Lilly Keeps Up His Road Success

Ted Lilly is finding success away from home.

Lilly (7-4) won his fifth consecutive road decision, and Eric Hinske stole home to lead the Toronto Blue Jays past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 4-0, on Tuesday night at St. Petersburg, Fla.

The left-hander didn’t give up a run over six-plus innings in improving to 5-0 over his last seven starts away from SkyDome. He gave up three hits, four walks and struck out three.

“I was a little wild, but I think I got away with it today,” Lilly said.

Lilly was coming off a dismal start last Thursday at home. He gave up six runs and nine hits in three innings of the Blue Jays’ 19-13 loss to Tampa Bay.

Vinnie Chulk pitched two hitless innings, and Jason Frasor struck out the side in the ninth to complete the three-hitter.

Hinske stole home on the front end of a double steal during a two-run first, and the Blue Jays sent the Devil Rays to their third loss in 19 games. The Devil Rays had scored 29 runs in their previous two games against Toronto.

*

Chicago 6, Minnesota 2 -- Mark Buehrle pitched eight sharp innings at Minneapolis to defeat the Twins again, leading the White Sox into first place in the AL Central.

Buehrle (8-2) gave up eight hits and two runs while improving to 13-4 against the Twins in 18 starts.

*

Detroit 9, Cleveland 7 -- Dmitri Young’s two-run homer in the 11th inning at Detroit gave the Tigers their season-high fifth consecutive victory.

It was Detroit’s third consecutive game-ending home run. Eric Munson’s solo shot in the ninth beat Arizona on Saturday, and Carlos Pena’s grand slam in the ninth led the Tigers past the Diamondbacks the next day.

*

Kansas City 4, Baltimore 3 -- Desi Relaford hit a go-ahead RBI double in the sixth inning at Kansas City, Mo., and the Royals ended a five-game losing streak.

Rookie Mike Wood (1-0) earned his first victory since coming over in the three-team trade last Thursday that sent Carlos Beltran to Houston. Shawn Camp pitched the ninth for his first major league save.

*

Seattle 4, Texas 3 -- Rich Aurilia hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Joel Pineiro won his third consecutive decision, leading the Mariners over the Rangers at Seattle.

The Mariners broke a seven-game losing streak against the Rangers.