AROUND THE HORN Thursday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Orioles 5, Yankees 3
NEW YORK -- Baltimore sent Roger Clemens to his quickest exit in a year, with Jeff Conine and B.J. Surhoff hitting early home runs to back Sidney Ponson and lead the Orioles. Clemens (9-7), in the final season of his 20-year career in the major leagues, lasted just four innings, gave up nine hits and left trailing 5-0. Ponson (14-5) tied Toronto's Roy Halladay and Atlanta's Russ Ortiz for the major league lead in victories, winning his fourth straight start since a June 30 loss to the Yankees.
Devil Rays 15, Red Sox 9
BOSTON -- Damian Rolls hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run fifth inning and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays got a team-record 21 hits. Rolls' first major league slam helped him drive in a career-high five runs. Antonio Perez also homered and had a career-best five RBIs as Tampa Bay matched its highest-scoring game of the season.
Twins 6, Royals 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning after Shannon Stewart's hustle on a bunt forced a key misplay, leading Minnesota. Jacque Jones homered and drove in three runs and Torii Hunter also homered for the Twins. Raul Ibanez homered and had an RBI triple for the Royals. The Twins scored four unearned runs in the eighth against Jason Grimsley (2-4).
White Sox 4, Blue Jays 3, 13 innings
TORONTO -- Frank Thomas hit a go-ahead single in the 13th inning as the White Sox won their season-high seventh straight game in a rain-soaked SkyDome. A sudden shower forced a rare rain delay at SkyDome, where the retractable roof was open when bad weather moved in during the top of the sixth. With the score tied at 2 in the 13th, Chicago's Carlos Lee led off with a double off Tanyon Sturtze (6-5) before Thomas singled to center. Magglio Ordonez's RBI double gave the White Sox a crucial insurance run.
Angels 10, Rangers 6
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kevin Appier beat Texas for the first time in over seven years and David Eckstein had four hits as Anaheim defeated the Rangers. Appier (7-6) had lost 10 straight decisions to Texas, and Thursday's win was his first against the Rangers since May 23, 1996. He allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. The Rangers allowed four unearned runs and were guilty of two errors, a balk and several other misplays as they lost for the eighth time in 11 games.
Athletics 3, Mariners 0
SEATTLE -- Mark Mulder had a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings and Eric Chavez hit a solo homer as Oakland beat Seattle. Mulder (13-7) missed a career high by one strikeout. He was strong all night, allowing seven hits -- all singles. Billy McMillon had a big two-run single as the A's scored three times in the seventh. Chavez started it with a first-pitch homer off Gil Meche (10-7), who lost his fourth straight start.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Giants 3, Diamondbacks 2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds threw himself quite a birthday bash. Bonds led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his 646th career homer only moments after making a spectacular, run-saving throw to give San Francisco its eighth straight win. Playing on his 39th birthday, the star left fielder threw out Craig Counsell at the plate in the top of the ninth, sending fans at Pacific Bell Park into a frenzy. Then, it got even more crazy. Bonds followed with his major league-leading 33rd homer, giving him a San Francisco record 470 to pass Willie McCovey (469). It was Bonds' seventh career game-ending homer.
Dodgers 1, Rockies 0, 11 innings
LOS ANGELES -- Shawn Green hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and Kevin Brown pitched eight scoreless innings for Los Angeles. Brown, who lost his previous four starts, allowed three singles and lowered his ERA to a major league-leading 2.12. But Colorado All-Star Shawn Chacon was just as tough for seven innings. The Dodgers finally broke through in the 11th against Javier Lopez (2-1).
Phillies 14, Cubs 6
CHICAGO -- Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam along with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly during a nine-run burst in the sixth inning for Philadelphia. Placido Polanco drove in four runs with four hits and Todd Pratt homered for the Phillies. Sammy Sosa hit his 520th career home run and Hee Seop Choi also connected for the Cubs in their third straight loss.
Braves 5, Marlins 2
ATLANTA -- Russ Ortiz won his seventh consecutive start and became the NL's first 14-game winner and Javy Lopez hit a two-run homer for Atlanta. The Braves, winners of 15 of their last 18, improved the best record in the majors to 67-34. The Marlins had a three-game winning streak end. Ortiz (14-4) went six innings. The right-hander allowed two runs, seven hits, walked two and struck out five. The seven straight wins matched Ortiz's career-high set in 2000 when he was with the San Francisco Giants. John Smoltz pitched the ninth for his 37th save in 39 chances. Lopez put the Braves ahead 3-1 in the fourth with his 411-foot drive over the center-field fence off Brad Penny (8-8).
Brewers 2, Astros 1
MILWAUKEE -- Keith Ginter hit a pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning to lift Milwaukee. Ginter batted for Brewers starter Ben Sheets to lead off the inning. He connected against Ron Villone (2-1) for his seventh homer of the season. Sheets (9-7) allowed one earned run on five hits in seven innings as Milwaukee won for the sixth time in seven games.
Expos 5, Mets 1
MONTREAL -- Livan Hernandez won his fourth straight decision and Wil Cordero homered to lead Montreal. Hernandez (10-6) improved to 4-0 in five July starts, becoming the first Montreal pitcher to reach double digits in wins. Vladimir Guerrero, who returned from a herniated disk Monday, went 2-for-3 with a walk, including a two-run single off Tom Glavine (6-11) in the first. Glavine lost for the eighth time in his last nine decisions. Rocky Biddle got the final two outs and his 24th save in 29 chances.