CLEVELAND — Cleveland pitcher Aaron Laffey was pleased he was able to keep the ball down during key spots. Kansas City manager Trey Hillman was upset with his team's approach at the plate.

The result was an impressive night for Cleveland's defense.

Grady Sizemore hit a three-run homer and the Indians turned double plays in six consecutive innings in an 8-7 victory over the Royals yesterday.

"Our defense was unbelievable," Laffey said.

Sizemore connected in Cleveland's four-run fourth inning as the Indians built a 6-1 lead, but it was the six double play balls that saved the day for the Tribe.

Laffey (1-0) gave up a run in the first — the only run he allowed in seven innings — and was helped by double-play grounders in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. Coco Crisp bounced into an inning-ending double play in the seventh after the Royals loaded the bases.

The biggest double play came after Kansas City rallied for four runs in the eighth. The threat ended when Jensen Lewis got Miguel Olivo to bounce into a double play with the tying run on first.

"The double plays played big for us," manager Eric Wedge said.

The six double plays tied a club record for the Indians and set a team mark for the Royals.

Kansas City's big eighth inning cut it to 6-5 but Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer in the bottom half.

Kerry Wood allowed David DeJesus' two-run homer in the ninth before finishing for his second save.

YANKEES 5, ATHLETICS 3:

Johnny Damon homered, Brett Gardner had a two-run single, and Mariano Rivera saved a game for Andy Pettitte (2-0) for the 57th time as host New York held off Oakland. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 57th save ties Oakland's Dennis Eckersley and starter Bob Welch for the highest total in major league history.

RANGERS 5, BLUE JAYS 4:

Nelson Cruz and Ian Kinsler each hit two-run homers and visiting Texas roughed up Toronto and Roy Halladay (3-1), who gave up five runs and eight hits in eight innings. The game was delayed for 10 minutes in the top of the sixth when plate umpire Kerwin Danley was hit on the head by a broken bat and had to leave the game.

ORIOLES 10, WHITE SOX 3:

Recalled from Triple-A Norfolk before the game, Brad Bergesen (1-0) allowed three runs and four hits in 5 2/3 innings in his major league debut, Aubrey Huff hit a pair of two-run homers, and host Baltimore pounded Chicago to end a five-game losing streak.

MARINERS 4, RAYS 2:

Jarrod Washburn (3-0) allowed two runs, both in the first, and scattered five hits over seven innings for host Seattle. Rob Johnson had a two-run triple in a three-run fourth to spoil Joe Maddon's 500th game as manager of the Rays.

ANGELS 4, TIGERS 3:

Torii Hunter tied the game with a solo homer in the bottom of the fifth and scored the go-ahead run on Gary Matthews Jr.'s two-out double in the eighth inning, helping Los Angeles beat Detroit.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ASTROS 8, DODGERS 5:

Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer, Miguel Tejada drove in three runs, and Russ Ortiz (1-0) gave up three runs in the first inning, then pitched zeros until the fifth, as host Houston ended Los Angeles' eight-game winning streak.

CUBS 7, REDS 2:

Rookie Micah Hoffpauir homered in the second and had a sacrifice fly to break a 2-all tie and trigger a three-run fifth inning for host Chicago. Rich Harden (1-1) gave up two runs on three hits in six innings to help beat Cincinnati.

PHILLIES 11, BREWERS 4:

Pedro Feliz homered and drove in three runs, Jamie Moyer (2-1) allowed four runs and seven hits in six-plus innings and host Philadelphia routed Milwaukee, despite five hits, including two homers, from Ryan Braun.

CARDINALS 6, METS 4:

Rick Ankiel doubled after Daniel Murphy misplayed Brendan Ryan's liner to left field for a triple to break a 4-all tie, and Ryan Ludwick added a sacrifice fly in a two-run bottom of the eighth to rally St. Louis past New York.

PIRATES 3, MARLINS 2:

Jeff Karstens (1-0) allowed one run and three hits over six innings, Freddy Sanchez homered and host Pittsburgh took a 3-0 lead after three innings in handing Florida its second straight loss after starting out 11-1.

NATIONALS 4, BRAVES 3:

Adam Dunn homered and Washington's beleaguered relievers tossed three scoreless innings for the second day in a row to defeat visiting Atlanta for its second straight victory.

GIANTS 8, PADRES 3:

Edgar Renteria hit a grand slam off Jake Peavy (2-2) in the fourth and had five RBIs, and Matt Cain (2-0) scattered nine hits over six innings, yielding just two runs to beat San Diego for the first time since 2006 in host San Francisco's victory.

ROCKIES 9, DIAMONDBACKS 6:

Todd Helton had three hits, including his first homer, and drove in three runs, and Brad Hawpe had a two-run, two-out single to cap a four-run top of the sixth as Colorado rallied to beat Arizona and snap a four-game losing streak.