Rangers 8, Royals 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Yu Darvish retired the first 17 batters, Texas hit five home runs and the Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-4 Monday in a game that turned testy.

Adrian Beltre and Nelson Cruz homered on consecutive pitches in the sixth inning. Cruz watched his drive sail over the wall, then was hit by Louis Coleman's first pitch leading off the ninth.

Cruz took a few steps to the mound, but was restrained by catcher Brayan Pena. The dugouts and bullpens emptied, but only words were exchanged. Both teams were issued a warning by plate umpire Mike Everitt.

Mike Young answered that by homering on the next pitch.

Josh Hamilton hit his 38th homer and Geovany Soto added a three-run shot as Texas won for the ninth time in 12 games. The AL West leaders moved a season-high 26 games over .500 — they hit four homers Sunday in an 8-3 victory at Cleveland.

A day after he homered and doubled in his first two big league at-bats, 19-year-old Jurickson Profar was not in the Texas lineup. Second baseman Ian Kinsler, who sat out Sunday with a stiff back, returned to the lineup.

Darvish (14-9), who retired the final seven batters he faced in his previous start, did not allow a runner until two out in the sixth when he walked Johnny Giavotella on a close full-count pitch.

David Lough, playing in his third big league game, blooped a single just over the reach of shortstop Elvis Andrus and into shallow centre.

Darvish tied Wade Miley of Arizona for the most victories by a rookie this season.

Darvish gave up a two-run triple to Tony Abreu and a RBI double to Alex Gordon to cut the Texas lead to 6-3 before the inning ended. Darvish was pulled after the seventh and struck out six, including five in the first three innings, and walked one.

Rays 4, Yankees 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields pitched eight strong innings to outlast CC Sabathia and light-hitting Chris Gimenez drove in two runs Monday, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 4-3 and further tighten the AL East race.

The Yankees, who led by 10 games earlier this season, had their lead cut to one game over Baltimore, which beat Toronto 4-0. The Rays moved within 2 1-2 games of New York.

Shields (13-8) and the Rays ruined the return of Alex Rodriguez. The slugger went 1 for 4 with a strikeout in his first game after being sidelined six weeks with a broken left hand.

Gimenez snapped a 3-all tie in the eighth with a two-out grounder that just made it to the outfield for a single off David Robertson (1-5).

Indians 3, Tigers 2

DETROIT — Asdrubal Cabrera's tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh inning lifted the Cleveland Indians to a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday, giving right-hander Corey Kluber his first career victory.

Detroit entered the day tied for first in the AL Central. It was tied at 2 in the seventh when reliever Darin Downs (1-1) allowed two singles and a walk to load the bases with one out. Cabrera then lifted a fly to centre off Brayan Villarreal.

Kluber (1-3) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings in his seventh career start. He struck out four and walked one.

Vinnie Pestano allowed two baserunners in the ninth but escaped for his second save.

Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez allowed two unearned runs in six innings.

Mariners 4, Red Sox 1

SEATTLE — Jason Vargas pitched seven solid innings and the Seattle Mariners sent Boston to its season-worst seventh straight loss, beating the Red Sox 4-1 Monday.

The Red Sox fell to 0-7 on their road trip and have been outscored 58-16 in that span.

Vargas (14-9) allowed one run and six hits, walked no one and struck out five. He is the first Mariners pitcher other than Felix Hernandez to win at least 14 games since 2003.

Vargas, who leads the staff in wins, was coming off two sub-par outings in which he gave up a combined 11 runs and 15 hits in 8 2-3 innings.

Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth to pick up his 23rd save in 26 opportunities.

Angels 8, Athletics 3

OAKLAND, Calif. — Chris Iannetta hit a two-run homer in a three-hit day, Vernon Wells had a solo shot and RBI single, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped Oakland's season-best nine-game winning streak with an 8-3 win Monday.

C.J. Wilson (11-9) shut down the red-hot Athletics in the Angels' sixth victory in the last seven. Oakland had all the momentum coming off a commanding sweep of the Red Sox in which the A's outscored Boston 33-5.

Torii Hunter led off the third with a solo homer and added a sacrifice fly in the sixth for the Angels. Wells hit his 10th homer to start the fourth and No. 9 hitter Iannetta connected in the sixth.

Wilson outpitched fellow lefty Tommy Milone (11-10) to win back-to-back starts for the first time since June 19 and 26.

White Sox 4, Twins 2

CHICAGO - Gordon Beckham hit a two-run homer and Hector Santiago won in his first major league start as the Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Monday night.

After falling out of sole possession of first place in the AL Central on Sunday night following a 1-6 road trip and being swept by the Tigers, the White Sox won the first of a 10-game homestand. They moved a game up on Detroit, which lost to Cleveland 3-2.

Many of the White Sox players watched the Tigers' last out before going out to stretch while manager Robin Ventura practiced his putting in his office.

The White Sox have won eight straight at home and 22 of their last 27 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Jamey Carroll hit his first home run in three seasons for the Twins, who are 25 games below .500.