Joe Torre closed the Yankees' clubhouse after his team failed to muster much offense in another dispiriting loss to the lowly Kansas City Royals.

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire, meanwhile, had only glowing things to say about Torii Hunter's offensive outburst.

Other than Bernie Williams' ninth-inning home run Wednesday night, New York batters didn't provide any support for Randy Johnson in a 3-1 loss to host Kansas City, their second straight loss to the Royals and fourth in a row overall.

"I just didn't like what I saw," Torre said. "It's just as basic as that. I'm unhappy. I won't go as far as saying I'm discouraged."

At Minneapolis, Hunter had a grand slam among his career-high five hits and drove in six runs to lead the Twins over the Cleveland Indians 6-2.

"He's been out here early working on just trying to get better, and tonight it paid off," Gardenhire said. "If we can get him on a roll, we can score a lot of runs."

It's the third four-game slide this year for the Yankees, who had won 16 of 18 before losing two in a row to Boston.

"We're flat and we need to do something about it," Torre said.

Emil Brown hit a two-run homer as the Royals beat Johnson for the first time in 12 years.

D. J. Carrasco (1-1) threw six shutout innings for his first major league win as a starter and Buddy Bell improved to 2-0 as Royals manager. The Royals hadn't won a series against the Yankees since Aug. 11-13, 2003.

"When you're playing a team like the Yankees, everybody pretty much brings their 'A' game," Carrasco said. "Having a new manager come in at the same time, everything's coming together."

Johnson (5-4), who has 251 major league wins, had been 9-0 with one save and a 3.03 ERA in 14 games - all wins by his teams - since he last lost to the Royals on May 21, 1993.

He gave up nine hits and three runs, with one walk and seven strikeouts as his career record against the Royals dropped to 12-7.

Minnesota's Hunter raised his average 20 points to .258 with his 5-for-5 performance and matched his career best with six RBIs.

He put the Twins ahead 4-2 in the third inning with a grand slam off Cliff Lee (6-3), the fourth of his career. Hunter just missed a home run in his next at-bat when he doubled high off the right-field wall.

In the eighth, the crowd gave Hunter a standing ovation after he capped his night with a single.

"I was just trying to make contact, and I got a basehit," Hunter said. "(The ovation) was pretty great. They recognized that was a career high for me."

Brad Radke (5-4) pitched seven strong innings for the victory.

Tigers 6, Rangers 4

At Detroit, Brandon Inge's tiebreaking, two-run single in a five-run seventh helped the Tigers end Texas' nine-game winning streak.

Jeremy Bonderman (6-3) gave up four runs and 10 hits while striking out six and walking none in 7 1-3 innings.

Ryan Drese (4-5) was the loser.

Orioles 9, Red Sox 3

At Boston, Miguel Tejada and Sammy Sosa hit back-to-back homers and Geronimo Gil added a three-run shot for Baltimore.

Sosa's homer was his fifth of the season, first since April 24 and 579th of his career.

Sidney Ponson (6-3) had a shutout until allowing three unearned runs in the seventh. Tim Wakefield (4-5) lost his fourth consecutive start.

Angels 10, White Sox 7

At Chicago, Dallas McPherson homered and hit a go-ahead RBI double in a four-run seventh, and Los Angeles avoided a three-game sweep.

Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez was activated from the disabled list and pitched the ninth, his first appearance since May 14. He gave up a hit and three straight walks, but also struck out the side.

Paul Byrd (5-4) allowed five runs and six hits in six innings. Reliever Kevin Walker (0-1) took the loss.

Athletics 11, Devil Rays 2

At Oakland, Calif., Eric Byrnes had a two-run triple and a season-high four RBIs, and Barry Zito (2-6) snapped a five-start winless stretch, leading the A's to a three-game sweep.

Mark Ellis hit a two-run homer and Bobby Kielty drove in two runs for the A's.

Mark Hendrickson (2-3) gave up career highs of 10 runs and 13 hits.

Mariners 3, Blue Jays 0

At Seattle, Gil Meche (5-3) and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, and the Mariners won their second straight series.

Meche won for the third time in four starts. He pitched 6 2-3 innings, giving up five hits. Ron Villone, Jeff Nelson, Matt Thornton and Eddie Guardado finished, with Guardado pitching the ninth for his 15th save.

Gustavo Chacin (5-4) lost for the third time in four decisions after going 4-1 in April.