Seven-up Tigers stun Yankees

Justin Verlander tied a career high with 14 strikeouts on Monday night as the Detroit Tigers secured a 7-2 win over the New York Yankees.

Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera clubbed solo homers to help Detroit open the four-game series with their ninth consecutive triumph at Comerica Park.

Gordon Beckham's tie-breaking solo homer in the eighth inning lifted the Chicago White Sox to a 4-2 triumph over the Kansas City Royals, Chris Sale throwing eight solid innings for the AL Central leaders.

Two homers from Justin Morneau helped the Minnesota Twins post an emphatic 14-3 victory over Cleveland - extending the Indians' losing streak to 10 games - while Dustin Pedroia had three doubles and Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury two apiece as the Boston Red Sox trounced the Texas Rangers 9-2 at Fenway Park.

In other American League action, Jered Weaver pitched a four-hit shutout in the Los Angeles Angels' 4-0 triumph over the Oakland Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles edged past the Seattle Mariners 3-1.

The NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds slumped to their second straight loss, going down 6-3 against Milwaukee. Aramis Ramirez, Corey Hart and Martin Maldonado all homered in the sixth inning for the Brewers.

Jon Jay had four hits and two RBI in St Louis' 8-2 win against San Francisco - stretching the Cardinals' winning streak to four and snapping the Giants' own run at three.

Roger Bernadina singled in the 11th inning to spur the NL East-leading Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Houston Astros.

Pittsburgh overcame the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-0, Erik Bedard allowing two hits over seven scoreless innings for the Pirates.

Elsewhere in the National League, the Atlanta Braves saw off the Philadelphia Phillies 6-1, the San Diego Padres were 2-0 winners against the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies prevailed 2-0 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.