Bronx, NY -- (Sports Network) - Robinson Cano and Alex Rodriguez both homered as New York downed Oakland, 7-1, in the opener of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. Cano was 2-for-4 with a three-run shot for the Yankees. who had dropped three of four entering the All-Star break. Rodriguez finished 3- for-4 with a solo shot and two RBI. Richie Sexson was 1-for-3 and drove in a run during his New York debut. The slugger, who was released by the Seattle Mariners last week, was officially signed by the Yankees earlier in the day and paid immediate dividends with a run-scoring single in the first inning. Mike Mussina (12-6) allowed just one run on nine hits in six innings on the hill to earn the win. David Robertson, Edwar Ramirez and LaTroy Hawkins finished things with an inning of perfect relief apiece. Yankees pitching ended the game with 14 consecutive outs. Ryan Sweeney was 1- for-4 with the only RBI for the Athletics, who have dropped three straight. Kurt Suzuki finished 2-for-4. Greg Smith was touched for six runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings en route to the loss. He walked five while striking out only one.

Final Score: Baltimore 7, Detroit 4

Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Luke Scott belted two of Baltimore's four home runs in a 7-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers in the second matchup of a four-game set at Camden Yards. In his first career outing against the Tigers, Jeremy Guthrie (6-7) scattered 12 hits and two walks across six-plus innings to give up four runs while striking out five for Baltimore, which snapped a three-game losing streak. Scott was 2-for-4 with three RBI while Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora also went deep for the O's. George Sherrill, who had blown three of his last five save opportunities entering the game, picked up his 29th save, second-best in the American League behind the Angels' Francisco Rodriguez. Armando Galarraga (7-4) went 6 2/3 innings allowing five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits while striking out six for the Tigers, who have lost four of their last six. Ivan Rodriguez's 4-for-4 night included a home run while Curtis Granderson was 2-for-4 with an RBI double.

Final Score: Tampa Bay 2, Toronto 1

St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - Ben Zobrist clubbed the go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, and Tampa Bay snapped a season-long seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Rays (56-39), who have been a huge surprise this season, moved back into first place in the AL East, a half-game ahead of Boston. They improved to a stellar 37-14 as the host and have won 16 of their last 20 at Tropicana Field. James Shields (8-6) allowed four hits, including a third-inning homer from Adam Lind, over seven innings to win for the fourth time in five starts. J.P. Howell threw two-thirds of an inning. Grant Balfour escaped a jam in the eighth and struck out three batters, nailing down his fourth save of the year. Shields is 6-1 at home this year and 4-0 lifetime against the Blue Jays. A.J. Burnett (10-9) pitched well in defeat, giving up five hits, to go with three walks and six strikeouts in seven innings.

Final Score: Minnesota 6, Texas 0

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Glen Perkins was brilliant on the mound to win his fifth straight decision, and Delmon Young went 4-for-4, as the Minnesota Twins crushed the Texas Rangers, 6-0, in the opener of a three-game set from the Metrodome. Jason Kubel and Brian Buscher each had two hits and two runs driven in for the Twins, who have won four of five overall. Perkins (7-2) lasted six frames and yielded just three hits. Craig Breslow, Jesse Crain and Boof Bonser each threw a perfect inning of relief. Michael Young went 1-for-3 to extend his hit streak to 16 games for the Rangers, who were shut out for the first time all season and have now alternated wins and losses for the past six games. Ian Kinsler went 0-for-4, snapping his hit streak at 25 games, which is three short of the franchise record set by Gabe Kapler in 2000. Josh Hamilton, who hit 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday, went hitless in four at-bats. Kevin Millwood (6-6) took the loss as he was touched for five runs on 11 hits while striking out six and walking only one over 6 1/3 innings.

Final Score: Chicago 9, Kansas City 5

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - It seemed like they swung at every pitch, but Chicago's first eight batters of the game reached base en route to scoring six first-inning runs, as the White Sox dominated the Kansas City Royals, 9-5. Five of the first six -- including the first four -- reached base on the first pitch of their respective at-bats. The White Sox led 4-1 by the time they had seen seven pitches and had six first-pitch hits in the first two innings. Jermaine Dye went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Carlos Quentin added his 23rd home run of the season -- tying Grady Sizemore for the American League lead -- to give the AL Central leaders their sixth win in nine games. Mark Buehrle (7-8) had a solid outing, throwing seven innings and allowing four runs -- three earned -- and four hits while striking out three and walking two. The southpaw got his first win in July after going 4-0 in June. For all the success Zack Greinke (7-6) has had this year, he has really struggled at U.S. Cellular Field. He pitched only three-plus innings, giving up seven runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts and three walks. In his two road starts this year against Chicago, he has thrown a total of nine innings, giving up 15 runs on 20 hits. Billy Butler, replacing Jose Guillen who sat out with back spasms, hit a three-run homer and had four RBI, as the Royals lost for the seventh time in 11 games.

Final Score: LA Angels of Anaheim 11, Boston 3

Anaheim, CA (Sports Network) - John Lackey was solid in seven innings and Garret Anderson went 4-for-4 with five runs driven in, as the LA Angels of Anaheim crushed the Boston Red Sox, 11-3, in the opener of a three-game set. Lackey (7-2) allowed just three runs on five hits while walking two. Lackey also fanned six batters, giving him 1,004 K's for his career. Maicer Izturis and Howie Kendrick each recorded two RBI for the Angels, who have won three in a row. Vladimir Guerrero also added an RBI in the win. Clay Buchholz (2-5) took the loss as he surrendered eight runs -- four earned -- on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run home run and Manny Ramirez had a solo shot for the Red Sox, who are 5-2 over their last seven contests and have dropped 8- of-10 road games to fall a half-game behind the Tampa Bay Rays for the top spot in the AL East.

Final Score: Seattle 8, Cleveland 2

Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam as part of a three-hit night and Felix Hernandez tossed six solid innings, as Seattle routed Cleveland, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game set with the Indians. Hernandez (7-6) gave up just two runs on four hits and a pair of walks, and struck out eight to help the Mariners win their second straight. The right- hander earned his first win since June 17. Jose Lopez added a three-run homer, while Adrian Beltre went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks. Aaron Laffey (5-6) was touched for eight runs -- just three earned -- on nine hits in 3 2/3 frames to absorb the loss. It was Laffey's shortest outing of the season for Cleveland, which took a four-game winning streak into the All- Star break. Casey Blake hit a solo homer and drove in both runs for the Indians, while Andy Marte and Asdrubal Cabrera each had a hit and a walk.