Twins Win Eighth in a Row, Pad Lead

Johan Santana won his eighth straight decision, and Matthew LeCroy and Dustan Mohr homered as the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers, 7-3, Saturday at Minneapolis.

The Twins cut their magic number for winning the Central Division title to four with their eighth straight win and 11th victory in 12 home games. Minnesota extended its lead to 4 1/2 games over second-place Chicago, which lost, 7-1, to Kansas City later Saturday.

Detroit lost its eighth straight and fell to 18-59 on the road this season. The Tigers, 38-116, must win five of their final eight games to avoid tying the record for losses in a season. Only the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics (36-117) and the 1962 New York Mets (40-120) have lost more.

Santana (12-3) gave up three earned runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two, the first walks issued by a Twin starter in 30 2/3 innings during the home stand.

New York 7, Tampa Bay 1 -- Andy Pettitte became a 20-game winner for the second time, and the Yankees clinched their ninth straight playoff berth by winning at St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Yankees won for the 12th time in 14 games to climb a season-high 38 games over .500, move closer to their sixth consecutive AL East title and earn at least a wild-card spot.

Pettitte (20-8), who has won 15 of 17 decisions since June 14, allowed eight hits and struck out nine in seven innings. He is 11-1 lifetime against the Devil Rays.

Kansas City 7, Chicago 1 -- Brian Anderson pitched a five-hitter and the Royals beat the White Sox at Chicago as Esteban Loaiza failed for the third time to get his 20th win.

The Royals, who trail Minnesota by 5 1/2 games, scored three in the third against Loaiza (19-9), the AL’s All-Star game starter. Loaiza allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Frank Thomas’ 41st homer in the first for Chicago gave him 100 RBIs for the 10th time.

Cleveland 13, Boston 4 -- The Indians scored 12 runs in their final two at-bats at Cleveland to beat the Red Sox, whose lead in the wild-card race was cut to 1 1/2 games over Seattle.

Casey Blake’s two-run double triggered a seven-run rally in the seventh inning that chased Derek Lowe (16-7), who came in with a 4-0 record and eight saves in 23 career games against Cleveland.

Baltimore 2, Toronto 1 -- Luis Matos hit a solo homer in the fourth inning and scored the winning run on Jay Gibbons’ bloop single in the eighth at Baltimore.