Tigers Stop Short of Dubious Record

Carlos Pena hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and the Detroit Tigers won for only the fourth time this season, beating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-3, Sunday at Detroit.

The Tigers set a season high for runs, ended a six-game losing streak and averted the worst 29-game start in major league history. Baltimore of the American Assn. started the 1882 season with a 3-26 record.

After starting the weekend with only 61 runs in 27 games, Detroit broke out with 13 runs and 23 hits the last two days.

“We swung the bat well the last two games in a row,” Manager Alan Trammell said. “Just hope it’s the start of a roll.”

Rookie starter Jeremy Bonderman (2-4) gave up only two runs and three hits in six innings, striking out five and walking one.

Bonderman retired the last 12 batters he faced but was replaced to start the seventh inning because he had thrown 118 and 102 pitches in his previous two starts.

Chris Spurling, also a rookie, pitched three innings for his first save.

Kansas City 4, Baltimore 0 -- The Royals managed only four hits, but mustered enough offense to end a disappointing trip on a positive note.

Mike DiFelice homered, and Chris George and two relievers combined on a seven-hitter to lead the Royals, who improved to 19-9.

Kansas City took two of three from the Orioles after going 0-7 against them last season.

The Royals, 10-0 at home, return to Kauffman Stadium today to play Boston after a 3-6 trip.

Minnesota 9, Boston 4 -- The Twins overcame a four-run deficit against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to win the third game of the series at Fenway Park.

They tied the score in the sixth and went ahead with five runs in the seventh.

In the first two games of the series, Boston scored six runs in one inning Friday and had a seven-run inning Saturday.

The Twins got to Wakefield after managing only three hits through five innings.

Corey Koskie started the comeback with a run-scoring double in the sixth. Matthew LeCroy followed with a run-scoring single, Todd Sears with a sacrifice fly and Michael Cuddyer with a score-tying triple.

Minnesota’s first three batters reached to load the bases in the seventh. LeCroy’s two-run single put the Twins ahead, 6-4.

Cleveland 3, Texas 1 -- C.C. Sabathia won for the first time in seven starts this season, giving up five hits in eight innings at Cleveland.

Sabathia (1-2), a 22-year-old left-hander who became the ace of the Indian rotation this year, struck out five and walked three, improving to 4-0 in four career starts against Texas. Danys Baez finished with a hitless ninth for his fifth save.

Cleveland had been 0-6 in Sabathia’s starts this season. It was his first victory since Sept. 27 against Kansas City, and his longest outing since a complete-game loss at Boston on Sept. 17.

Seattle 5, Chicago 1 -- The Mariners completed their first three-game sweep in Chicago since 1978.

Rain halted play with one out in the top of the sixth inning, and the umpires called the game after a 68-minute delay.