DETROIT – Ivan Rodriguez hit a tying two-run triple in a six-run eighth inning then scored the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly to lift the high-priced Detroit Tigers to their first win at home this season, 11-9 over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

The Tigers won for the first time in seven games at home and improved to 3-10 overall, still the worst record in baseball.

Detroit’s much-hyped lineup finally came through, leading to a season high in runs, just when it seemed that the team’s miserable season was going to take another turn for the worse.

Trailing 9-5, the Tigers scored six runs in the eighth inning. Placido Polanco, mired in an awful slump, drove in the final run to give Todd Jones a two-run cushion.

Jones almost needed it, putting two on with two outs before earning his second save.

Orioles 4, Blue Jays 3

BALTIMORE – Kevin Millar homered and drove in three runs to back a fine pitching performance by Matt Albers, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3. Adam Jones tied a career high with three hits for the Orioles, who won their sixth straight home game and broke a first-place tie with Toronto in the AL East.

Millar hit an RBI single in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth. Serving as Baltimore’s cleanup hitter since the offseason trade of Miguel Tejada, Millar entered with a .227 batting average, one home run and four RBIs.

Yankees 8, Rays 7

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Robinson Cano’s pinch-hit homer snapped an eighth-inning tie, and Alex Rodriguez hit No. 521 to match Hall of Famers Ted Williams and Willie McCovey on the career list during the New York Yankees’ 8-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

With shortstop Derek Jeter back in the lineup, Yankees starter Ian Kennedy cruised into the seventh inning with a 7-2 lead before he was hit on the right hip by Jason Bartlett’s line drive.

The infield single knocked a hobbling Kennedy out of the game, and Tampa Bay hit three quick homers off New York’s bullpen before the inning was over to tie the score at 7.

Angels 7, Rangers 4

ARLINGTON, Texas – Ervin Santana rebounded from a three-run first to pitch seven strong innings, Mike Napoli homered and the Los Angeles Angels handed the Texas Rangers their fourth straight loss, 7-4.

The Angels had lost seven of eight against the Rangers, including two of three in California April 4-6. Santana (2-0) came in 1-4 with an 8.92 ERA against the Rangers on the road and he quickly fell behind, allowing Hank Blalock’s two-run homer and Michael Young’s sacrifice fly in the first. But after loading the bases in the third, he retired 11 straight.

Athletics 2, White Sox 1

CHICAGO – Greg Smith outpitched Mark Buehrle for his first major league win, and Kurt Suzuki went 4-for-4 as the Oakland Athletics beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 for their eighth victory in 10 games.

Making his second big league appearance, Smith (1-0) gave up one run and six hits over seven innings on another cold night at U.S. Cellular Field, where the gametime temperature was 42 degrees.

The A’s are 6-1 on their first road trip of the season.

and they improved to 9-5 overall for their best start through 14 games since opening 10-4 in 1992.