Moyer, Mariners Handle Athletics

Jamie Moyer and a pair of relievers combined on a two-hitter, and Jeff Cirillo had a run-scoring single in the eighth inning to give the Seattle Mariners a 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night at Seattle.

Cirillo’s one-out hit up the middle came off Chad Bradford (3-2) after Charles Gipson singled and stole second.

Moyer blanked the Athletics on two hits for seven innings. Shigetoshi Hasegawa (4-1) pitched a hitless eighth, and Kazuhiro Sasaki pitched the ninth for his 18th save in 21 opportunities.

It was Sasaki’s 100th career save for Seattle.

Oakland’s second consecutive loss to the American League West leaders dropped the A’s into third place behind the Angels. Rookie Aaron Harang gave up two hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Oakland Manager Art Howe arrived at the game during the fifth inning after a flight back from St. Louis, where he attended a public memorial service for Darryl Kile. Howe was Kile’s first manager in Houston.

Boston 7, Cleveland 4--Johnny Damon’s bases-loaded triple highlighted a six-run fifth inning as the Red Sox and Pedro Martinez overcame three Indian homers to win at Boston.

Cleveland led, 4-0, after four innings on homers by Ellis Burks, Jim Thome and Ben Broussard. Martinez (9-2) had given up only six homers in his first 15 starts this season.

Damon’s fielding also helped Boston end a four-game losing streak. He made fine catches in the second and fifth innings.

Tampa Bay 4, Toronto 2--Tanyon Sturtze ended the longest losing streak by an American League pitcher this year, stopping his eight-game skid at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Jared Sandberg and Aubrey Huff hit sixth-inning home runs as Tampa Bay defeated Steve Parris (0-1) to end a six-game losing streak. Sturtze (1-8) gave up two runs in seven innings.

Esteban Yan worked the ninth for his 10th save.

Baltimore 8, New York 7--Gary Matthews Jr. singled off Steve Karsay with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, stole second and scored on Tony Batista’s single for the Orioles at Baltimore.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for the Orioles, who roughed up Roger Clemens early before beating up on the New York bullpen in the ninth. Mike Stanton (3-1) took the loss.

Willis Roberts (5-2) worked out of a jam in the top of the ninth, retiring Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi with the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Minnesota 6, Chicago 5--Bobby Kielty drove in a career-high four runs at Minneapolis to lead the Twins, who played without Manager Ron Gardenhire.

Gardenhire left the team before the game to be with his family in Oklahoma after the death of his father. Batting coach Scott Ullger took over as acting manager.

Carlos Lee homered twice for the White Sox, who have one victory in their last six games. Kyle Lohse (7-5) beat Todd Ritchie (4-10).

Kansas City 6, Detroit 5--Aaron Guiel, who spent 10 seasons in the minors before being called up last weekend, hit his first major league homer, a three-run shot in the seventh inning that lifted the Royals at Kansas City, Mo.

Guiel’s homer off Jamie Walker landed on the grass beyond the right-field fence and put the Royals ahead, 6-4.