KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Royals keep finding new ways to win and the Detroit Tigers are losing every way possible.

Desi Relaford scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on Carlos Pena’s throwing error as the Royals won 4-3 Sunday to hand the Tigers their 16th loss in 17 games this season.

The Royals extended the best start in franchise history to 14-3 and are 8-0 at Kauffman Stadium, the only undefeated team at home this season. The Tigers matched the worst start in the majors since Kansas City also lost 16 of 17 to open the 1992 season.

“We scratched and clawed for everything we got,” Tigers manager Alan Trammell said. “It seemed like it comes a lot easier on the other side, which is the way it happens when you’re not going well.”

Relaford led off the ninth against Mike Maroth (0-5) with a grounder to the hole at shortstop. Omar Infante fielded the ball and threw it wildly into the dugout, sending Relaford to second with an infield hit and an error.

Joe Randa then bunted toward first base. Carlos Pena fielded the ball and threw to first. But the throw hit Randa in the back and rolled into right field for an error, allowing Relaford to score without a play.

Orioles 4, Devil Rays 1

BALTIMORE – Omar Daal stopped his losing streak and gave the Baltimore Orioles their first victory by a left-handed starter in almost two years.

Daal allowed five hits over seven innings and Melvin Mora homered to lead the Orioles over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-1.

Hit hard in his first three starts after signing as a free agent in the offseason, Daal (1-2) had been winless in eight starts since defeating Houston on Aug. 31, 2002.

Indians 7, White Sox 4

CHICAGO – Ellis Burks, Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia homered as the Cleveland Indians defeated the White Sox 7-4 and stopped Chicago’s four-game winning streak.

Burks and Spencer hit consecutive home runs in the first inning, the first of the season for each, as Cleveland took a 3-0 lead. Garcia, who had three hits, homered in the third.

Jason Davis (2-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for the Indians, who had lost four straight.

D’Angelo Jimenez and Carlos Lee homered for the White Sox, who had been 7-1 at home. Lee has homered in four consecutive games, driving in 10 runs over than span. Jimenez had three hits.

Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (2-2), whose ERA rose from 1.57 to 3.27, gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings and allowed 11 hits, matching his career high. He had given up just one home run in 28 2-3 innings coming in.

Yankees 8, Twins 2

MINNEAPOLIS – Mike Mussina pitched seven strong innings, and Jason Giambi and Bernie Williams homered as the New York Yankees beat Minnesota 8-2 for their 12th straight victory over the Twins.

Joe Torre got his 700th victory as manager of the Yankees, whose 15-3 start is the best in team history.

The day ended better than it started for Torre, who learned in the morning that pitcher Jose Contreras was being sent to the Yankees’ minor league complex in Tampa, Fla., instead of Triple-A Columbus.

The decision apparently was made by owner George Steinbrenner.

Mariners 7, Angels 6

ANAHEIM, Calif. – John Olerud’s second RBI single of the game broke a tie in the ninth inning and lifted the Seattle Mariners to a 7-6 victory over the Anaheim Angels.

Bret Boone, who gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead in the fifth with a solo homer, greeted Angels closer Troy Percival (0-1) with a leadoff double in the ninth and scored on Olerud’s hit to center that made it 6-5.

Olerud continued to second on rookie outfielder Julio Ramirez’s wild throw to the plate.

He tagged up on Mike Cameron’s fly to right and scored when Eric Owens’ throw bounced into the stands.

Williams, who homered in Saturday night’s 4-2 win, also had a ground-rule double in a three-run fifth inning. Hideki Matsui entered as a pinch runner in the sixth and added an RBI ground-rule double in the seventh that made it 8-1.