Zito Isn’t Quite Good Enough to Beat Twins

Chris Gomez hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning, and Johan Santana took a shutout into the eighth as the Minnesota Twins beat Barry Zito and the Oakland Athletics, 3-2, Friday night at Minneapolis.

Zito (8-7) retired 14 in a row from the third through the seventh and allowed only six balls out of the infield.

After throwing eight shutout innings against Baltimore last Sunday, Zito gave up three hits, three runs -- two earned -- and four walks in eight innings while striking out nine.

Gomez had two hits and two runs batted in in the Twins’ second straight win after going into the All-Star break with eight consecutive losses.

Santana, in his fifth start of the season, gave up one run, four hits, struck out seven and walked one in 7 1/3 innings but didn’t get the win.

LaTroy Hawkins (6-2) pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief for the win. Eddie Guardado gave up Eric Chavez’s RBI double in the ninth but got his 21st save -- and first since June 28 -- when Torii Hunter made a game-ending diving catch of Ramon Hernandez’s line drive.

New York 10, Cleveland 4 -- Armando Benitez made a successful debut for the Yankees.

The former Met closer, obtained by the Yankees on Wednesday for three prospects, pitched two innings and held a four-run lead at Yankee Stadium to help preserve Roger Clemens’ 302nd win.

Jason Giambi homered twice and Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run double for the Yankees, who increased their lead to four games over second-place Boston in the East Division.

Toronto 4, Boston 1 -- Kelvim Escobar showed that Roy Halladay isn’t the Blue Jays’ only talented starter. And he did it at Fenway Park against the best-hitting team in the majors.

Escobar (6-6) got Toronto’s first win by a starter other than Halladay in 21 games, yielding five hits in seven innings. He retired 11 consecutive batters at one point and shut down a team that is hitting .293.

Tampa Bay 2, Texas 0 -- Jeremi Gonzalez yielded five hits in eight innings and Rocco Baldelli had a pair of RBI singles at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Gonzalez (4-4) struck out six and walked one for his first victory since June 17. All-Star closer Lance Carter worked a two-hit ninth for his 16th save in 22 opportunities.

The start was delayed 19 minutes to determine if Devil Ray left fielder Carl Crawford was eligible to play.

Crawford had appealed a three-game suspension for his role in a fight with the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 13. He was allowed to remain in the starting lineup after a series of discussions and phone calls made from the Tampa Bay dugout.

Chicago 7, Detroit 5 -- Mark Buehrle won his sixth consecutive decision and Paul Konerko had a homer and two RBIs to lead the White Sox at Chicago.

Buehrle (8-10) has won six of seven starts after losing nine in a row. He gave up 10 hits and four runs, one earned, while striking out five and walking one in 6 2/3 innings.