The Los Angeles Angels extended their lead in the American League West division to a season-best seven games by beating the Boston Red Sox 11-3 on Friday. Angels slugger Garret Anderson went 4-for-4 from the plate, hitting the go-ahead solo homer and finishing with five RBIs to dominate the visiting pitchers. Los Angeles have a major league-leading 58 victories, and moved to 20 games over .500 for the first time this year. In a meeting of the two best teams in the AL, resuming from the All-Star break, defeat dropped the defending World Series champion Boston into second place in the AL East. Twins 6, Rangers 0: In Minneapolis, free-swinging Texas _ which has clearly the most runs in the majors _ was shut out for the first time this season by Minnesota. Twins starter Glen Perkins pitched six innings, allowing only three hits. It was the first time Texas has been shut out since last August, co-incidentally also against Minnesota. The Twins got four runs on five singles in the seventh to take a grip on the game. Rays 2, Blue Jays 1: In St. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay relished a return to its home ballpark, snapping a seven-game losing streak by edging Toronto. Ben Zobrist provided the runs with a two-run homer in the seventh and pitcher James Shields allowed just one run over seven innings. The win was enough for the Rays to reclaim leadership of the AL East, half a game ahead of Boston. Toronto has lost six of seven games against Tampa Bay this season. Yankees 7, Athletics 1: In New York, Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer to power New York to a comfortable win over Oakland. Alex Rodriguez also connected for New York, and had three hits. Yankees pitchers combined to retire the final 14 Oakland batters. The A's, who won six of their previous seven at Yankee Stadium, have lost three straight overall for the first time since May. White Sox 9, Royals 5: In Chicago, the home side laid on six runs and seven hits in the opening inning to set up the victory over Kansas City. Orioles 7, Tigers 4: In Baltimore, Luke Scott homered twice as Baltimore downed Detroit. Scott hit a solo shot in the second and a game-clinching, two-run drive in the eighth. Aubrey Huff also had two hits and a homer that was his fifth in his past 13 games and 19th of the season. Melvin Mora also homered for the Orioles. The Tigers were 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Mariners 8, Indians 2: In Seattle, the home side ended Cleveland's five-game winning streak.
