OAKLAND, California — Coco Crisp homered, hit an RBI double and scored three runs, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 5-1 Wednesday for their second straight winning series. Yoenis Cespedes hit a go-ahead two-run single in the third inning that held up for Tommy Milone, and Crisp also singled and stole his 28th base to give the A's a much-needed boost only a couple of hours after right-hander Bartolo Colon received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test a day before he had been scheduled to start the opener of a series at Tampa Bay. Milone (10-9) allowed one run and two hits, struck out five and walked one in eight impressive innings to end a five-start winless stretch. Minnesota starter Liam Hendriks (0-6) is still searching for his first major league win after 13 career starts, and nine this season. Rangers 12, Orioles 3: Adrian Beltre hit three home runs, including two in a nine-run fourth inning, and had five RBIs for the Rangers in a victory over the Orioles. Beltre hit his first homer leading off the second against former teammate Tommy Hunter. He connected again off Hunter for a two-run shot with none out in the fourth. He then hit another two-run drive with two outs while facing Kevin Gregg. Mitch Moreland hit his first grand slam in the fourth, when the Rangers sent 12 batters to the plate. He matched Beltre with a career high-tying five RBIs. The power surge supported a solid effort by Derek Holland (8-6). The left-hander pitched seven innings, giving up three runs and five hits. He struck out five and walked three. Hunter (4-8) allowed eight runs on eight hits — three home runs — in three-plus innings. Mariners 3, Indians 1: Eric Thames hit a tiebreaking, two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning, and the Mariners beat Cleveland for their eighth straight win. Seattle completed a three-game sweep and is on its longest winning streak since taking eight in a row from June 23 to July 1, 2007. The Mariners have won 15 of their last 16 home games. Cleveland has lost eight in a row. Vinnie Pestano (3-1) was the loser. Rays 5, Royals 3: James Shields took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, leading Tampa Bay over the Royals for the Rays' 16th win in 21 games. Shields (12-7) retired 12 in a row after Alcides Escobar's two-out single in the third and allowed three runs and five hits in 7 2-3 innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one, improving to 4-0 with a 2.15 ERA in his last five starts. Escobar ended Shields' day with a two-out RBI triple in the eighth. Luis Mendoza (7-9) gave up two runs, five hits and four walks in 4 1-3 innings. He also hit a batter and balked. White Sox 2, Yankees 1: Chris Sale struck out 13 in 7 2-3 stellar innings for his 15th victory, Alex Rios hit a go-ahead homer and the White Sox beat the Yankees to complete a three-game sweep. Tigers 3, Blue Jays 2: Anibal Sanchez pitched effectively into the seventh inning, and Detroit held on to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2. In another game the LA Angels beat Boston 7-3. — Agencies
