Staggering Boston Collects Fourth Win

American League

Wil Cordero had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a rare victory Monday night, a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis.

The win was just the fourth in 19 games this season for the Red Sox, who had lost their last three and were off to their worst start since 1932.

Yankees 6, Royals 2

Kansas City, Mo.

David Cone won despite lasting just five innings and Tino Martinez hit a two-run double as New York beat Kansas City and sent the Royals to their sixth straight loss.

Cone (3-1), a Kansas City native, who was traded by the Royals in a payroll purge before the start of last season, allowed four hits, struck out six and walked five.

Indians 6, Orioles 3

Cleveland

Jim Thome hit a go-ahead homer and also tripled as Cleveland won its fourth straight game.

The Indians won for the ninth time in 10 games while sending Baltimore to its fifth consecutive loss.

Chisox 12, Rangers 4

Arlington, Texas

Harold Baines and Robin Ventura hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning and Ventura added a solo homer in the eighth as Chicago halted Texas’ five-game winning streak.

Athletics 6, Brewers 2

Oakland, Calif.

Carlos Reyes pitched five strong innings and Pedro Munoz and Geronimo Berroa each hit two-run homers as Oakland cooled off Milwaukee, snapping the Brewers’ seven-game winning streak.

Angels 6, Tigers 5

Anaheim, Calif.

Jorge Fabregas hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, and Jim Edmonds and Chili Davis hit two-run homers as California rallied to beat Detroit.

California has completed its first 6-0 homestand in 14 years.

Clearing the bases

The American League reported it is looking into an incident in which Cleveland’s Albert Belle was accused of throwing a baseball that hit a Sports Illustrated photographer.

“We’re tying to get information. We don’t have anything yet,” A.L. spokeswoman Phyllis Merhige said. “We do not have an official complaint.”

Cleveland confirmed Sunday that Belle threw a baseball that hit photographer Tony Tomsic before a game two weeks ago, after the photographer angered Belle by taking his picture while he was stretching.

Dean Palmer of the Texas Rangers was picked as A.L. player of the week after he was 9 for 16 (.563) with five homers, 13 RBIs, seven runs scored and 27 total bases… . Manager Kevin Kennedy promised he would make changes to help end Boston’s horrendous start, and he started by demoting center fielder Dwayne Hosey to Triple-A Pawtucket. Hosey, a highly regarded rookie, was hitting just .200 in 15 games and had been shaky in the field. Boston filled Hosey’s roster spot by recalling outfielder Alex Cole… . Right-hander James Baldwin was recalled by Chicago from Triple-A Nashville. He will take the place of pitcher Jason Bere, placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday.