Yankees win, 21-4

Ah, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Just what a struggling club full of stars needs to get back into contention for a playoff berth.

The New York Yankees had 25 hits, reaching 20 in consecutive games for the first time in team history, in a 21-4 rout of the Devil Rays on Sunday. On Saturday, the Yankees had 20 hits in a 17-5 win that finished off a day-night doubleheader sweep.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Yankees Manager Joe Torre said. “Even in batting practice you don’t get hits every time you swing the bat.”

Rookie Shelley Duncan homered twice, including a three-run drive that capped a 10-run fourth inning, and Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 34th homer and No. 498 of his career. Hideki Matsui, Bobby Abreu and Robinson Cano also homered to give the Yankees six home runs in a game for the first time in two years.

The Yankees moved a season-best five games over .500 and are 7 1/2 games behind AL East-leading Boston.

From the Associated Press

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RESULTS

AL RESULTS

* Cleveland 8, at Texas 3: Victor Martinez, Josh Barfield and Jason Michaels drove in two runs apiece for the Indians, who moved within a game of AL Central-leading Detroit. Barfield went three for four and scored two runs and Casey Blake also had three hits for Cleveland. Martinez, an All-Star catcher, made only his 15th start of the season at first base. Cleveland’s Paul Byrd (8-4) did not allow a hit until Marlon Byrd tripled with two outs in the fourth. Byrd allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

* at Boston 8, Chicago 5: Manny Ramirez homered and drove in four runs and Mike Lowell added a three-run shot to send the White Sox into a tie for last place in the AL Central with Kansas City. Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon gave up two singles and a walk to start the ninth inning before striking out Jim Thome and getting Paul Konerko to hit into a double play for his 22nd save.

* at Toronto 8, Seattle 0: Roy Halladay (11-4) threw a three-hitter, Troy Glaus hit a three-run homer and the Blue Jays shut out the Mariners for the second straight game. Aaron Hill and Gregg Zaun had solo homers for Toronto. Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez (6-6) allowed six runs over six innings.

* Kansas City 5, at Detroit 2: Brian Bannister allowed four hits in seven innings and Esteban German homered for the Royals, who went 5-4 on a trip against playoff contenders Boston, Cleveland and Detroit. The Royals are 6-3 during their last three series in Detroit, starting with the season-ending sweep that cost the Tigers last year’s AL Central title.

* Baltimore 2, at Oakland 0: Jeremy Guthrie (6-3) combined with two relievers on a two-hitter, and Kevin Millar and Jay Payton hit run-scoring singles to lead the Orioles over the fading Athletics, who have lost 11 of 13 to fall 11 1/2 games behind the AL West-leading Angels. Guthrie retired 10 of 11 hitters at one point.

* at New York 21, Tampa Bay 4: Hideki Matsui tied his regular-season high with five hits for the Yankees.

* Angels 7, at Minnesota 2: The Twins’ Matt Garza (1-2) fell to 0-7 lifetime at the Metrodome.