NEW YORK – With the largest loss in their history, the New York Yankees’ lead was cut to 31/2 games, their August slump beginning to resemble a free-fall.

Omar Vizquel went 6-for-6 to tie the American League record for hits, and the Cleveland Indians routed New York 22-0 Tuesday night.

Javier Vazquez was knocked out in the second inning, Cleveland took a 15-0 lead in the fifth and Jody Gerut and Victor Martinez hit three-run homers off Esteban Loaiza in the ninth. To make it worse for New York, owner George Steinbrenner was on hand to watch.

New York had never lost by more than 18 runs, falling 24-6 at Cleveland on July 29, 1928, and 19-1 at home against Detroit on June 17, 1925. Previously, the Yankees’ biggest shutout loss was 15-0 at home against the Chicago White Sox on May 4, 1950.

Jake Westbrook (12-6) improved to 6-1 in his last nine starts, allowing five hits in seven innings.

Cleveland, which had season highs for runs and hits (22), set a team record for largest shutout win, topping its 19-0 rout of Boston on May 18, 1955.

Vazquez, his faced bowed and wiping sweat off his face, walked off the field to boos after 1 1-3 innings, matching the shortest start of his career.

New York’s AL East lead, which stood at 101/2 games on the morning of Aug. 16, was cut again by Boston, which beat Anaheim 10-7 for its 19th win in 23 games.

New York, which has lost four straight home games for the first time since May 22-26, 2003, is having a season beginning to resemble a mirror image of 1978, when the Yankees dropped to fourth place and trailed the Red Sox by 14 games after play on July 19, then rebounded to win the AL East in a one-game playoff.

Mariners 7, Blue Jays 5

TORONTO – Ichiro Suzuki got three hits to finish with 56 in August, the most in a month by a major leaguer in 68 years, and the Seattle Mariners rallied past the Toronto Blue Jays 7-5 Tuesday night for their season-high fifth straight victory.

The last player to get so many hits in a month was Cleveland’s George Weatherly in July 1936.

Astros 8, Reds 0

CINCINNATI – Jeff Kent homered twice and the Houston Astros hit three straight shots in the fifth inning Tuesday to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 8-0.

Carlos Beltran, Jeff Bagwell and Lance Berkman hit consecutive home runs for the Astros, winners of a season-high five straight and eight of nine overall.

Braves 5, Phillies 3

PHILADELPHIA – Mike Hampton pitched two-hit ball over eight innings and Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday night.

Eli Marrero went 3-for-4 and Julio Franco had two RBIs for the Braves, who went 20-8 this month, marking just their second 20-win August since moving to Atlanta from Milwaukee after the 1965 season. They also did it in 1999, going 21-7.

Expos 8, Cubs 0

MONTREAL – Livan Hernandez allowed three hits in eight scoreless innings, and Brad Wilkerson and Maicer Izturis each hit home runs in the Montreal Expos’ 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Hernandez (10-12) also had two hits – including an RBI single – for the Expos. He allowed Moises Alou’s single in the second, Derrek Lee’s single in the fourth, and Michael Barrett’s single in the fifth. Hernandez also walked four.

Marlins 5, Mets 0

NEW YORK – Josh Beckett pitched a six-hitter for his first regular-season shutout and Juan Pierre hit a two-run single to lead the Florida Marlins over the New York Mets 5-0 on Tuesday night in their fifth consecutive victory.

The Marlins took advantage of a career-high seven walks by Steve Trachsel, who lost his fourth straight start. Beckett drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk and Paul Lo Duca had an RBI single.

Athletics 7, White Sox 2

CHICAGO (AP) – Rich Harden pitched seven solid innings to help the Oakland Athletics extend their winning streak to eight games Tuesday night with a 7-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Adam Melhuse went 3-for-4 with a home run and Mark Kotsay also had three hits for the A’s, who matched their longest winning streak of the season and won for the 13th time in 14 games. They also extended their lead in the AL West to three games after the Boston Red Sox defeated the Anaheim Angels 10-7.

Cardinals 9, Padres 3

ST. LOUIS – Jim Edmonds homered twice, giving him seven in six games, and the St. Louis Cardinals powered past the San Diego Padres 9-3 Tuesday night.

Albert Pujols and Edgar Renteria each homered and had three hits for the NL Central leaders. Reggie Sanders also had three hits, and drove in a run.

Woody Williams (10-7) became the fifth member of the Cardinals’ rotation to reach double figures in victories.

The Cardinals beat up on 13-game winner Brian Lawrence and the San Diego bullpen to win their fourth in a row.

, and lowered their magic number for clinching the division to 16.