Jeremy Guthrie cooled off Minnesota by allowing a run on six hits in seven innings Wednesday in Baltimore's 5-1 victory over the Twins. Minnesota had a five-game winning streak halted and dropped a game below 500, but stayed within 4 1/2 games of division-leading Detroit in the American League Central. Guthrie

Jason Giambi and Matt Holliday had two RBI each and Nomar Garciaparra and Jack Cust homered Monday in the Oakland Athletics' 8-2 rout of Boston. Orlando Cabrera and Bobby Crosby each had an RBI for the A's, who had lost three straight coming into the game. Dallas Braden (1-1) went six innings, giving up two runs on six hits to get the win. Kevin Youkilis homered and David Ortiz drove in one run for the Red Sox, who have lost two straight. Jon Lester (0-2) allowed six runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts over six innings to take the loss. Youkilis led off the second inning off with a solo homer but the A's answered with five runs in the bottom of the second.

The Oakland Athletics signed free agent infielders Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra to one-year contracts on Friday. Their signings give the American League West Division team four players at least 34 years old heading into the 2009 season.

Free agent Orlando Cabrera has been offered salary arbitration by the Chicago White Sox. Cabrera has a career batting average of .274 in 12 years. Cabrera hit 105 home runs and 684 RBI in his career while playing for the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, LA Angels and White Sox.

By Tom Wilemon, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss. Jan. 31--LONG BEACH -- HUD Assistant Secretary Orlando Cabrera came to the Coast on Tuesday to announce that the federal agency is being flexible with $27.3 million so Mississippi housing agencies can get people back in their homes quicker.