Saturday, June 19, 2004
INTERLEAGUE
Athletics 2, Cubs 1
CHICAGO -- Mark Kotsay homered and drove in another run, and the Oakland Athletics spoiled Sammy Sosa's return from a month on the disabled list. Sosa, who went 0-for-4 in his first game since May 15, had a chance to tie the score with two outs in the ninth. With fans standing and chanting "SAM-MY! SAM-MY," Sosa grounded out to short to end the game. Kotsay finished 2-for-4, improving to .466 with four homers and 19 RBIs in his last 19 games. Mark Redman (5-3) scattered four hits and an unearned run over eight innings. Chad Bradford pitched the ninth for his first save in two chances. Matt Clement (7-5) was solid, giving up seven hits and two runs in eight innings.
Royals 10, Phillies 4
PHILADELPHIA -- Matt Stairs homered twice and Benito Santiago hit a three-run shot to lead Kansas City. Chris George (1-0) allowed four runs and nine hits -- all singles -- in 6 2/3 innings, helping the Royals win their third straight game -- each by the same score. Kansas City, which has the AL's worst record, has won five of seven and is 18-18 since an 8-20 start. Santiago's three-run homer off Paul Abbott (0-1) gave the Royals a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Santiago left in the sixth after a pitch by Geoff Geary hit the back of his left hand.
White Sox 11, Expos 7
MONTREAL -- Carlos Lee went 4-for-6 with four RBIs and the Chicago White Sox extended the Expos' losing streak to seven. Lee, who fell a triple short of the cycle, drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth with an RBI single off Luis Ayala (0-6) that made it 8-7. Neal Cotts (1-3) pitched a perfect seventh and doubled in his first major league plate appearance before James Burke was thrown out at the plate to end the eighth. Jose Valentin doubled in the first and hit RBI triples in the fourth and eighth. He also had two triples in the same game on Sept. 29, 1999.
Rangers 8, Marlins 1
MIAMI -- John Wasdin (1-0) won his first start in nearly six years, Alfonso Soriano drove in two runs and Texas snapped a four-game losing streak. Brad Fullmer's ninth homer, a three-run shot in the seventh, put the game out of reach. Wasdin allowed six hits and a run in seven innings. He walked two and struck out one, winning his first start since July 29, 1998, as a member of the Boston Red Sox. The Rangers hit Marlins starter Brad Penny hard, handing him his third loss in as many starts. Brad Penny (6-5) struck out 10 but also allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk. In his Marlins debut, Billy Koch gave up a run on two hits.
Mets 3, Tigers 2
NEW YORK -- Mike Cameron homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the New York Mets a victory over Detroit. Cameron's ninth home run -- and second in as many nights -- came on a 2-2 pitch from reliever Danny Patterson (0-4) and sent the Mets to their second win in a row. Richard Hidalgo, acquired the previous day from Houston, was 0-for-4 in his debut for the Mets. Tom Glavine pitched seven solid innings and hit a two-run single. In the top of the ninth, Detroit had runners at first and third with one out, but Braden Looper (1-1) pitched out of the jam.
Astros 5, Angels 0
HOUSTON -- Pete Munro combined with three relievers on a five-hitter, and Jeff Kent drove in three runs to lead Houston past Anaheim. The Astros snapped a four-game losing streak and gave manager Jimy Williams his 900th career victory. Williams is 900-778 in the majors. Munro (1-0) allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings in his second start of the year. Dan Miceli, Brad Lidge and Octavio Dotel finished Houston's fifth shutout this season. Kent had an RBI double and a two-run triple, and Jeff Bagwell hit his 10th homer for the Astros, who sent the Angels to their 10th loss in 13 games. Jose Vizcaino had four hits. Kelvim Escobar (4-3) allowed four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. He tied a career high with seven walks.
Brewers 4, Twins 1
MILWAUKEE -- Ben Sheets pitched four-hit ball for six innings, and Chad Moeller homered in Milwaukee's victory over Minnesota. Keith Ginter drove in two runs, and Brady Clark had an RBI single for the Brewers, who snapped Minnesota's three-game winning streak. The AL Central-leading Twins lost for only the third time in 11 games. Sheets (6-4) struck out six and walked two. Jeff Bennett pitched two perfect innings before Danny Kolb worked the ninth for his 20th save, finishing the five-hitter. Carlos Silva (7-4) gave up three runs and eight hits in four innings.
Rockies 5, Orioles 3
DENVER -- Shawn Estes allowed two runs in seven innings for his first win in a month, and Todd Helton drove in three runs to help Colorado beat Baltimore. Rafael Palmeiro hit career home run No. 538 and Jerry Hairston was a homer short of the cycle, but the rest of the Orioles managed just four hits in losing their sixth straight. Sidney Ponson (3-9) dropped his sixth consecutive decision. Estes (7-3) worked his way out of trouble all night, and Shawn Chacon pitched the ninth for his 13th save in 18 chances. He allowed a solo homer to pinch-hitter David Newhan. Colorado center fielder Preston Wilson returned to the lineup ahead of schedule after missing 58 games because of knee surgery. He went 0-for-4.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cardinals 4, Reds 3
ST. LOUIS -- Ken Griffey Jr. came up empty again in his bid to hit his 500th homer. Albert Pujols homered off Mike Matthews (1-1) to lead off the bottom of the 10th inning to lead St. Louis, extending its winning streak to five games. Griffey was 0-for-4, taking a called third strike in the second, lining out to shortstop in the fourth, flying out to center in the seventh and tapping out on a checked swing in the ninth. He's 3-for-17 with two RBIs in four games since he homered Sunday against the Indians. The Reds got key RBIs from pinch-hitter Jacob Cruz and Barry Larkin against a tiring Chris Carpenter in a two-run eighth to take a 3-2 lead. The Cardinals tied it with a two-out rally in the ninth off closer Danny Graves, who has blown seven saves in 34 chances. Julian Tavarez (1-0) struck out the side in the top of the 10th for St. Louis.
-- Associated Press