BOSTON - Matt Moore pitched a two-hitter for his first career shutout and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-0 Monday night to move within a half-game of first place in the AL East.

Ben Zobrist had three hits and James Loney drove in two runs for the Rays, who earned their sixth consecutive victory and won for the 18th time in 20 games.

In his first start since pitching a scoreless fifth inning in the All-Star game, Moore (14-3) gave up Mike Napoli's single in the second and David Ortiz's base-hit in the seventh. Ortiz took second on a wild pitch — the only baserunner to get past first.

Moore walked one batter, struck out four and needed just 109 pitches to win his sixth consecutive start. The Rays have lost just twice since June 28, improving from fourth place and seven games out to within one win of the division lead.

Brandon Workman (0-1) made his second career start, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks, striking out four in six innings.

RANGERS 3, YANKEES 0

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yu Darvish allowed two singles over 6 1-3 scoreless innings in his first start in 16 days, combining with three relievers on a three-hitter that carried Texas past New York.

Darvish (9-4), who last pitched July 6 before going on the disabled list with a right trapezius strain, struck out four and walked two. He left after allowing consecutive batters to reach in the seventh, having thrown 60 of 90 pitches for strikes.

Just before the game, the Rangers announced they had acquired right-hander Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs. Garza likely will make his Texas debut Wednesday night against the Yankees.

Ivan Nova (4-3) struck out four while throwing a season-high 112 pitches over seven innings.

All-Star closer Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his 31st save in 32 chances to cap the Rangers' eighth shutout of the season.

TIGERS 7, WHITE SOX 3

CHICAGO (AP) — Max Scherzer outpitched Chris Sale in a matchup of All-Star starters, and Detroit overcame Miguel Cabrera's injury to beat Chicago.

With one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cabrera was replaced at third base by Don Kelly. The 2012 AL MVP, who appeared to be holding his left side as he walked off the field, was removed with a sore hip flexor muscle and will be evaluated Tuesday.

Cabrera, who became baseball's first Triple Crown winner in 45 years last season, has played in 97 of Detroit's 98 games this year. He began the day leading the AL with a .359 batting average and 96 RBIs.

Scherzer (14-1) went eight innings and allowed four hits while striking out five.

Sale (6-9) pitched eight innings and gave up four runs — two earned. He yielded seven hits while striking out 11.

ORIOLES 9, ROYALS 2

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chris Davis and J.J. Hardy each drove in three runs and Baltimore defeated Kansas City to extend its winning streak to a season-high five games.

Davis, who leads the majors with 97 RBIs, drove in a pair of runs with a sixth-inning double and another with a sacrifice fly in the first inning.

Hardy homered, his 17th of the season, in the four-run sixth with Davis aboard. He picked up another RBI in the third when Davis scored on his ground out.

The Orioles' 18-hit attack matched their season high.

Scott Feldman (2-1), who was acquired in a July 2 trade from the Chicago Cubs, was the beneficiary of the offence, picking up the victory.

Feldman limited the Royals to five singles and two runs over eight innings.

Wade Davis (4-9) took the loss, giving up four runs, two unearned, on seven hits and three walks in 2 2-3 innings.

ATHLETICS 4, ASTROS 3

HOUSTON (AP) — Josh Reddick put Oakland on top with a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the Athletics remained perfect this season against Houston.

Chris Young hit a solo homer for the A's, who are 10-0 against their new AL West foes this season and 15-1 all-time.

Houston took a 3-0 lead thanks in part to Oakland tying a season high with three errors. Young's shot cut the lead to one in the seventh before Reddick's drive to right field off Wesley Wright (0-4) made it 4-3.

Young also tripled for another big game in his hometown.

Three of Young's nine homers this season have come at Minute Maid Park, and he's hit eight home runs with 30 RBIs in 22 career games in Houston.

MARINERS 2, INDIANS 1

SEATTLE (AP) — Kendrys Morales and Mike Zunino each homered, Aaron Harang pitched seven strong innings and Seattle beat Cleveland to win its season-high seventh straight victory.

Morales led off the fourth inning with a homer and Zunino did the same in the fifth off Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez, helping Seattle increase its league-leading total to 29 homers in July. The seven-game streak is the longest for Seattle since winning eight straight in August 2012.

Harang (5-8) gave up a solo homer in the first to Nick Swisher, and danced around trouble for his second win in the last three starts. Tom Wilhelmsen survived the ninth for his 22nd save.

TWINS 4, ANGELS 3

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Clete Thomas homered and hit an RBI double, then robbed pinch-hitter Chris Iannetta of a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning to help Minnesota beat Los Angeles and hand Joe Blanton his major league-worst 13th defeat.

Samuel Deduno (6-4) allowed two runs, four hits and five walks over seven innings while striking out five on the anniversary of his first big league victory. The 30-year-old right-hander faced a lineup missing cleanup hitter Josh Hamilton because of stiffness in his right ankle.

Casey Fien gave up two hits in the eighth and was replaced by All-Star closer Glen Perkins. Pinch-hitter Collin Cowgill greeted the left-hander with an RBI single, and Iannetta drove the next pitch on a high arc toward the left-field fence, where Thomas made a leaping grab.

INTERLEAGUE

DODGERS 14, BLUE JAYS 5

TORONTO (AP) — A.J. Ellis hit a two-run homer and drove in a career-best five runs, Hyun-Jin Ryu pitched 5 1-3 innings, and Los Angeles beat Toronto for its fourth straight victory and 21st in 26 games.

Skip Schumaker added a three-run shot as the Dodgers moved a season-high four games above .500 and won their eighth straight road game, their longest streak since a nine-game run in July 2004.

Ellis went deep in the second inning and had RBI singles in the third, sixth and seventh. He also reached on first baseman Adam Lind's fielding error in the fourth.

Toronto made a season-high five errors and lost its fifth straight game. The Blue Jays have lost 12 of 16 overall.

Ryu (8-3) had gone 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 10 starts before matching a season worst by giving up five runs in five innings at Arizona on July 10. He was better against the Blue Jays, allowing four runs and nine hits, all singles, in 5 1-3 innings. Ryu walked two and struck out three.

News from © The Associated Press, 2013