CLEVELAND — Although Justin Verlander and Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland don't always agree on pitching philosophy, they were both pleased with his latest effort.

Verlander (17-9) struck out 11 in seven innings and Carlos Guillen had three hits and an RBI in Detroit's 6-5 win over Cleveland yesterday, pushing the Indians within one loss of matching a franchise record for futility.

With the win, Detroit moved three games ahead of the idle Minnesota Twins in the AL's Central Division. The Tigers, who have 10 games remaining, open a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox tomorrow night.

Despite all the strikeouts, Leyland thought Verlander was simply throwing at times instead of pitching.

Verlander disagreed.

"There's a lot of times where I've gotten into trouble and just let it go and gotten out of it," Verlander said. "Me and him tend to differ a lot on opinion. I wouldn't say I'm throwing it, I'm just giving it more effort."

Such as the third inning, when the Indians loaded the bases on a pair of hits and a walk. Verlander threw a 101 mph fastball that broke Michael Brantley's bat, yet the ball still sailed into right field for a two-run single. That hit gave the Indians more runs off Verlander than they had in the other 29 innings against him this season combined.

"At the end of the day he's the horse and he got a well-deserved win," Leyland said. "He's a tremendous pitcher."

The Indians (61-91) lost their 11th straight, the longest skid since a club-record 12-game streak in 1931.

RED SOX 10, ROYALS 3

David Ortiz homered and drove in three runs, and Clay Buchholz (7-3) scattered five hits over 6 2/3 innings as visiting Boston routed Kansas City. Jacoby Ellsbury had four hits and two RBIs, and Victor Martinez extended his hitting streak to 23 games as Boston closed to four games of clinching the AL wild card.

ATHLETICS 12, RANGERS 3

Jack Cust homered, Eric Patterson drove in three runs, and rookie Brett Anderson (11-10) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings to win his fourth straight start as visiting Oakland salvaged a split of a four-game series in Texas.

MARINERS 5, BLUE JAYS 4

Felix Hernandez (17-5) allowed four runs and seven hits with a season-high 11 strikeouts in eight innings, and Josh Wilson hit a tiebreaking two-run triple in the eighth inning to lead visiting Seattle past Toronto.