HOUSTON - The best thing said about the Royals in their three days at Minute Maid Park is it could have been worse. But for a late rally Tuesday, they might have suffered a sweep against the American League's worst club.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - After he hit a single and a triple in the first two innings of Wednesday's homestand finale against the Seattle Mariners, Mike Trout laughed about the possibility of following up his first career cycle with another one, back-to-back.

PITTSBURGH - Another day, another wasted outing.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Angels pitcher Garrett Richards was prepared to enjoy a leisurely off day on the golf course Monday as a participant in the Albert Pujols Celebrity Golf Classic.

ANAHEIM, Calif. - An empty main clubhouse area greeted those looking to ask the Mariners about their sixth straight loss to end this once-promising road trip.

CHICAGO - Manager Robin Ventura was correct in saying he didn't expect left-hander Hector Santiago to pitch seven or eight innings Wednesday night on only three days of rest.

Chris Sale won't be the only White Sox starting pitcher who will receive an occasional break, as he did last season.

J.D. Martinez hit a two-run homer and Jordan Lyles pitched six frames of one-run ball, as the Houston Astros defeated the Kansas City Royals, 3-1, to take the rubber match of a three-game series at Minute Maid Park.

St. Louis left-hander Tyler Lyons had a lead before he even threw a single pitch in his MLB debut.

Chris Davis went 4-for-4 and was one of three Baltimore players to homer as the Orioles slugged their way to a 6-3 win over the New York Yankees in the finale of a three-game series.

Boston put two runs across in the first inning and that is all Clay Buchholz would need as the right-hander went seven strong innings to help the Red Sox to a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox in the finale of a three-game set.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Seattle Mariners are headed in opposite directions.

Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs and Victor Martinez had two RBI, as Detroit outlasted two rain delays to beat the Cleveland Indians, 11-7, in the finale of a two-game set.

Francisco Liriano pitched seven shutout innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Chicago Cubs, 1-0, in the middle test of a three-game series.

Jose Bautista homered twice and later singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Toronto Blue Jays capped a series win over the Tampa Bay Rays with a 4-3 victory at the Rogers Centre.

Edwin Encarnacion hit his fifth career grand slam, J.P. Arencibia homered and drove in four runs and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Baltimore 12-6 on Thursday night, spoiling the debut of Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman.

Edwin Jackson pitched just three innings Thursday before being removed following a long rain delay. That was long enough for the Cubs right-hander to absorb another loss.

Terry Francona felt right at home in the visiting dugout.

It was hard to tell whether the Pittsburgh Pirates were heading on a road trip or getting ready for a Stanley Cup playoff game after beating the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Thursday for their fourth straight win.

Burch Smith's first stint in the major leagues was a short one.

The Indians ended a long day at the ballpark soggy and sleepy.

Paul Konerko would have loved the sweep. This wasn't bad, though.

Tyler Lyons pitched seven solid innings in his major league debut on the same day St. Louis lost Jaime Garcia for the season, and the Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Wednesday night.

James Shields had another strong start for Kansas City on Wednesday night. Unfortunately for Shields and the Royals, the rest of the game was also familiar.

Justin Verlander overcame a rocky start and rain delay to get his fifth win and Miguel Cabrera hit another homer as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 11-7 on Wednesday night, sweeping the two-game series between the AL Central's top teams.