Rookie Evan Longoria homered for the third consecutive game and drove in two runs, helping the AL East leaders win for the third time in four days following a season-worst seven-game losing streak.

The A’s have lost six straight, scoring nine runs during the slide.

Kazmir walked four and struck out nine in seven innings.

Yankees 12, Twins 4 At New York, Alex Rodriguez had a two-run homer and RBI single to help New York to its eighth straight home win.

Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter homered for the Yankees, and Johnny Damon was activated from the disabled list and went 1-for-4 as the designated hitter.

Alexi Casilla had three hits for Minnesota, but the second baseman’s throwing error led to three unearned runs in New York’s four-run second.

Orioles 8, Blue Jays 3 At Baltimore, Adam Jones homered in the third, then got a key infield single in a three-run fifth for Baltimore.

Jones hit a two-run homer and scored twice. He has reached base safely in 20 straight games, going 29-for-78 (.372) with 15 RBIs.

Ramon Hernandez homered for the Orioles, who climbed out of last place in the AL East ahead of Toronto.

Red Sox 4, Mariners 0 At Seattle, Jon Lester carried a shutout into the eighth inning and struggling Jason Varitek hit a two-run homer for Boston.

Lester (8-3) went 7 1-3 innings, allowing eight hits, the last of which was a hard one-hopper off his right shin. He left the game with the bases loaded but did not appear injured. Jonathan Papelbon got Raul Ibanez to ground into a double play and then finished for his 29th save. It was Boston’s major league-best 11th shutout.

Rookie Jed Lowrie hit a two-run single in the eighth and Manny Ramirez had three singles to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.

Boston won for just the third time in 13 road games to remain 1{ games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Seattle lost for the ninth time in 12 games to tie its season-low of 23 games under .500 (38-61).

Varitek, hitting .114 in his last 26 games, homered off Jarrod Washburn (4-9) in the fifth.

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