AROUND THE HORN Wednesday's other games

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 9, Devil Rays 4
BOSTON -- The Boston Red Sox gave David Wells great run support again, scoring five times before making an out and coasting past Tampa Bay. One start after staking Wells to a 17-1 lead, the Red Sox scored six runs in the first inning and led 9-2 when he left after seven. Wells (8-5) earned his seventh win in eight decisions, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Johnny Damon homered and Kevin Millar scored three runs for the Red Sox. Second baseman Tony Graffanino, acquired in one of two trades Tuesday, had an RBI double.
Twins 3, Orioles 2
MINNEAPOLIS -- Jacque Jones homered with one out in the ninth inning for the Twins. Jones connected on the first pitch he saw from Jason Grimsley (0-1), getting his second decisive RBI in two games. His infield single Tuesday night gave Minnesota a 4-3 win. Rafael Palmeiro hit a two-run homer for Baltimore. Miguel Tejada just missed a two-out homer in the ninth against Minnesota's Joe Nathan (2-3), settling for a double off the top of the right-field wall. Palmeiro was intentionally walked before Sammy Sosa struck out swinging.
Tigers 8, White Sox 6
CHICAGO -- Nate Robertson scattered four hits over seven innings, and Chris Shelton and Omar Infante homered as Detroit took two of three games in the series and won for the ninth time in 13. Robertson (5-7) allowed three runs, struck out six and walked two. Shelton hit a two-run homer in the first, and Infante homered leading off a four-run ninth for the Tigers. Freddy Garcia (9-4), failed in his bid to win a seventh straight decision. He allowed six runs and 12 hits in eight-plus innings. Tadahito Iguchi and Chris Widger homered for the White Sox, who had a three-run ninth that included a two-run single by Juan Uribe. He had three RBIs. Craig Dingman got the final out for his second career save.
Yankees 8, Rangers 4
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jason Giambi and Tino Martinez homered twice each, and New York matched its season high with six while winning for the 12th time in 15 games. Giambi and Jorge Posada put the Yankees ahead to stay with consecutive homers in the second off Joaquin Benoit (1-1), who worked five innings. Robinson Cano added a three-run homer. Aaron Small (1-0) became the 12th different New York starter this season, working 51/3 innings in his Yankees debut for his first victory since 1998. Richard Hidalgo homered and had a run-scoring double for Texas.
Blue Jays 9, Mariners 4
TORONTO -- Frank Catalanotto and Shea Hillenbrand homered to highlight a five-run fifth inning by the Blue Jays. Rookie Aaron Hill also homered, and Gustavo Chacin (9-5) won his third straight start, allowing one run and six hits in six innings. Richie Sexson and Scott Spiezio homered for Seattle. Ryan Franklin (5-11) allowed 12 hits and a career-high eight earned runs in 51/3 innings. The benches almost cleared in fourth after Franklin jawed with Toronto's Orlando Hudson, whom Franklin thought was stealing signs from second base.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Braves 4, Giants 1
SAN FRANCISCO -- John Smoltz pitched eight smooth innings for his seventh straight win, and rookie Jeff Francoeur went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer for Atlanta. Smoltz (11-5) allowed six hits and struck out seven. He didn't walk a batter and permitted just two runners to reach second base in his first victory over San Francisco since April 26, 1996. He even added a run-scoring double in the seventh, padding a lead that was never threatened by the Giants' meek bats. Alex Sanchez's leadoff double and Pedro Feliz's fourth-inning homer were San Francisco's only extra-base hits. Chris Reitsma pitched the ninth for his 10th save in 14 chances.
Mets 7, Padres 3
NEW YORK -- Mike Piazza hit a two-run homer to move into a tie with Johnny Bench on the career home run list, and Carlos Beltran also had a two-run shot for the Mets. Tom Glavine (7-7) won his third consecutive decision for New York. He allowed two runs and six hits in six innings and now has given up three runs or fewer in his last five starts. The win was the 269th of his career. Piazza had an RBI double in the third inning to go with his homer off Woody Williams (5-6) in the fifth. Piazza's homer was his 389th, tying him with Bench for 46th all-time, one behind Graig Nettles. It was Piazza's 367th as a catcher, most for the position.
Reds 9, Cubs 3
CINCINNATI -- Ken Griffey Jr. hit one of Cincinnati's homers off Kerry Wood, who was forced from the game after only three innings because of a stiff shoulder. Aaron Harang (6-8) pitched a seven-hitter for Cincinnati's first complete game of the season, slowing a Cubs offense that has nine homers in the series' first three games. Derrek Lee hit his major league-leading 31st and Jeromy Burnitz followed with a solo shot in the seventh. Wood (3-3) gave up solo homers to Griffey, Felipe Lopez and Adam Dunn in three innings. Griffey's homer was his 21st this season and the 522nd of his career, breaking a tie for 14th on the career list with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey. Javier Valentin, who homered from both sides of the plate on Sunday, connected after Wood left.
Dodgers 10, Phillies 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer and Jayson Werth a two-run shot during a nine-run fifth inning, and Derek Lowe pitched seven strong innings for Los Angeles. Lowe (6-10) allowed six hits, struck out five, gave up two unearned runs and walked none in winning for the first time since June 6. David Bell hit a two-run homer off Lowe in the seventh. Cory Lidle (8-8) left without retiring a batter in the fifth. After pitching just 31/3 innings in his last outing, Lidle gave up seven runs and eight hits in this one.
Rockies 3, Nationals 2
WASHINGTON -- J.D. Closser hit a decisive two-run homer off Livan Hernandez -- who plunked the previous batter -- in the sixth inning, and Colorado hung on to win a road series for the first time this season. Hernandez (12-4) became the first NL pitcher to hit four batters in a game since Pedro Astacio of Colorado in 2001. He left after seven innings, and the Nationals lost for the seventh time in nine games. Jason Jennings (6-9) allowed two runs in five innings, and Brian Fuentes got his 14th save. The Rockies came to Washington having lost 12 series and tying two on the road.
Cardinals 4, Brewers 2
ST. LOUIS -- Albert Pujols homered for the third straight game and backed Mark Mulder, leading St. Louis Cardinals. John Rodriguez hit his first major league homer for the Cardinals, who have won five of six games since the All-Star break. St. Louis improved to7-2 against Milwaukee and 31-10 against the NL Central. Pujols' two-run homer off in the third off Ben Sheets (5-7) gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. Pujols, who has 26 homers, is batting .429 (15-for-35) against Milwaukee this year with five homers and 13 RBIs. Rodriguez, who hit 17 homers in 34 games for Triple-A Memphis before coming up Monday, connected off Sheets with one out in the first. Rodriguez has started all three games since the callup, made after Reggie Sanders broke a leg, and is 4-for-11. J.J. Hardy homered and Rickie Weeks had a pair of doubles for the Brewers.
Associated Press