DETROIT — Max Scherzer responded quite nicely to his demotion.

Scherzer struck out 14 in 5 2/3 shutout innings hours after he was recalled from Triple-A Toledo, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics, 10-2, yesterday to end a four-game losing streak.

Scherzer (2-4) allowed two hits, walked four and hit a batter in his first game since he was sent down following a rough opening stretch of the season. He was only called back up because Armando Galarraga, yesterday's scheduled starter, pitched in relief on Friday and wasn't available.

The right-hander fell just two strikeouts short of Mickey Lolich's team record despite being taken out in the sixth inning.

"I don't want to get crazy and carried away, because this was one outing, but obviously that was pretty impressive," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I think he was hungry to get back here, and it shows. Sending a guy down isn't punishment, it is hopefully to get results like this."

Scherzer was acquired from Arizona over the winter and went 1-4 with a 7.29 ERA in his first eight starts with the Tigers. He fixed a mechanical flaw and gave up one run in 15 innings over two starts with the Mud Hens.

"My arm was wrapping too much around my body — it's very complex, but I needed to shorten my arm action," he said. "That's what I did, and all of a sudden, my fastball had that zip again."

Miguel Cabrera had four hits, including his 14th homer, and four RBIs for the Tigers, who finished with 15 hits. Carlos Guillen and Brandon Inge also connected, and Joel Zumaya pitched two scoreless innings for his first save.

Daric Barton hit a two-run homer for Oakland. Dallas Braden (4-5) allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings.

ANGELS 9, MARINERS 7

Howie Kendrick hit his second home run of the game with two outs and two on in the ninth inning, giving host Los Angeles the win a day after Kendry Morales broke his leg celebrating a winning grand slam for the Angels.

BLUE JAYS 6, ORIOLES 1

Jose Bautista hit his major league-leading 16th homer, Ricky Romero (5-2) threw a six-hitter and host Toronto finished off the three-game sweep.

RED SOX 8, ROYALS 1

David Ortiz capped his big May with his 11th homer of the season and Jon Lester (6-2) allowed one run and four hits in seven innings, helping host Boston salvage a split of the four-game series.

YANKEES 7, INDIANS 3

Mark Teixeira hit a three-run homer in New York's five-run seventh, and A.J. Burnett (6-2) gave up one earned run and five hits in eight innings for New York.

WHITE SOX 8, RAYS 5

Jayson Nix connected against James Shields (5-3) for his first career grand slam, helping visiting Chicago split a four-game series with the AL East leaders.

TWINS 6, RANGERS 3

Denard Span had two hits, an RBI and made a lunging catch while colliding with Orlando Hudson to end the game and host Minnesota completed a rare three-game sweep over Texas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 9, CUBS 1

Albert Pujols hit three long home runs and Adam Wainwright (7-3) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, leading St. Louis over host Chicago.

MARLINS 1, PHILLIES 0

Not even 24 hours after making the final out of Roy Halladay's perfect game, Ronny Paulino drove in the only run to lift host Florida over Philadelphia.

DODGERS 4, ROCKIES 3

Clayton Kershaw (5-3) allowed two runs and struck out nine in five innings and Xavier Paul hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the sixth to lead Los Angeles over host Colorado.

BRAVES 5, PIRATES 2

Pinch-hitter Chipper Jones had a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning and host Atlanta completed a three-game sweep.

PADRES 3, NATIONALS 2, 11 INNINGS

Pinch-hitter Nick Hundley singled in Lance Zawadzki from second base with two outs in the 11th inning to give host San Diego the victory.

GIANTS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5, 10 INNINGS

Andres Torres hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th inning and host San Francisco handed Arizona its seventh consecutive loss.

ASTROS 2, REDS 0, 10 INNINGS

Lance Berkman hit a two-run double in the 10th inning and Houston salvaged the finale of the three-game series at Cincinnati.

METS 10, BREWERS 4

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (2-0) allowed four runs in seven innings and Angel Pagan homered to help New York avoid a three-game sweep at Milwaukee.

ELSEWHERE

Dodgers: Charlie Haeger's anticipated return this week from the disabled list has been put on hold after the pitcher sustained another foot injury while rehabbing an episode of plantar fasciitis in his right heel.

Andre Ethier, however, is set to come off the disabled list after a rehab stint for his broken pinky finger, and Dodgers manager Joe Torre said yesterday that he expected the outfielder to be available for today's game in Los Angeles against Arizona.

Indians: Three-time All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore will have surgery on his left knee next week and is expected to miss at least six to eight weeks.

Meanwhile, tests on David Huff have shown no signs of a concussion after he was hit in the head with a line drive by New York's Alex Rodriguez on Saturday. Huff says he didn't see the ball coming at him.

Nationals: Right-hander Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to start again for Triple-A Syracuse at Buffalo on Thursday, the team said. The Nationals have not said when Strasburg, the No. 1 pick in last year's draft, will make his major league debut.

Rangers: Outfielder Nelson Cruz was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Manager Ron Washington says the team put Cruz through some tests yesterday and he did not respond well.

Cubs: Carlos Zambrano will return to the Chicago's starting rotation Wednesday at Pittsburgh, according to Cubs manager Lou Piniella. Zambrano will replace left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who will move to the bullpen for relief duty.