pitched effectively into the seventh inning, Jesus Montero hit a two-run homer and Seattle beat Kansas City.

Millwood (4-8) gave up one unearned run and six hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out three, walked one and was aided by two excellent plays from shortstop Brendan Ryan.

Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth for his 13th save. Lorenzo Cain hit an RBI triple with two outs before Alex Gordon grounded out.

Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas sprained his right knee while diving for a grounder in the first inning. He is day to day and will be examined again Sunday.

Billy Butler was 3 for 3 for Kansas City.

Montero hit his 10th home run, connecting in the third off Bruce Chen (8-8).

TWINS 12, INDIANS 5

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Samuel Deduno pitched seven strong innings for his second major league win, and Josh Willingham hit his 27th homer of the season, leading Minnesota over Cleveland.

Deduno (2-0) allowed two hits and struck out a career-high six in his fourth big league start. The Twins routed the Indians for the second consecutive night after being swept three games in Chicago.

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson (7-9) allowed 10 runs - eight earned - over 5 2-3 innings. The Indians are 6-10 since the All-Star break.