Brett Anderson was sharp in his first start in a month and Mark Ellis drove in four runs, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 6-0 victory against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.
Anderson (2-1) last pitched April 25 because of elbow and forearm injuries. Against the Tigers, he allowed three hits and didnt walk a batter in 5 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts.
Detroits Rick Porcello (4-5) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
It was scoreless until Ellis led off the his first of the season. Oakland added a second run later in the inning when Rajai Davis reached on an infield single, stole second and scored on Ryan Sweeneys two-out triple.
Detroits only hit in the first five innings came on Johnny Damons bloop single to left in the first.
The Tigers only threat came in the sixth when Austin Jackson singled with two out and took third on Damons double. That brought Brad Zeigler out of the Oakland bullpen to relieve Anderson, and Magglio Ordonez lined out on his second pitch.
Davis tripled with one out in the seventh, but Tigers reliever Brad Thomas got out of the jam by getting Sweeney to ground into a double play. Full story Minnesota finally got a big hit with the bases loaded to key a six-run seventh inning in their victory over Texas.
Delmon Young hit a two-run double and J.J. Hardy followed with a two-run single for the Twins, who entered the game hitting just .167 with the bases loaded this season.
Orlando Hudson had a homer, a double and three RBI. Carl Pavano (5-5) allowed two runs on seven hits in seven innings for Minnesota.
C.J. Wilson (3-3) allowed only one hit in the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixt Aaron Cook pitched effectively for 6 1/3 innings, Carlos Gonzalez homered and added a run-saving defensive gem in center field and the Colorado Rockies beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Seth Smith and Miguel Olivo each had three hits with two RBI apiece to help the Rockies reverse a losing trend against Los Angeles, which had won six of its previous seven games in Colorado, including a 5-4 victory in Friday nights series opener. on six hits. He walked two and struck out one in his first win in a month.
Dodgers start outing of the season, giving up seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits in four innings.
Struggling slugger Carlos Pena drove in three runs, Wade Davis allowed three runs while pitching into the seventh inning and Tampa Bays beat Chicago.
Pena hit a three-run double during a four-run fourth inning off John Danks (4-4) to put Tampa Bay up 6-2. The other run scored on Gabe Kaplers bunt.
Pena has just 12 hits in 94 at-bats during May. The first baseman was 1 for 5, including two strikeouts, on Saturday.
Davis (5-4) scattered six hits. The right-hander was coming off a loss to Boston last Monday in which he allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innin Jason Heyward homered, Martin Prado drove in three runs, including the go-ahead run in the sixth, and Atlanta beat Pittsburgh to win for the ninth time in 11 games.
The Braves, who overcame a two-run triple by Pirates pitcher Brian Burres, are 18-8 in May.
The Pirates have lost four straight and eight of 10.
Heyward hit his 10th homer and Troy Glaus had a two-run double for Atlanta. Nick Hundley hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Mat Latos won his fourth straight decision as San Diego beat Washington.
Hundley accounted for all four Padres runs. He tripled leading off the fourth and scored on Chris Denorfias groundout.
Latos (5-3) struck out eight as he held Washington to two runs and four hits in six innings. He walked three.
Hundley homered to left with two outs in the first off J.D. Martin (0-1), who was making his season debut. It was his third. Adrian Gonzalez reached on a fielding error by second baseman Adam Kennedy followed by Chase Headleys single. All three runs were unearned.
