CHICAGO -- Clayton Richard pitched six innings for his first major league win, Nick Swisher and Jim Thome homered, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 5-0 Tuesday night.
Ken Griffey Jr. hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly against his former team, and A.J. Pierzynski had three hits as the White Sox won for the seventh time in eight games and maintained a one-game lead over second-place Minnesota in the AL Central.
Richard (1-2), making his fourth major league start, allowed five hits, struck out two and walked one in his first appearance his he was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. Picked for the U.S. Olympic team, the 24-year-old lefty reported to Chicago instead of Beijing when the White Sox purchased his contract from Charlotte on July 21.
He was 0-2 with a 9.64 ERA in three starts and one relief appearance during his first callup, but he dominated against the miserable Mariners.
Richard escaped trouble in the first after his throwing error allowed Ichiro Suzuki to reach second. Miguel Cairo followed with a single, but Nick Swisher fielded Raul Ibanez's grounder to first, stepped on the bag and threw home for a double play.
Richard maintained his poise after leadoff doubles by Adrian Beltre in the fourth and Ibanez in the sixth. Full story
Twins 13, Athletics 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- What has already been a long season for Oakland just keeps getting longer.
Kevin Slowey had a career-high 12 strikeouts and Brian Buscher matched his career best with five RBI in the Minnesota Twins' victory over the Athletics.
Buscher had three hits, including a two-run homer, and the Twins pummeled Sean Gallagher (1-2) for 10 earned runs in five innings to bounce back from a lackluster effort in a 3-2 loss to Oakland on Monday.
Justin Morneau had two doubles among his three hits and every Twins hitter registered at least one hit against Gallagher and Santiago Casilla, who gave up three runs in the sixth.
Indians 9, Royals 4
CLEVELAND -- Grady Sizemore hit a three-run homer to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals.
Sizemore connected on the first pitch he saw from reliever Leo Nunez for his 28th homer that gave Cleveland a 7-3 lead in the sixth inning. The All-Star center fielder had gone 0-for-3 to extend his slump to 10-for-61 (.164) before hitting his first homer since July 31.
Nunez came on after starter Luke Hochevar (6-12) left with a team trainer as he was warming up for the sixth. The Royals listed the right-hander as day-to-day with tightness in his right ribcage.
Hochevar allowed seven hits and four runs, including solo homers to Shin-Soo Choo and Ryan Garko. The first overall pick in the 2006 draft has lost five straight decisions and is 1-7 in nine starts since July 1.
Tigers 11, Rangers 3
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Joyce homered twice, including a three-run shot in a nine-run seventh inning, and Armando Galarraga beat his former team as the Detroit Tigers defeated the slumping Texas Rangers.
Joyce's blast gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead and keyed the huge inning as they rallied in the seventh for a second straight game.
Galarraga (12-4) allowed three runs and eight hits, striking out five in six innings.
Texas designated Galarraga for assignment before spring training to make room for Jason Jennings, who has spent most of the season on the disabled list. The Tigers acquired Galarraga, who became the first rookie to 12 wins, on Feb. 4.
