Streaky Lidle, A’s Win

Cory Lidle managed to regroup in time after his scoreless inning streak was ended after 32 innings because of an unearned run.

David Justice’s error helped end Lidle’s streak, but the Oakland Athletics still managed to win their 13th game in a row, defeating the Kansas City Royals, 6-3, Monday night at Kansas City, Mo.

“I lost my composure a little bit and I started overthrowing,” Lidle said. “I didn’t handle it very well.”

Ramon Hernandez had three hits and drove in three runs as the A’s extended the longest streak in the majors this season. The winning streak is their longest since they set an Oakland record with a 14-game streak in 1988.

Hernandez had a two-run single in Oakland’s four-run sixth. Jermaine Dye, who played with the Royals from 1997-2001 before being dealt to Oakland last July, and Ray Durham each had RBI singles. Dye, who had three hits, doubled home Miguel Tejada in the ninth for the last run.

The second-inning unearned run off Lidle (8-9) was the first he had given up since the sixth inning on July 31 at Cleveland.

Lidle limited the Royals to three singles over seven innings. He did not give up a hit after Raul Ibanez’s one-out single in the third. Lidle is 5-0 in August and has not given up an earned run in 38 innings.

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New York 10, Texas 3--Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 46th home run on an eephus pitch from Orlando Hernandez (7-3), but everything else went the Yankees’ way at New York.

Alfonso Soriano hit his 31st homer, setting a team record for second basemen, and drove in three runs. Jason Giambi reached 100 runs batted in, Derek Jeter made a headfirst slide home to score his 100th run, and Bernie Williams and three more singles, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

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Cleveland 8, Detroit 2--Rookie Ricardo Rodriguez got his first career victory and ejection as the Indians handed the visiting Tigers their sixth consecutive loss. Rodriguez (1-1), making only his second career start, was two outs away from a shutout when Randall Simon homered for the Tigers. Rodriguez’s next pitch hit Robert Fick on the right elbow, and he was thrown out by plate umpire John Hirschbeck.

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Toronto 8, Chicago 4--Blue Jay relievers pitched six hitless innings and Dewayne Wise hit a three-run double in the victory at Chicago. Corey Thurman (2-2) earned the victory with three innings of relief. Mark Hendrickson worked the seventh, Cliff Politte pitched a perfect eighth and Kelvim Escobar finished.