Athletics Stay Hot on Road

It has been a memorable August for Joe Blanton.

The rookie right-hander remained unbeaten this month, giving up four hits over six shutout innings to lead Oakland past Baltimore, 4-1, Friday night at Baltimore.

Blanton (8-9) is 3-0 and has given up only four earned runs in 38 innings in August. He was 0-3 with a 4.44 earned-run average in July.

Bobby Crosby hit a two-run homer and Eric Chavez drove in a run and scored one for the Athletics, who have won three in a row after losing seven of eight. Oakland is 15-3 in its last 18 road games.

Boston 9, Detroit 8 -- Manny Ramirez drove in three runs and the Red Sox rallied after a reversed call gave the Tigers a disputed homer for their 14th consecutive victory at Fenway Park.

Brandon Inge and Curtis Granderson hit two-run homers in the fourth to give Detroit a 5-3 lead. First-base umpire Jim Wolf ruled that Granderson’s high fly near the pole in right was foul, but the call was reversed after the four umpires consulted. Boston Manager Terry Francona was ejected for arguing the call with plate umpire Randy Marsh.

New York 5, Kansas City 1 -- Bernie Williams hit two two-run homers to help Randy Johnson (12-8) win for the first time in a month and lead the Yankees past the Royals at New York.

Johnson gave up four hits and struck out six in eight innings. He had been 0-2 with a 6.49 ERA in four starts since beating Minnesota on July 26.

Cleveland 9, Toronto 3 -- Grady Sizemore stole home, Travis Hafner homered twice and C.C. Sabathia (11-9) won his fifth start in a row for the Indians, who won for the eighth time in nine games.

Chicago 5, Seattle 3 -- Tadahito Iguchi’s two-run homer with two out in the top of the 12th off closer Eddie Guardado gave the White Sox the win at Seattle. Brian Anderson, a rookie playing in his fifth major league game, hit two homers off rookie Felix Hernandez, who had not given up an extra-base hit in his first four starts.

Texas 6, Minnesota 0 -- David Dellucci and Alfonso Soriano homered in a four-run third inning to lead the Rangers to victory at Arlington, Texas. Rookie Kameron Loe (6-4) pitched five shutout innings in his second major league start for Texas.