Twins’ Skid Ends at Five Behind Reed

Rick Reed won his first start for Minnesota despite giving up a career high-tying 12 hits and the Twins stopped a five-game losing streak by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 9-4, Thursday afternoon at Toronto.

Reed (1-0), acquired Monday from the New York Mets for outfielder Matt Lawton, allowed two runs on 11 singles and one home run in six innings. He walked none and struck out two.

It was the third time Reed has won after allowing 12 hits.

Reed, who also defeated Toronto on July 17 in interleague play, was handed a 6-0 lead in the second inning.

Bobby Kielty hit his first major league home run for the Twins, who are 6-15 since the All-Star break. The slump dropped Minnesota out of first place in the American League Central Division.

Oakland 17, Cleveland 4--Jermaine Dye and Terrence Long each drove in four runs at Cleveland.

Dye, Miguel Tejada and Olmedo Saenz homered to highlight the Athletics’ season-high 20-hit attack. Long had four hits.

Given an 11-0 lead in the fifth inning, Mark Mulder (13-6) cruised to his fifth consecutive victory.

Oakland scored 33 runs in winning two of three games at Jacobs Field. The Athletics pulled within 2 1/2 games of AL wild-card leader Boston.

Texas 12, New York 2--Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in Texas’ six-run third inning against Mike Mussina, helping the Rangers win their first series at Yankee Stadium since 1993.

Gabe Kapler hit a three-run shot in the third, Frank Catalanotto and Ricky Ledee each had solo homers, and Aaron Myette (1-1) earned the victory.

Mussina (11-9) gave up eight runs, nine hits and a season-high three homers in four innings.

Tampa Bay 3, Baltimore 2--Tanyon Sturtze pitched seven strong innings, Steve Cox drove in two runs and the Devil Rays won their first road series this season against an AL club.

By taking two of three from the slumping Orioles, Tampa Bay improved to 2-14-2 in road series. Its only other series victory on the road came in Atlanta last month.

Sturtze (6-9) allowed two runs, six hits and five walks. Rookie Victor Zambrano earned his first major league save.

Seattle 2, Detroit 1--Rookie Joel Pineiro (2-0) allowed one run in seven innings at Detroit.

The Mariners took two of three games from Detroit and have not lost a series on the road this season.

Pineiro became the second Mariner pitcher to start his career with victories in his first three decisions, joining Freddy Garcia, who was a rookie in 1999. Pineiro allowed four hits, struck out five and walked none.

Jeff Nelson struck out the side in the eighth, and Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 34th save in 38 opportunities.

Kansas City 6, Chicago 3--Jeff Suppan won for the first time in more than a month and Raul Ibanez’s three-run double sparked a six-run third inning at Chicago.

Suppan (5-9) allowed three hits for six scoreless innings before faltering in the seventh when Jeff Liefer and Jose Valentin homered, pulling Chicago within 6-3.