Santana Pitches Twins Past A’s

Johan Santana struck out 10 again, outpitching Tim Hudson in a marquee matchup, and Joe Nathan converted his club-record 25th consecutive save to lead the Minnesota Twins over the Oakland Athletics, 4-3, Saturday at Minneapolis.

Santana (11-6) won his fourth straight decision and reached double digits in strikeouts for the eighth time in his last 10 starts, increasing his league-leading total to 183.

Torii Hunter scored twice and drove in another run for the Twins, who have won 14 of 18. When Oakland scored three times in the seventh to close to 4-3, Juan Rincon came in and stopped the rally. Nathan pitched a perfect ninth for his 32nd save in 33 chances.

Hudson (7-4) pitched well in his return to the mound for Oakland, which lost for only the fourth time in 14 games. The A’s stayed in first place in the West Division, a half-game ahead of Texas, which lost to Baltimore.

“My rehab starts felt pretty sharp so I had confidence coming into today,” Hudson said. “I felt pretty sharp out there.”

Activated from the 15-day disabled list before the game, the right-hander yielded four runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one in his first outing since June 22, when he strained his left oblique muscle.

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Baltimore 3, Texas 1 -- Rodrigo Lopez turned in a solid pitching performance, and the Orioles beat former teammate Scott Erickson at Baltimore for their fifth win in a row.

Lopez (9-7) gave up only two hits, walked none and struck out seven in 6 2/3 innings. He faced only one batter over the minimum.

Erickson (0-1) yielded three runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings in his debut with Texas. The right-hander, obtained in a trade with the New York Mets last week, was with the Orioles from 1995 through last season.

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New York 6, Toronto 0 -- At Yankee Stadium, Orlando Hernandez won his fourth straight decision. Hernandez, who had rotator cuff surgery last year and was released by Montreal in December, yielded five hits in eight innings, and the Yankees (70-39) won their fourth in a row.

Hernandez kept the Blue Jays off balance with an assortment of pitches and speeds. He allowed only two runners to reach second base.

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Seattle 5, Tampa Bay 2 -- Miguel Olivo gave the Mariners a 4-0 lead with a three-run homer in the top of the second inning, and they improved to 3-10 on a 14-game road trip.

Mariner Manager Bob Melvin was ejected while exchanging lineup cards before the game. He argued with crew chief Joe West. The ejection came one day after the Mariners lost to the Devil Rays when the winning run scored on a controversial obstruction call in the 10th inning.

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Boston 7, Detroit 4 -- Pedro Martinez (12-4) struck out 11 for the second straight start and David Ortiz drove in two runs in his first game since serving a five-game suspension, leading the Red Sox at Detroit.

It was Martinez’s 69th game with 10 or more strikeouts with the Red Sox, breaking the club record he shared with Roger Clemens. He gave up two runs -- one earned -- and five singles in seven innings.

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Cleveland 6, Chicago 5 -- Matt Lawton hit a three-run homer off Shingo Takatsu (4-3) in the top of the ninth inning and the Indians moved past the White Sox into second place in the Central Division.

Lawton homered on a 2-0 pitch, a long drive over the wall in center to give the Indians their 11th win in 16 games.