Yanks rally to top Jays again; Sox avoid sweep
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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |
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The Associated Press - Published: July 6, 2009
NEW YORK — Derek Jeter had four hits including the go-ahead two-run homer, Hideki Matsui homered and drove in four runs, and the New York Yankees rallied from a four-run hole to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 10-8 on Sunday.
It was New York's fifth straight win over the Blue Jays, whose five-run fourth inning gave them an 8-4 lead that never appeared safe on a day in which balls were again flying out of Yankee Stadium. There were four homers hit — all of them to right field — to raise the total to 139 at the new ballpark midway through the season.
Jonathan Albaladejo (3-1), recalled after Chien-Ming Wang went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, got the win in relief — even though Alfredo Aceves deserves most of the credit.
He allowed only one hit while working the last four innings for his first save.
Jorge Posada had four hits and drove in three runs, including one during the Yankees' decisive three-run fifth inning.
Aaron Hill homered and drove in three runs, and Marco Scutaro and Adam Lind each had a pair of RBIs as the Blue Jays pounded out a dozen hits.
Jeter homered off B.J. Ryan (1-1).
Red Sox 8, Mariners 4
BOSTON — David Ortiz had a tying RBI single and Mark Kotsay added a key two-run hit during a five-run seventh inning, and the Red Sox avoided a three-game sweep.
All-Star Dustin Pedroia homered among his three hits for the Red Sox, who have not been swept at home this season. Ortiz and Jacoby Ellsbury also each hit solo homers.
Ronny Cedeno had a bases-loaded triple for Seattle, which won its first series in Boston since 2001.
Ortiz's two-out RBI single tied it against Miguel Batista (5-3).
Justin Masterson (3-2) pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings of relief for the win.
Royals 6, White Sox 3
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Alberto Callaspo got his fourth RBI in two days and Miguel Olivo hit a two-run homer to help the Royals earn a split of their four-game series with Chicago.
Callaspo, who had three RBIs in a 6-4 win on Saturday, also cost KC a run with the kind of shaky defense which has led to his collecting 10 errors at second base this year. But Brian Bannister (6-6) held Chicago to five hits and two runs through six innings and snapped a personal four-game losing streak to the White Sox.
Clayton Richard (3-2), who beat Bannister and the Royals 11-2 on May 29, lasted just 3 2-3 innings and gave up four runs and eight hits.
Twins 6, Tigers 2
MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Morneau punctuated a productive series — and celebrated another All-Star game selection — with a two-run homer for Twins.
Nick Blackburn (7-4) took a shutout into the ninth inning before left fielder Denard Span dropped a line drive for an error and Brandon Inge followed with a two-run home run, his 19th.
Morneau went deep twice during the series and finished 9-for-15 with five RBIs.
The Twins scored all of their runs in the fourth against rookie Rick Porcello (8-6), who threw seven shutout innings at them during a defeat in Detroit on May 5.
Athletics 5, Indians 2
CLEVELAND — Gio Gonzalez pitched six strong innings for his first win of the season and Oakland beat the Indians.
Prior to the game, Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said manager Eric Wedge will keep his job for the rest of the season, even though Cleveland has the worst record in the AL. Despite the news, the Indians lost for the 14th time in 18 games.
Gonzalez (1-2) allowed two runs, six hits, and struck out a career-high eight for his second career win and first since Aug. 12.
Andrew Bailey, Oakland's lone representative on the AL All-Star team, recorded the final four outs for his ninth save in 13 chances.
Cliff Lee (4-8) allowed three runs in six innings. Last season's AL Cy Young Award winner, hasn't won since June 14.
Angels 9, Orioles 6
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Vladimir Guerrero hit tying two-run homer in his first game back in right field, and the Angels took advantage of a wild Baltimore bullpen to rally for a win.
Guerrero, who played in the outfield for the first time this season after missing 35 games with a torn pectoral muscle, hit home runs in back-to-back games for the first time since July 19-20 last season when he faced the Boston Red Sox.
The Angels took control in the seventh with three runs off Matt Albers (1-3), who walked in two runs.
Darren Oliver (3-0) worked 1 1-3 innings for the win
Brian Fuentes struck out two in one inning of work for his league-leading 24th save.
Phillies 2, Mets 0
PHILADELPHIA — Joe Blanton pitched four-hit ball into the eighth inning and Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley each homered off Johan Santana, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to over the New York Mets to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rival.
The Phillies had lost 12 of 15 and returned home after being swept by the Atlanta Braves, but took advantage of the injury-ravaged Mets to earn their first sweep at home since taking three straight from the Nationals May 29-31.
The defending World Series Champions pushed the third-place Mets four games back in the NL East, handing them their eighth loss in 11 games. The Marlins beat the Pittsburgh Pirates to remain a game back in the division.
Dodgers 7, Padres 6
13 innings
SAN DIEGO — James Loney led off the 13th inning with a homer off Edward Mujica (2-4) to give the Dodgers a win over San Diego.
Manny Ramirez didn't start for the first time since he returned from a 50-game drug suspension on Friday. Manager Joe Torre said he wanted Ramirez to rest his legs after being out so long.
The outfielder pinch hit in the 11th inning off Mike Adams and was robbed of a hit by right fielder Tony Gwynn's sliding catch.
Jeff Weaver (5-2) pitched three hitless innings for the win.
Astros 7, Giants 1
SAN FRANCISCO — Roy Oswalt pitched eight solid innings in the Astros' victory over the Giants.
Miguel Tejada, Hunter Pence and Jason Michaels each hit solo home runs for the Astros, who had been shut out in their previous two games against the Giants.
Oswalt (5-4) gave up three hits, struck out six and walked one as he improved to 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA over his last four starts.
Giants' starter Randy Johnson (8-6) left the game with a left shoulder strain, injured during a plate appearance, after committing a throwing error in the top of the fourth inning.
Johnson allowed four runs on five hits over 3 2-3 innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Diamondbacks 4, Rockies 3
DENVER — Mark Reynolds hit a three-run homer and Felipe Lopez broke a tie game with an RBI single in the seventh, lifting the Diamondbacks over the Rockies.
It's the second straight game the Diamondbacks rallied late for the victory, and gives them their first series win since mid June at Kansas City.
Dan Haren (8-5) allowed three runs — one earned — before being taken out in the seventh for a pinch hitter. The three runs allowed were his most since May 23 at Oakland.
Troy Tulowitzki hit a solo homer while Ryan Spilborghs and Todd Helton added RBI singles for Colorado, who lost two straight at Coors Field for the first time since Jim Tracy replaced Clint Hurdle as manager in late May.
Ubaldo Jimenez (6-8) had been dynamite against the Diamondbacks of late, throwing 19 scoreless innings dating back to last season.
Nationals 5, Braves 3
WASHINGTON — Scott Olsen pitched into the ninth inning, newly acquired Nyjer Morgan had three hits and the Nationals beat the Braves for their second straight victory.
Olsen (2-4) allowed three runs and eight hits over 8 2-3 innings, prevailing for the first time since returning June 28 from the 15-day disabled list after a bout with left shoulder tendinitis. He walked five and struck out five.
Olsen helped his own cause with his first two hits of the season, including an RBI single.
Derek Lowe (7-7), who signed a four-year, $60 million free-agent contract with the Braves in the offseason, lost for the fourth time in his past five starts.
Cardinals 10, Reds 1
CINCINNATI — Colby Rasmus' homer started St. Louis' eight-run onslaught against slumping right-hander Bronson Arroyo, and the Cardinals got another solid start from Chris Carpenter.
Rasmus hit a two-run homer in the first off Arroyo (8-8), who is 1-5 in his last seven starts. A throwing error by third baseman Edwin Encarnacion let in a pair of runs in the fifth inning, helping the Cardinals pull ahead 8-0 with Arroyo on the mound.
Carpenter (6-3) bounced back from his worst start of the season, a 6-3 loss to the Giants on Tuesday. The right-hander gave up a run and five hits in seven innings, fanning Laynce Nix on a 94 mph fastball with his 104th and final pitch.
Marlins 5, Pirates 0
MIAMI — Ricky Nolasco struck out 12 in eight innings to win his fourth consecutive start, and the Marlins beat the Pirates.
Nolasco (6-6) allowed three hits and missed his career high for strikouts by one, set Aug. 2 against Colorado. It was Nolasco's first win in his last four starts against Pittsburgh dating to last season. The Marlins won their fourth consecutive series at home.
Leo Nunez worked a scoreless ninth to finish the Marlins' second shutout of the season.
Ross Ohlendorf (7-7) gave up five runs on nine hits over five innings and lost his third consecutive road start. The Pirates have lost six of eight.
Cubs 8, Brewers 2
CHICAGO — Ted Lilly pitched effectively into the seventh inning and Derrek Lee hit a two-run homer, leading the Cubs to victory over the Brewers.
Jake Fox also had a two-run home run for the Cubs, who took three of four from the Brewers. The Cubs moved 1-1/2 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central Division for second place and trail the first-place St. Louis Cardinals by 2-1/2 games in the division.
After having a National League record-tying eight players selected to the All-Star game last season, Lilly (8-6) was the lone Cubs representative selected on Sunday. He allowed two runs on nine hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out nine, including the side in the fifth.
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