MINNEAPOLIS—Glen Perkins pitched six shutout innings against a powerful Texas lineup in the Minnesota Twin’s 6-0 victory on Friday night, the first time the Rangers have been shut out all season.

Perkins (7-2) allowed just three hits to a Rangers team that entered the game leading the majors in most offensive categories, including batting average, runs, hits, slugging percentage and total bases.

It was the first time Texas has been shut out since Aug. 19 of last season, when former Twins ace Johan Santana fanned 17 Rangers at the Metrodome.

Ian Kinsler’s 25-game hit streak came to an end with an 0-for-4 night, Josh Hamilton went 0-for-4 after wowing the baseball world with 28 homers in the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday night and Hank Blalock was 0-for-2 with a walk in his first game since April 25.

Delmon Young tied a career high by going 4-for-4 with an RBI, even though only one of those hits got out of the infield on the fly.

That’s how these small-ball Twins operate. They are last in the AL in home runs, but first in the majors in hitting with runners in scoring position.

Minnesota broke the game open in trademark fashion with four runs on five singles in the seventh inning to chase Kevin Millwood (6-6).

Jason Kubel and Brian Buscher each had two hits and two RBIs for the Twins, who got shutout innings in relief from Craig Breslow, Jesse Crain and Boof Bonser.



White Sox 9, Royals 5

CHICAGO—Jermaine Dye’s two-run single highlighted a six-run first inning that featured seven Chicago hits and the White Sox beat Kansas City.

Dye went 3-for-4 with a walk, Carlos Quentin homered and Mark Buehrle pitched seven innings to get the win for the AL Central leaders in their first game after the All-Star break.



Rays 2, Blue Jays 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Ben Zobrist hit a two-run homer and James Shields allowed one run over seven innings to help Tampa Bay snap a seven-game losing streak with a win over Toronto.

Zobrist hit his fourth homer off A.J. Burnett (10-9) to give the Rays a 2-1 lead in the seventh.



Yankees 7, Athletics 1

NEW YORK—Robinson Cano hit a three-run homer and Alex Rodriguez also connected for New York.

Richie Sexson had an RBI single in his first at-bat with the Yankees, and Mike Mussina (12-6) pitched six effective innings to tie for most wins in the AL.

The 39-year-old allowed one run and nine hits but did not walk a batter for the eighth time this year.



Orioles 7, Tigers 4

BALTIMORE—Luke Scott homered twice and Baltimore also got home runs from Melvin Mora and Aubrey Huff.

Scott hit a solo shot in the second off Armando Galarraga and a game-clinching, two-run drive off Bobby Seay in the eighth.

Huff had two hits to help the Orioles win for only the second time in 10 games. Huff has five homers in his last 13 games and 19 for the season.

Ivan Rodriguez went 4-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs for the Tigers, who were 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Jeremy Guthrie (6-7) won his third straight decision despite giving up four runs and 12 hits in six-plus innings.

Galarraga, who allowed eight hits and five runs in 6 2-3 innings, is winless in five starts since June 18.