By The Associated Press

On the field, Joe Torre keeps winning. In the sometimes complicated New York Yankees' decision-making process, he's not so sure.

Torre became the fifth Yankees manager to win 700 games as his team beat the Minnesota 8-2 Sunday for its 12th straight win over the Twins.

Torre, hired by team owner George Steinbrenner after the 1995 season, joins a list that includes Joe McCarthy (1,460), Casey Stengel (1,149), Miller Huggins (1,067) and Ralph Houk (944).

"Here I am having the greatest time of my life," Torre said after the game.

A few hours earlier, he didn't sound happy after he learned Steinbrenner overrode his decision to send pitcher Jose Contreras to Triple-A Columbus and instead ordered the struggling right-hander to report to the Yankees' minor league complex in Tampa, Fla.

"My problem yesterday is that I sat in my room with this young man, told him where he was going," a puzzled Torre said before the game. "Turns out, I'm the liar there. That, I'm not crazy about."

In other games it was Kansas City 4, Detroit 3; Boston 6, Toronto 5; Baltimore 4, Tampa Bay 1; Cleveland 7, Chicago 4; Texas 2, Oakland 1; and Seattle 7, Anaheim 6.

At the Metrodome, Mike Mussina (4-0) allowed five hits in seven innings and struck out eight. The Yankees' start is the best in team history and their starting pitchers are 13-0, the longest winning streak to begin a major league season since 1900.

Jason Giambi, in a 2-for-21 slide, hit a three-run homer in the first inning, his first home run since April 4. Bernie Williams also homered.

Kyle Lohse (2-2) allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Royals 4, Tigers 3

Desi Relaford scored the winning run in the ninth on a throwing error by first baseman Carlos Pena.

The Royals extended the best start in franchise history to 14-3 and are 8-0 at Kauffman Stadium. The Tigers' 1-16 start matched the worst in the majors since the Royals lost 16 of 17 in 1992.

Mike MacDougal (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win. Mike Maroth (0-5) lost despite pitching a four-hitter for the first complete game of his career.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5

Nomar Garciaparra hit a tying double in the seventh off Roy Halladay and a winning homer in the ninth against Cliff Politte (0-2) as Boston rallied from a 5-0 deficit for its seventh straight victory. Visiting Toronto has lost 10 of 11.

Mike Timlin (3-0) pitched two scoreless innings.

Orioles 4, Devil Rays 1

Melvin Mora homered and Omar Daal (1-1) allowed one run and five hits over seven innings, retiring 16 of his final 17 batters. He had been winless in eight starts since beating Houston on Aug. 31.

It was the first victory for a Baltimore left-handed starter since Chuck McElroy defeated Minnesota on April 28, 2001. Jorge Julio pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save as Baltimore won for the fourth time in five games.

Bench coach Sam Perlozzo managed the Orioles in place of Mike Hargrove, who left the team to be with his ailing mother in Perryton, Texas. Nick Bierbrodt (0-2) allowed four runs and five hits in 1 1-3 innings for visiting Tampa Bay, which has lost five of six.

Indians 7, White Sox 4

Ellis Burks, Shane Spencer and Karim Garcia homered as visiting Cleveland stopped its four-game losing streak and Chicago's four-game winning streak.

Jason Davis (2-2) allowed three runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings.

D'Angelo Jimenez and Carlos Lee homered for the White Sox. Lee has homered in four consecutive games.

Chicago starter Mark Buehrle (2-2) gave up seven runs in 4 1-3 innings and allowed 11 hits, matching his career high.

Rangers 2, Athletics 1

Carl Everett homered to right field in the seventh off Chad Bradford (1-2), not far from where a fan threw a cell phone that hit Everett in the head a day earlier. Everett has homered in the last five games in which he batted, setting a Rangers record.

Visiting Texas ended a four-game road losing streak. Colby Lewis (3-0) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, and Ugueth Urbina pitched the ninth for his seventh save.

Mariners 7, Angels 6

John Olerud's second RBI single broke a ninth-inning tie against Troy Percival (0-1) at Anaheim.

Olerud continued to second on rookie outfielder Julio Ramirez's wild throw to the plate. He tagged up on Mike Cameron's fly to right and scored when Eric Owens' throw bounced into the stands.

Shigetoshi Hasegawa (1-0) retired Chone Figgins on a flyball with the bases loaded, ending the eighth. Kazuhiro Sasaki finished for his fourth save, allowing an RBI single by Scott Spiezio, then striking out Brad Fullmer to end the game with two on.