Rogers mows down A’s

Kenny Rogers won his seventh straight decision against his former club and Craig Monroe hit a two-run homer, leading visiting Detroit over Oakland yesterday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Brandon Inge added a solo homer for the Tigers (57-28), who have the best record in baseball but had lost three of four following a seven-game winning streak.

Rookie Melky Cabrera hit his first career grand slam in visiting New York’s eight-run fourth inning, helping his team bounce back from a historic loss with an easy win over Cleveland.

One day after a 19-1 pummeling by Cleveland, tying the second-most lopsided defeat in their famed history, the Yankees looked much more like themselves.

In addition to matching their highest-scoring inning this season off Paul Byrd (6-6), the Yankees stole six bases and starter Mike Mussina (10-3) showed no ill effects from a slight groin pull.

Mussina allowed three runs and five hits in six sharp innings. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the right-hander is the only pitcher in AL history to win at least 10 games in 15 consecutive seasons.

Ageless Orlando Hernandez baffled visiting Pittsburgh on four hits through seven innings, pitching New York to a win.

Hernandez, listed as 36 but believed to be older, used his full arsenal, mixing his pitches with his herky-jerky motion and keeping the Pirates off balance as the Mets became the first National League team to win 50 games.

Khalil Greene’s three-run homer off All-Star closer Tom Gordon in the ninth inning lifted visiting San Diego over Philadelphia.

Jake Peavy pitched seven strong innings and hit his first career homer for the Padres, who snapped an 11-game losing streak to Philadelphia that dated to the 2004 season.

Scott Linebrink (6-2) pitched a scoreless inning and Trevor Hoffman finished for his 21st save in 22 chances.

Phillies starter Scott Mathieson allowed three runs and six hits in eight innings in only his third career start. Chase Utley extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an RBI double.

Jon Garland won his fourth straight decision and Chicago had a four-run first inning before holding on to beat visiting Baltimore for their 15th win in 19 games.

Chicago closer Bobby Jenks gave up three straight hits and a run in the ninth before striking out the final three batters to earn his 26th save in 27 chances.

Florida tied a franchise record with an eight-run inning in a rout of Washington in the highest scoring game ever played at RFK Stadium.

The Marlins set season highs in runs (18) and hits (19), highlighted by a fifth inning in which 10 consecutive batters reached base and eight straight scored.

Dan Uggla finished 4 for 6 with two doubles and four RBIs, and every starter scored at least once as Florida snapped a four-game losing skid and ended Washington’s four-game winning streak.

Washington rookie Mike O’Connor (3-6) lasted eight batters over one-plus innings in his worst outing. Reliever Jason Bergmann gave up two runs in the second inning and Saul Rivera was pummeled for eight in the interminable fifth, raising his ERA from 3.44 to 6.75. Mike Stanton allowed three more runs in the eighth.

Atlanta won consecutive series for the first time since May and extended visiting St. Louis’ road woes with a victory.

The Braves scored 10 runs off Jeff Suppan, knocking him out of the game in the fourth inning, to win for the second time in the three-game series. The Braves are 4-2 in a 10-game homestand as they try to recover from a 6-21 June, the worst month in franchise history.

Chuck James became the first Braves rookie in 23 years to win his first three starts. James (3-0) gave up four runs and eight hits, including home runs to Scott Rolen and Hector Luna, in six innings.