- OAKLAND: The Tampa Bay Rays' extraordinary start to the American League season got even better with a 4-1 win at the Oakland Athletics on Friday.
At 22-7, the Rays are off to the best start to a season since the New York Yankees began 23-6 in 2003. Tampa Bay won its fifth straight and improved to 13-1 on the road.
Tampa Bay starter David Price (4-1) threw seven innings, allowing only one unearned run.
Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez (3-2) ceded three runs over seven innings, walking five.
In Boston, New York's Nick Swisher hit a three-run homer before the Yankees added six runs in a wild sixth inning that carried them over Boston.
The Yankees have won their past five games by a combined score of 37-12.
New York starter Phil Hughes (4-0) allowed two runs in seven innings.
Boston starter Josh Beckett (1-1) gave up nine runs in 5 1-3 innings and knocked Robinson Cano out of the game when he hit him on the t knee in the sixth. He also plunked Derek Jeter in the back in that inning and even hit his own catcher, Jason Varitek, with a pitch that forced him out of the game with a cut left forearm.
Jeter played in his 2,165th game for the Yankees, breaking a tie with Lou Gehrig for second place in club history.
Mickey Mantle is first with 2,401.
In Chicago, Alex Gonzalez hit the tiebreaking three-run homer in the 12th inning as Toronto beat Chicago for its sixth straight win.
Gonzalez's shot off J.J. Putz (0-2) came after Vernon Wells walked with two outs and Lyle Overbay singled. He then drove a fastball about 10 rows deep in left field for his ninth homer.
John Buck went deep twice for the Blue Jays.
That made a winner of Scott Downs (1-3) who pitched two scoreless innings.
In Arlington, C.J. Wilson pitched his second complete game to steer Texas past Kansas City.
Wilson (3-1), a converted reliever, allowed only one run.
Vladimir Guerrero homered on the first pitch leading off the second - his third straight at-bat with a home run.
That put the Rangers ahead to stay against Kansas City ace Zach Greinke (0-4), leaving the 2009 AL Cy Young winner still without a win this season.
In Seattle, Jered Weaver kept Seattle hitless into the seventh inning as Los Angeles ended a seven-game losing streak.
Weaver (4-1) held the first 22 Mariners hitless until 40-year-old Ken Griffey Jr got a single with two outs in the seventh.
Kendry Morales had a three-run double in the first. Juan Rivera, Howie Kendrick and Ryan Budde homered off Felix Hernandez (2-3) in a four-run fourth for the Angels.

