AL Capsules

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -Jason Bay had four hits and two RBIs and Josh Beckett pitched effectively into the seventh inning to help the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-2 on Tuesday night.

Beckett, 0-3 with a 5.31 earned run average while allowing 29 hits in 20 1-3 innings in his previous three starts, held the Royals to four hits and two runs in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Beckett (10-8) gave up an RBI double to Mark Teahen in the first, and after Alex Gordon led off the second with a single, Beckett retired 16 of the next 17 he faced. He improved to 3-0 in five career starts against Kansas City.

The Red Sox remained three games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Dustin Pedroia singled in a run in the fifth. He has hit in 26 consecutive road games, which is the most by a Red Sox since 1913 when Hall of Famer Tris Speaker hit in 29 straight road games.

Brian Bannister (7-10) took the loss, giving up three runs and six hits in four-plus innings.

Rangers 8, Yankees 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Josh Hamilton hit his 27th homer, rookie Matt Harrison pitched into the seventh inning and Texas hung on to beat New York.

The Yankees lost their second straight to the Rangers, have dropped seven of 10 and fell 6 1/2 games behind AL-East leading Tampa Bay.

Texas took an 8-2 lead into the eighth, but Richie Sexson's grand-slam off C.J. Wilson made it a two-run game.

Harrison (3-2) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings. He started the night with a 7.40 ERA.

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (12-9) allowed five runs and six hits in five-plus innings.

White Sox 10, Tigers 8, 14 innings