Young Powers Tigers Past A’s

After years of suffering through tough seasons with Detroit, Dmitri Young feels good about the Tigers’ future.

“We lost 119 games [in 2003] and we couldn’t get anyone to play here,” Young said. “Now we have the players and we’re making it respectable.”

Young hit a three-run home run and Wilfredo Ledezma made the early lead stand up Wednesday, giving the Tigers an 11-3 victory over the host Oakland Athletics and ending a three-game losing streak.

Omar Infante drove in three runs and Rondell White homered for the Tigers. Ivan Rodriguez was the only Detroit starter who did not get a hit.

Ledezma (2-0) pitched 5 2/3 innings to earn his first victory as a starter this season. The left-hander’s other victory came in relief July 25.

New York 4, Texas 2 -- Derek Jeter hit a solo homer and Tanyon Sturtze (4-2) gave up five hits in five innings in a spot start at Arlington, Texas.

Sturtze gave up two runs and three hits in the first inning but regrouped after that.

Cleveland 3, Toronto 2 -- C.C. Sabathia (9-6) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings at Cleveland and rookie Grady Sizemore drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

Matt Lawton homered for the Indians, who have won three in a row and improved to 15-3 at home in one-run games.

Boston 14, Tampa Bay 4 -- Kevin Millar had four hits and drove in four runs in the first five innings at Boston.

The Red Sox scored five runs in each the second and third innings for a 13-1 lead and cruised to their fourth victory in five games. The Devil Rays lost for the 11th time in 12 road games.

Boston’s David Ortiz drove in two runs, giving him 100 for the second consecutive season and leaving him one short of his career high.

Kansas City 4, Chicago 2 -- Darrell May (9-12) didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning and Mike Sweeney hit a two-run homer at Chicago to help the Royals end a five-game losing streak.

Chicago committed three errors and lost for the 13th time in 17 games.

Seattle 4, Minnesota 3 -- Pinch-runner Willie Bloomquist stole third base and scored on catcher Henry Blanco’s throwing error with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to hand the Twins their fourth consecutive defeat.

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AL Wild-Card Race

*--* W L GB Boston 62 50 -- Angels 63 51 -- Texas 61 51 1 Cleveland 60 55 3 1/2 Chicago 56 55 5 1/2 Baltimore 54 58 8

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