Zito Returns to His Winning Ways

Despite giving up a career-high 10 hits -- nine singles -- for the second consecutive start, Barry Zito pitched into the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners, 5-2, Thursday at Oakland.

After a lengthy stretch of bad innings and bad luck, Zito (8-5) finally got back on track with his second victory in nine starts. The American League Cy Young winner blew a six-run lead Sunday against the San Francisco Giants.

Zito usually blows away the opposition with his excellent curveball and fastball. In 7 1/3 innings against the Mariners, he struck out five and didn’t walk anyone. He left after giving up three hits and a run in the eighth.

Oakland salvaged a split of the four-game series between the top two teams in the American League West. The A’s are six games behind the Mariners.

Tampa Bay 6, Boston 5 -- Marlon Anderson singled with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Devil Rays took two of three from the Red Sox to win a series for the first time since May 16-18 at Baltimore. The Red Sox wasted an opportunity to pull within three games of first-place New York in the AL East.

Kansas City 3, Detroit 2 -- Jeremy Affeldt pitched seven strong innings to lead the Royals at Kansas City and make Jeremy Bonderman the major leagues’ first 13-game loser.

Affeldt (5-4) gave up five hits and two runs. It was the left-hander’s first career victory in 11 starts at Kauffman Stadium. He walked one and struck out two.

The 20-year-old Bonderman (2-13), who’d been tied with teammates Adam Bernero and Mike Maroth with 12 losses, made his sixth consecutive solid start but lost his ninth decision in a row. He went 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs and six hits. He walked two.

Cleveland 4, Minnesota 1 -- C.C. Sabathia pitched a four-hitter and Jody Gerut homered at Minneapolis to help the Indians hand the Twins their fourth consecutive loss and 14th in 19 games. Sabathia (8-3) won his fourth consecutive decision, walking one and striking out five.

Baltimore 6, Toronto 5 -- At Baltimore, Jason Johnson (7-3) gave up four runs and eight hits over seven innings to earn his first win in eight decisions against the Blue Jays. He was 0-7 with a 7.34 earned-run average in 12 career starts.