Rays pitcher Scott Kazmir sparkled in his first start since agreeing to a lucrative contract extension, allowing just three singles in six scoreless innings.

Tampa Bay, which joined MLB in 1998, has been alone atop the East standings for three consecutive days for the first time. The Rays have captured six of seven series in building the best record in the AL.

Royals 8, Tigers 4 In Kansas City, Missouri, the home side completed another three-game sweep of Detroit.

Jose Guillen homered and drove in three runs for the Royals, while Gil Meche pitched seven solid innings.

Kansas City won its season-best fourth straight game and improved to 6-0 this season against Detroit, which has lost four straight while falling into last in the AL Central.

Meche yielded three runs while striking out six. He improved to 7-4 in 16 career starts against the Tigers.

White Sox 4, Angels 3 In Anaheim, California, Jim Thome hit a go-ahead RBI single in the ninth inning as Chicago edged Los Angeles.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski’s RBI double capped a three-run second inning against Angels pitcher and former teammate Jon Garland.

Indians 4, Athletics 2 In Cleveland, the home side downed Oakland despite seeing its streak of innings without conceding a run ended at 44 1-3.

An unearned run against Aaron Laffey, caused by his own throwing error, ended the scoreless streak in the second.

Laffey allowed just the unearned run in seven innings, striking out six. He lowered his ERA to 1.35 and has gone seven innings in each of his past three starts without giving up an earned run.

Blue Jays 3, Twins 2, 11 innings In Minneapolis, pinch-hitter Joe Inglett sliced a two-out, bases-loaded single through the infield in the 11th inning, giving Toronto a three-game sweep of Minnesota.

Scott Rolen started the 11th with a double into the right-field corner that was almost caught. Lyle Overbay was walked intentionally with two outs, and then pinch-hitter Gregg Zaun drew a walk to load the bases.

Then Inglett, called up last weekend from minor league Syracuse, poked his hit just out of the shortstop’s reach for the go-ahead run and the Toronto bullpen held on in the bottom of the ninth to secure the victory.

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