AROUND THE HORN | Friday's other games
AMERICAN LEAGUE
White Sox 5, Orioles 3
CHICAGO -- Paul Konerko hit a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh as Chicago rallied for its 27th win in 36 games. Mark Buehrle (6-1) allowed five hits in eight innings to win his fifth straight decision and was bailed out when the White Sox came from 3-0 down. Chicago has led in all 36 of its games. Dustin Hermanson pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in as many opportunities. Hermanson has still not allowed a run in 18 1/3 innings this season. With the White Sox trailing 3-2, Scott Podsednik led off the seventh with a ground rule double to chase Orioles starter Rodrigo Lopez. Podsednik raced to third on Tadahito Iguchi's grounder to first that Rafael Palmeiro mishandled for an error. Todd Williams (3-3) walked Aaron Rowand to load the bases and Konerko delivered a broken-bat single to center on an 0-2 pitch for a 4-3 lead. Chicago pushed across another run on an RBI infield single by pinch-hitter Carl Everett.
Devil Rays 3, Royals 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Gonzalez hit a tie-breaking home run with two outs in the ninth inning, lifting Tampa Bay to its first road win in more than three weeks. It was the Devil Rays' 10th home run of the year from the No. 9 spot. They still do not have a homer from anyone batting cleanup. Ambiorix Burgos (1-3) started the ninth after the Royals scored a run in the eighth for a 2-all tie. Danys Baez (4-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings for the win. Josh Phelps had a two-run single in the third for the Devil Rays, whose only other win in 13 road games had come on April 19 at New York. Doug Waechter, whose longest stint this year had been seven innings, had allowed two hits and took a 2-1 lead into the eighth. But he gave up singles to Mark Teahen and Ruben Gotay and was lifted for Trevor Miller after Angel Berroa sacrificed the runners into scoring position.
Rangers 9, Twins 6, 11 innings
MINNEAPOLIS -- Chad Allen hit an RBI double off Joe Nathan in the 11th inning to lift Texas past Minnesota. Michael Young went 2-for-6 with a homer and triple, Richard Hidalgo was 3-for-5 with a homer and a double, and Joaquin Benoit pitched 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief to help the Rangers to rally from a 6-2 deficit. With the score tied at 6 heading into the 11th, the Rangers got three straight hits off Nathan (1-1), the last Allen's double that glanced off right fielder Jacque Jones, who lost the ball in the lights. Francisco Cordero came on to record his American League-leading 12th save and Doug Brocail (3-0) got the victory by getting one out in the 10th.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Mets 2, Cardinals 0
NEW YORK -- Tom Glavine snapped a personal slump, allowing just four hits in seven-plus innings, and Cliff Floyd hit two long home runs as New York defeated St. Louis. Glavine (2-4) had allowed 19 runs and 29 hits in 14 innings over his last three starts. But against the team with the NL's best record, he was masterful, retiring 12 straight at one point to earn his 264th victory. Only Roger Clemens (330) and Greg Maddux (307) have more among active pitchers. Floyd hit his ninth and 10th homers of the season off of Jason Marquis (5-2). Both of Floyd's shots traveled over 400 feet. Marquis (5-2) allowed one other hit, a leadoff single by Jose Reyes in the first. Roberto Hernandez relieved Glavine and pitched out of a jam in the eighth. Braden Looper worked the ninth for his ninth save.
Phillies 12, Reds 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Todd Pratt hit a three-run homer and tied a career high with five RBIs, and Brett Myers tossed seven innings to lift Philadelphia. Pratt, the backup catcher making his eighth start of the season, also tied a career high in hits, going 4-for-4. The Phillies snapped a three-game losing streak and Bobby Abreu had his team-record streak of home runs in five straight games snapped. Myers (3-2) made his fourth straight start without allowing more than five hits. He gave up five hits, struck out eight and walked three. He easily outdueled former teammate Eric Milton (2-4), who gave up eight runs, eight hits and allowed his league-high 14th homer of the year.
Cubs 6, Nationals 3
WASHINGTON -- Aramis Ramirez led off the eighth inning with a tie-breaking homer before two errors allowed Chicago to tack on three unearned runs, and the Cubs won their third straight. The teams were tied at 2 after seven innings, but Washington's normally reliable defense and bullpen failed it. Ramirez hit a 2-2 pitch off reliever Luis Ayala (2-2) just to the left of the 410-foot sign in center field for his seventh home run, putting Chicago ahead 3-2. The Nationals loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth. But Todd Wellemeyer, Chicago's sixth pitcher, got Jose Guillen to fly out for his first save since 2003. Will Ohman (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh for Washington.
Giants 4, Astros 2
HOUSTON -- Kirk Rueter threw seven strong innings and pinch-hitter Jason Ellison homered in the eighth to give Giants manager Felipe Alou his 900th career win. Rueter (2-2) allowed one run and six hits and walked two. For the third time this season, Rueter didn't record a strikeout but benefited from two double plays. Tyler Walker pitched the ninth for his third save in four opportunities. Ezequiel Astacio (0-2) started and went five innings, allowing two runs, one earned, and three hits for the Astros, who have lost four straight and 10 of 11. Alou has a 900-866 won-loss record in 13 seasons with the Montreal Expos and Giants. He becomes the ninth active manager with 900 victories.
Associated Press
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