Athletics Win Big, Catch Angels

Rookie Dan Johnson homered for the fourth consecutive game, Mark Ellis had three hits and drove in four runs, and the Oakland A’s routed the Kansas City Royals, 16-1, Saturday night at Kansas City, Mo., and moved into a tie with the Angels in the American League West.

Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer during an eight-run seventh, when the A’s sent 12 men to the plate. Swisher leads AL rookies with 16 home runs and 57 RBIs.

Ellis singled home Jay Payton during a three-run third. His double during a four-run fifth scored Swisher and Bobby Kielty, and chased Jose Lima (4-10).

Lima gave up seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He is 0-4 lifetime against the A’s with a 12.32 earned-run average.

The A’s have won nine of 10 and 16 of 18. The Royals have lost nine in a row.

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Minnesota 4, Boston 3 -- Reliever Mike Timlin threw wildly to first on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the bottom of the ninth -- the second throwing error in the inning -- allowing the Twins to score the winning run at Minnesota.

Michael Cuddyer led off with an infield single off Timlin (4-2), but third baseman Bill Mueller bounced his throw past first, allowing Cuddyer to take second. Nick Punto bunted the next pitch back to Timlin, who threw past Roberto Petagine.

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Chicago 4, Seattle 2 -- Mark Buehrle (13-4) outpitched Jamie Moyer, scattering seven hits and walking none at Chicago.

Paul Konerko’s 26th homer highlighted a three-run first inning against Moyer (9-4), who retired 16 of the next 17 batters. He pitched 7 2/3 innings, yielding four runs -- three earned -- and four hits.

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Texas 10, Baltimore 3 -- David Dellucci hit a grand slam, Mark Teixeira reached the 30-homer mark for the second season in a row and John Wasdin gave the Ranger rotation a lift by pitching into the seventh inning at Arlington, Texas.

Wasdin (1-1) yielded two runs and six hits.

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Toronto 8, New York 5 -- Randy Johnson (11-7) lasted only four innings at Toronto, yielding six runs -- five earned -- and 10 hits. Shea Hillenbrand homered, stole home and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays.

Hillenbrand stole home in the third when Johnson tried to pick off Alex Rios at first. He broke for the plate and first baseman Jason Giambi threw the ball into the Toronto dugout.

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Cleveland 4, Detroit 2 -- Jake Westbrook (10-12) won his fourth consecutive start, yielding four hits -- including Magglio Ordonez’s two-run homer -- in seven innings at Detroit.