MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cleveland Indians stayed in their hitting slump, and Nick Blackburn had plenty to do with keeping them there.
Justin Morneau hit a two-run homer for the power-poor Minnesota Twins, and Blackburn made it stand up with 7 2/3 scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Indians on Saturday.
"I felt we put up some good at-bats, the type of at-bats where you wouldn't expect a zero to be up there," Cleveland manager Eric Wedge said. "But that's the way it played out."
Blackburn (1-1), who hit one batter and gave up eight hits without a walk, earned his first major league win with veteran poise by using the defense behind him to escape a couple of jams.
He used his sinker to induce four inning-ending double-play grounders, including two by David Dellucci.
"There were so many ridiculous plays," said Blackburn, who started one himself with a leaping stab of Asdrubal Cabrera's up-the-middle bouncer in the fifth.
Dennys Reyes recorded the last out of the eighth, and Joe Nathan posted his sixth save in as many attempts with a perfect ninth. Full story
Rays 5, White Sox 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Andy Sonnanstine threw a three-hitter for his first career complete game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Chicago White Sox.
The White Sox had just three singles, including a bunt hit, and didn't get a runner past second base. After two of the hits, Sonnanstine later got inning-ending double play grounders.
Sonnanstine (2-1) struck out four and walked one. The right-hander struggled in previous start Monday, allowing seven runs and nine hits over 3 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees.
Tampa Bay stopped a six-game losing skid against Chicago.
Angels 4, Mariners 1
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ervin Santana allowed three hits over eight innings and retired 20 of his first 21 batters, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a victory over the Seattle Mariners.
Santana (3-0) struck out eight and walked none, improving his all-time home record to 26-9. The only baserunner the right-hander allowed over the first 6 2/3 innings was Greg Norton, who doubled off the center field wall with one out in the first and was stranded at third when Brad Wilkerson took a called third strike.
Adrian Beltre homered with two out in the seventh, snapping a string of 16 consecutive Seattle outs. Wilkerson's bloop single in the eighth was the only other hit off Santana, who struck out his last two batters.
Scot Shields pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season and 17th of his career, allowing one hit. Regular closer Francisco Rodriguez got the night off after pitching in five of the previous six games.
Athletics 6, Royals 5
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Daric Barton wasn't bothered by the booing he heard in the second inning after dropping Miguel Olivo's fly ball in foul territory. When Olivo homered two pitches later, Oakland's first baseman could only shrug his shoulders.
Barton did that, going 3-for-5 with a single, double and triple in the Athletics' win over the Kansas City Royals.
Kurt Suzuki singled home Chris Denorfia with the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the A's knocked around the Royals' bullpen for the second straight day to deny starter Zack Greinke his fourth win of the year.
Six players had at least two hits for Oakland, which set a season high with 16 hits a night after getting 15 hits against Brian Bannister and four relievers.
