Matsui, Contreras Star for the Yankees in 10-9 Victory

Hideki Matsui broke a tie with a three-run homer in the sixth inning to give Cuban defector Jose Contreras his first major league victory as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 10-9, on Monday night at New York.

Jorge Posada and Raul Mondesi also homered for the Yankees in a sloppy game that lasted 4 hours, 8 minutes and saw 12 pitchers walk 21 and hit three batters. The teams also combined for three errors.

Matsui hit a 3-1 pitch off reliever Aquilino Lopez (0-1) into the upper deck in right to make it 9-6. Matsui went two for three, raising his average to .306 and increasing his team-leading RBIs total to 14.

Contreras (1-0), making his first appearance since April 6 against Tampa Bay, worked a scoreless sixth for the victory after giving up Eric Hinske’s two-out RBI single in Toronto’s four-run fifth.

Kansas City 12, Cleveland 4 -- Mike Sweeney hit a three-run double and a solo home run and Ken Harvey, Brent Mayne and Michael Tucker also homered for the Royals at Cleveland. The Royals’ 10-1 start is the best in team history through 11 games. Jeremy Affeldt (2-0) won his second start in a row, giving up three runs and five hits over five innings.

Seattle 4, Oakland 3 -- Jeff Cirillo hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning for his first home run of the season to help the Mariners win at Seattle. The A’s have lost five in a row after starting 7-1.