NEW YORK – David Wells pitched a three-hitter and Hideki Matsui delivered a two-run double, sending the New York Yankees over the Minnesota Twins 2-0 Thursday for their fourth straight victory.

The Yankees improved to 8-1, their best start since posting the same record to open the 1988 season. New York sent the defending AL Central champions to their sixth loss in a row.

Matsui and Bernie Williams each had three hits as New York completed a three-game sweep and beat the Twins for the ninth consecutive time.

Wells (2-0) was in control the whole way, never permitting a runner past second base in his 12th career shutout and first since last May 16 against Tampa Bay. He walked none, struck out six and twice hit A.J. Pierzynski with pitches.

Orioles 4, Devil Rays 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – David Segui delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and Sidney Ponson allowed three runs over seven innings as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-3 Thursday.

Segui’s two-out single to center off Jesus Colome (0-1) put the Orioles in front after Baltimore had blown a lead of three runs or more for the third straight game.

Royals 4, Tigers 2

DETROIT – Raul Ibanez homered and drove in three runs to lead the unbeaten Kansas City Royals to a 4-2 victory over the winless Detroit Tigers.

Miguel Asencio (1-0) allowed one unearned run in five innings for the Royals (7-0), who remained the only undefeated team in baseball and extended their team record for the best start to a season.

Rangers 5, Athletics 4

ARLINGTON, Texas – Carl Everett hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and Mark Teixeira hit his first major league home run as the Texas Rangers rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Oakland Athletics 5-4.

With the game tied at 4, Everett led off the eighth by lofting a solo homer off reliever Chad Bradford (1-1) just inside the right field foul pole for his first of the season.

White Sox 7, Indians 2

CLEVELAND – Mark Buehrle wasted little time while shutting down Cleveland hitters for seven innings and Magglio Ordonez homered Wednesday night to give the Chicago White Sox a 7-1 win over the Indians.

Working quickly on another chilly night at Jacobs Field, Buehrle (2-1) allowed one run and five hits.

National League

Expos 7, Cubs 1

CHICAGO – Tony Armas Jr. struck out a career-high 11 batters in seven scoreless innings as the Montreal Expos beat the Chicago Cubs 7-1 to avoid a three-game sweep.

Armas (2-1) gave up a leadoff single to Mark Grudzielanek, walked Sammy Sosa two batters later and then retired the next 11.

He gave up just two more hits and didn’t allow another runner past first base.

Rockies 7, Cardinals 6

DENVER – Todd Helton hit a solo homer and Jose Hernandez added a two-run shot in the eighth inning as the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6.

The Rockies also turned the first triple play in their history as they won for the sixth time in seven games.

Pirates 3, Brewers 1

PITTSBURGH – Randall Simon’s three-run homer in the first inning supported Jeff Suppan’s second consecutive strong start, leading the Pirates past the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1.

The Pirates avoided a three-game sweep and won for the first time at home after starting 5-1 on the road.

Braves 6, Phillies 2

PHILADELPHIA – Andruw Jones and Robert Fick both homered as the Atlanta Braves bounced back from a lopsided defeat with a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night.

After losing 16-2 on Wednesday, the Braves got a well-balanced effort, with six players knocking in runs .

Astros 4, Reds 2

HOUSTON – Jeriome Robertson pitched seven strong innings for his first career victory and Craig Biggio set the NL record with his 31st leadoff home run as the Houston Astros beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2.

Marlins 4, Mets 3

MIAMI – Juan Pierre drove in two runs with a two-out single off Armando Benitez in the bottom of the ninth, and the Florida Marlins scored four times in the final two innings to beat the New York Mets 4-3 .

The Marlins’ comeback spoiled a strong showing by Tom Glavine, who pitched six shutout innings. New York’s Cliff Floyd homered against his former team, and rookie teammate Ty Wigginton also homered. But Florida rallied in the ninth against Benitez (0-2), who also blew a save opportunity Sunday against Montreal.

Mike Lowell led off the inning with a single, and pinch-runner Gerald Williams went to third when Derrek Lee doubled.

Todd Hollandsworth was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Alex Gonzalez, who came in as the NL leader in slugging percentage at .875, hit a grounder that third baseman Wigginton turned into a forceout at the plate. Pinch-hitter Brian Banks flied to shallow center.

Pierre pulled a 2-1 pitch just inside first base and raced to first pumping his fist in jubilation as two runs scored. He finished 3-for-5, raising his average to .409, and has at least one hit in all 10 games, a Marlins record at the start of a season.