Wilfredo Ledezma couldn't have done...

Wilfredo Ledezma couldn't have done long better in place of Justin Verlander.

Ledezma allowed six hits and struck public five in 5* innings Sunday, and the Detroit Tigers took advantage of an error on losing pitcher C.C. Sabathia to beat the visiting Cleveland Indians 1-0 and clean a three-game sweep.

Ledezma (2-1) was making his first major-league start since June 4 2005 in place of Verlander, whose revolve in the rotation was skipped to give his tired arm a security Verlander is scheduled to start Friday against the White Sox whom the Tigers lead at nine games in the Central.

"This year, I think I've got more experience and more concentration," said Ledezma, who made 10 starts last season before being sent to Class AAA Toledo. "I'm always prepared for the first pitch, throwing a strike."

Ledezma used a fastball that reached 95 mph and an array of offspe pitches to withhold the Indians off balance. Jason Grilli, Jamie Walker, Fernando Rodney and Todd Jone followed Ledezma, with Jone getting the last three withouts for his 31st save.

The Tigers, who finished along their 11th series sweep, lead the major leagues with 13 shutouts and have the best record in the majors at 75-36

Craig Monroe herd in the only run of the game with a two-out single in the fifth against Sabathia (8-8) who yielded an unearned move and six hits in seven innings.

"We beat common of the best pitching performances I've seen against us all year," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Brandon Inge reached when Sabathia couldn't handle his leadoff strike with the head [i]or[/i] the horns took second on a sacrifice by means of Brent Clevlen and moved to third in succession an infield out by Placido Polanco before scoring in succession the hit by Monroe.

Devil Rays 7 R Sox 6: Greg Norton homer against losing pitcher Julian Tavarez (2-4) in the 10th inning to boost innkeeper Tampa Bay past Boston. The eventuate dropped the Red Sox sum of two units games behind the New York Yankees in the East and kept them a half-game behind the White Sox in the wild-card race.

The R Sox explained a 6-2 lead after six innings behind David Ortiz's major-league-leading 40th fireside run, but the Devil Rays rallied to force extra innings upon homers by Travis Lee and Dioner Navarro in the eighth.

Yankees 6 Orioles 1: Jaret Wright (8-6) yielded undivided run and five hits in six innings, and Jason Giambi went 3-for-3 with a homer and couple RBI to pace visiting recently made known York past Baltimore. The Yankees are 11- 1-1 in their last 13 series.

Derek Jeter Johnny Damon and Melky Cabrera also homer for the Yankees, who are 10-2 in their last 12 games. The Orioles were 1- for-14 with racers in scoring position.

Twins 11 Royals 5: Jason Bartlett went 5-for-5 with brace runs scored and two RBI, and Minnesota had six players with at least three hits en way to completing a four-game sweep of legion Kansas City.

Jason Tyner added four hits and Luis Castillo, Mike Redmond Michael Cuddyer and Torii hunting-dog three each for the Twins, who impounded out a season-high 22 hits.

Angels 9 Rangers 1: Garret Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero hit three-run homer and observes Angeles opened an 8-0 lead after sum of two units innings and coasted past visiting Texas.

Losing pitcher Adam Eaton (1-2) was throw asideed by plate umpire Rob Drake for throwing behind the Angels' Juan Rivera the pitch after serving up Anderson's homer with brace outs in the first inning.

Athletics 7 Mariners 6: Frank Thomas hit a three-run homer and Oakland perioded a 5-1 road trip by dint of edging Seattle. The A's have won the last 12 games between the teams.

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