Late Rally Lifts Blue Jays to Win

The Toronto Blue Jays overcame a seven-run deficit, scoring six runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Kansas City Royals, 10-9, Sunday as Mike MacDougal blew a save chance for the first time this season.

Toronto trailed, 8-1, before scoring one run in the seventh and two in the eighth. Mike Bordick’s single tied it, and the winning run scored on an error by shortstop Angel Berroa.

Shannon Stewart’s RBI double in the seventh pulled Toronto to within 8-2, and Josh Phelps’ RBI double and pinch-hitter Greg Myers’ run-scoring single made it 8-4 in the eighth.

Kansas City, which dropped to 17-5, increased its lead to 9-4 in the ninth on an RBI single by Desi Relaford.

Toronto then opened the bottom half with singles by Stewart and Frank Catalanotto off Ryan Buckvich. A walk by Vernon Wells loaded the bases.

Carlos Delgado’s RBI grounder and Phelps’ two-run double made it 9-7.

MacDougal (1-1), who had been nine for nine in save chances, gave up a double to Eric Hinske, hit Tom Wilson with a pitch and gave up an RBI grounder to Dave Berg that pulled the Blue Jays within a run.

Bordick followed with a single that tied the score, and Stewart hit an a grounder to Berroa, whose throw to second base sailed past Relaford, allowing Berg to score.

Chicago 3, Minnesota 1 -- Esteban Loaiza, the surprising early-season ace for the White Sox, won his fifth consecutive start. Loaiza (5-0), who entered the game at Chicago as the toughest pitcher in the majors to hit (a .131 average), yielded one run and six hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and didn’t walk anyone.

Oakland 4, Cleveland 3 -- Terrence Long hit a game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Athletics a three-game sweep of the Indians.

It was the fourth straight win for the Athletics, who have beaten the Indians in eight straight. The Indians (7-18) are off to their worst start since going 4-21 in 1969. They’ve lost a season-high six in a row and nine of 11.

Texas 10, New York 7 -- Alex Rodriguez had five hits in five at-bats and drove in six runs at Arlington, Texas, giving Manager Buck Showalter his first win against his former team.

Rodriguez hit a two-run double that tied the score at 4 in the fourth inning. In the fifth, his three-run double into the right-center field gap gave the Rangers a 9-5 lead.

Seattle 4, Detroit 3 -- The loss dropped the Tigers to 3-20, extending the worst start in team history. The Mariners completed a 5-1 homestand. Freddy Garcia (2-3) limited the Tigers to four hits, including home runs by Bobby Higginson and Dmitri Young, in seven innings.

Baltimore 7, Tampa Bay 4 -- The Devil Rays came up short at St. Petersburg, Fla., in their bid to sweep a series for the first time since winning three games from Detroit to start last season.