A's continue to sizzle by sweeping Reds

CINCINNATI -- Eric Chavez hit a two-run homer and the Oakland Athletics completed a three-game sweep in the ballpark where they couldn't win during the 1990 World Series, beating the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 Sunday.

The resurgent A's have won seven in a row and 15 of 16, moving a season-high 12 games over .500. They've been the best team in the majors in June, going 18-3.

Cincinnati lost its seventh straight. Ken Griffey Jr. left the game after his tender right hamstring tightened up on a double in the fourth inning.

Injured left-hander Mark Mulder (8-4) won his sixth straight start, giving up six hits in six innings, including Aaron Boone's RBI single in the fifth. Three relievers finished off a seven-hitter.

Mulder pulled a muscle in his side while batting during a start last Tuesday in Pittsburgh. The A's kept it quiet and had two relievers warm up with him, just in case.

Chavez hit his 18th homer off Chris Reitsma (3-5) in the sixth inning to put Oakland ahead, and Miguel Tejada drove in two runs.

The Reds sent outfielder Austin Kearns to the minors before the game.

Braves 9, White Sox 1

ATLANTA -- Rafael Furcal hit a leadoff homer to spark a four-run first, and Atlanta got six-plus solid innings from Jason Marquis (6-4) to complete a sweep of Chicago.

Matt Franco, making a rare start for the Braves, had a career-high four hits, including a two-run homer in the eighth. Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones also homered.

Dan Wright (5-8) gave up six runs -- four earned -- and 10 hits over six innings in his fourth straight loss.

The Braves extended their winning streak to five and won for the 21st time in 26 games. Atlanta has won nine straight series and is 11-0-2 in its last 13.

Chicago has lost four of five games to drop three below .500 (36-39). The White Sox were outhit 32-9 in the last two games of the series.

Yankees 3, Padres 2

SAN DIEGO -- Rondell White homered, and New York scratched out a run in the ninth inning to beat San Diego and take over sole possession of first place in the AL East.

Bernie Williams' bases-loaded groundout knocked in the go-ahead run, and Steve Karsay closed it out with a perfect inning for his third save.

Derek Jeter had an RBI single for the Yankees, and Ramiro Mendoza (5-2) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings for the victory. Starting pitcher Mike Mussina had two hits.

Deivi Cruz hit a two-run single for San Diego. Steve Reed (1-3) took the loss.

Dodgers 9, Red Sox 6

LOS ANGELES -- Dave Hansen drove in three runs in a rare start as Los Angeles beat Boston to complete a three-game sweep of their first series since the 1916 World Series.

Cesar Izturis and Chad Kreuter each had two RBIs for the Dodgers, who roughed up Rolando Arrojo (4-2) and took over sole possession of first place in the NL West.

Los Angeles (46-28) is 18 games over .500 for the first time since Sept. 8, 1997. The Dodgers have won their last eight series and 10 of 11.

Andy Ashby (7-6) hit an RBI single and was staked to a 9-0 lead after the third inning. He won for the fifth time in seven decisions.

The Red Sox got home runs from Carlos Baerga and pinch-hitter Juan Diaz -- his first in the big leagues.

Blue Jays 9, D-backs 3

PHOENIX -- Roy Halladay pitched out of trouble to remain unbeaten on the road, and Eric Hinske and Darrin Fletcher homered for Toronto.

Carlos Delgado and Felipe Lopez drove in two runs each for the Blue Jays, who won two of three at Arizona. The Diamondbacks, who had held at least a share of first place in the NL West since May 16, fell a game behind the Dodgers.

Halladay (9-3) worked out of three jams to raise his road record to 6-0 in nine starts. He allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings.

Brian Anderson (2-7) has lost 18 of 19 regular-season starts dating to last July.

Orioles 3, Giants 1

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gary Matthews Jr. hit a two-run single in the eighth, and Jason Johnson (2-5) pitched seven outstanding innings for his first victory since April 20 as Baltimore beat San Francisco.

Tony Batista had an RBI triple in the first inning for the Orioles. Jorge Julio pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 19 chances.

Johnson overwhelmed San Francisco's potent lineup, retiring his first 12 batters. He never got into trouble until the seventh, when the Giants tied it on Barry Bonds' double and Jeff Kent's RBI single.

Livan Hernandez (6-8) allowed three runs and six hits over 7 1-3 innings to lose for the fourth time in five starts.

Mets 5, Royals 4

NEW YORK -- Roger Cedeno hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning to lead New York over Kansas City.

John Valentin hit a two-run homer and Timo Perez had three hits as the Mets rallied from three runs down to win for the sixth time in eight games. New York is 7 1/2 games behind NL East-leading Atlanta heading into a four-game series with the Braves.

Scott Strickland (6-3) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win. Armando Benitez worked the ninth for his 18th save in 21 opportunities as the Mets improved to 19-11 in one-run games.

Jason Grimsley (2-3) took the loss.

Expos 7, Indians 2

MONTREAL -- Wil Cordero drove in three runs against his former team, and Tony Armas Jr. (7-7) struck out eight in six strong innings and added an RBI triple to lead Montreal over Cleveland.

Vladimir Guerrero doubled in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. Montreal, which saw its eight-game winning streak -- the NL's longest this season -- come to an end Saturday, finished an 8-1 homestand.

The Expos' 27-12 home record is the best in the majors.

Chuck Finley (4-9) fell to 0-3 in his last four starts, allowing six hits and four runs -- three earned -- in six innings. Cleveland's Omar Vizquel hit a two-run homer for his career-high 10th of the season.

Twins 5, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA -- Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie and Dustan Mohr each homered to lead Minnesota past Philadelphia.

Koskie hit a solo homer in the fourth off Randy Wolf (3-6), Mohr hit a tiebreaking solo shot in the sixth and Hunter added a three-run drive in the eighth for the Twins, who took two of three to open a six-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.

Tony Fiore (6-2) pitched three hitless innings in relief for the win. He took over for starter Johan Santana with two outs and the bases loaded in the fifth inning and struck out Pat Burrell to end the threat.

Angels 5, Brewers 2

MILWAUKEE -- Darin Erstad drove in three runs for the second straight game, and Kevin Appier won for the first time in more than a month as Anaheim beat Milwaukee to complete a three-game sweep.

Erstad doubled and scored in the first inning and hit a three-run double in the second to stake Appier (6-6) to a 5-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Appier, who allowed four hits in the first six innings before tiring in the seventh.

Mariners 10, Astros 5

HOUSTON -- Mike Cameron drove in four runs with his 100th career homer and a three-run double, leading Joel Pineiro and Seattle over Houston.

Pineiro (7-3) pitched seven strong innings to win his third straight decision, and the Mariners got 15 hits to take two of three in the first series between these teams.

Rockies 6, Devil Rays 5

DENVER -- Todd Zeile hit a three-run homer and Told Helton went 3-for-4 and scored twice as Colorado completed a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay.

Zeile hit his 12th homer of the year in the first inning as the Rockies broke out to an early 5-0 lead and won their fourth straight game.

Tigers 3, Marlins 2

MIAMI -- Damion Easley homered with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as Detroit snapped Florida's five-game winning streak and avoided a three-game sweep.

It was Easley's second homer of the season and just his fourth hit in his last 50 at-bats.

Rangers 10, Pirates 4

PITTSBURGH -- Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer for his first extra-base hit in 16 games and Texas finished off a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh.

Kevin Mench also hit a two-run homer, Mike Lamb had four hits and Chan Ho Park (3-3) made his best start in weeks by limiting the slumping Pirates to two runs over six innings.

-- From wire reports