Tribe stops 9-game skid

CLEVELAND — Justin Masterson handled New York's power-packed lineup for 6 2-3 innings and Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer as the Cleveland Indians snapped a nine-game skid with a 3-1 win over the Yankees on Saturday night.

It's the second time this month that Masterson (10-11) has busted a long losing streak for the Indians. On Aug. 8, he beat Minnesota and stopped Cleveland's 11-game slide, one loss shy of the club record.

Brantley homered in the first inning off Hiroki Kuroda (12-9), and the Indians, who were in playoff contention in late July, held on to win for just the fifth time in 27 games. Cleveland is 5-18 in August.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brandon McCarthy pitched seven solid innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

McCarthy (7-5) allowed two runs and four hits while improving to 9-0, including three wins this season, against AL East teams over 14 starts since 2009.

Chris Carter and Seth Smith homered for the Athletics, who took two of three from Tampa Bay and moved within a half-game of the AL wild card-leading Rays. Oakland has won eight of 10 to go a season-high 12 games over .500.

After Sean Doolittle struck out two during a perfect eighth, Grant Balfour got the final three outs for his 14th save.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff home run and Mitch Moreland launched a 463-foot shot, sending Ryan Dempster and the Texas Rangers past the Minnesota Twins for their fourth straight win.

Kinsler homered in the first, hit a bases-loaded triple in the third inning that made it 9-0 and also singled.

Dempster allowed two runs in six innings and improved to 3-1 since he was acquired from the Cubs on July 31. He was 5-5 with Chicago.

DETROIT — Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run double, part of a three-run eighth inning that sent the Detroit Tigers to a victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

The Tigers trailed 3-0 before scoring twice in the sixth and taking the lead in their last at-bat. With men on first and third, Peralta hit a line drive just fair down the left-field line off Garrett Richards (3-3). Alex Avila then added an RBI single.

BALTIMORE — J.J. Hardy homered and scored three runs, rookie Steve Johnson allowed four hits over six innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-2 Saturday night to equal their win total of last season.