Monday, April 24, 2006
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees 7, Orioles 1
NEW YORK -- Jason Giambi homered twice and drove in five runs and Randy Johnson had little trouble dominating Baltimore. Derek Jeter added three hits for the Yankees, who have won 11 of 14 against Baltimore dating to last season. Miguel Tejada homered and had all three hits off Johnson (3-2). The Big Unit struck out five and walked one in eight innings. Johnson earned his 266th win, tying Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Eppa Rixey for 33rd place all-time. Baltimore starter Bruce Chen (0-3) allowed five runs -- three earned -- and 10 hits in four-plus innings. He has given up eight home runs in 202/3 innings this season.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3
TORONTO -- David Ortiz homered and had a rare bunt single to help Boston end a three-game losing streak. Ortiz hit a two-run shot off Josh Towers (0-4) in the first for his eighth home run. When Toronto's defense shaded toward right field in a defensive shift in the sixth, Ortiz executed a perfect bunt between the mound and third base. Third baseman Troy Glaus, playing short, didn't even get off a throw. Boston starter Matt Clement (2-1) allowed three runs and seven hits, while striking out four and walking two in 51/3 innings.
White Sox 7, Twins 3
CHICAGO -- Juan Uribe hit two home runs as Chicago won its eighth straight. Joe Crede and Uribe hit back-to-back solo homers with two out in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Brian Anderson followed Uribe's three-run shot in the sixth with a solo drive off Twins starter Carlos Silva as the White Sox completed a three-game sweep. Jose Contreras (3-0) won his 11th straight regular season decision, allowing six hits in eight innings. The White Sox jumped all over Silva (1-3) for 13 hits in 52/3 innings.
Rangers 8, Devil Rays 3
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Mark Teixeira, Phil Nevin and Kevin Mench all homered in the third inning for Texas. Rookie John Koronka (3-1) allowed three runs and five hits in a career-high eight innings. Koronka struck out eight to win his third straight start. He allowed only one hit after the third inning. Jonny Gomes hit his ninth home run for Tampa Bay.
Tigers 6, Mariners 4
SEATTLE -- Justin Verlander pitched seven strong innings and Craig Monroe hit a three-run home run in the eighth to help Detroit complete a three-game sweep. Verlander (2-2) allowed one run and four hits for the Tigers, who won their fifth straight game. Leading 3-1 in the eighth, reliever Clint Nageotte walked Carlos Guillen and then intentionally walked Chris Shelton before Monroe's homer made it 6-1. The Mariners closed within 6-4 in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI double by Richie Sexson and a two-run double by Adrian Beltre. Seattle loaded the bases before reliever Fernando Rodney -- who had three saves while Todd Jones was out with a pulled hamstring -- got pinch-hitter Roberto Petagine to strike out.
Angels 4, Athletics 3
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Vladimir Guerrero homered and drove in three runs and Kelvim Escobar pitched seven innings for the Angels. Guerrero, the 2004 AL MVP, entered the series finale mired in a 4-for-27 funk but made the most of his at-bats and hit safely for the 14th time in 19 games. Nick Swisher hit his team-leading eighth home run of the season for Oakland. Milton Bradley homered leading off the seventh for the A's.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Cubs 7, Cardinals 3
ST. LOUIS -- Greg Maddux threw seven scoreless innings, giving him victories in his first four starts for the first time in his career. Maddux (4-0) held the Cardinals to five hits and also singled, helping the Cubs avert a three-game sweep and win for the first time in three games since losing Derrek Lee for at least two months with a broken wrist. Jacque Jones hit his second homer, and second against the Cardinals, leading off the fourth against Jason Marquis (3-1). Aramis Ramirez, who entered the game in a 3-for-18 slump, hit a two-run shot in the fifth.
Phillies 4, Marlins 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Ryan Howard homered twice and Brett Myers pitched six solid innings to lead Philadelphia. Myers (2-0) scattered six hits, struck out five and walked three. Ryan Franklin and Arthur Rhodes each pitched a scoreless inning and Tom Gordon struck out the side in the ninth for his fifth save . Miguel Olivo homered and drove in two runs for Florida.
Reds 11, Brewers 0
MILWAUKEE -- Aaron Harang pitched a five-hitter and Brandon Phillips drove in four runs for Cincinnati. Harang (3-1), starting on three days' rest for the first time in his career, shut down the Brewers to pick up his third victory. He walked two and struck out four to earn his first shutout since 2004. Brewers starter Doug Davis (0-2) tied a franchise record with nine walks and made a throwing error.
Rockies 3, Giants 2, 10 innings
DENVER -- Miguel Ojeda hit an RBI single off Jeff Fassero with two outs in the 10th inning. Eli Marrero drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. After Choo Freeman grounded out to shortstop, Fassero (1-1) threw a 2-2 fastball that Ojeda hit up the middle, and Marrero scored from second, just beating Steve Finley's throw.
Padres 7, Mets 4
SAN DIEGO -- Brian Giles hit a grand slam as San Diego salvaged a split of the four-game series. San Diego starter Clay Hensley (1-1) worked 51/3 innings, allowing four runs and five hits. Josh Barfield hit a solo home run in the first and scored three times for San Diego.
Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 4
LOS ANGELES -- J.D. Drew homered and Bill Mueller drove in two runs for the Dodgers. Brett Tomko (2-1) gave up two runs -- one earned -- and four hits over six innings while striking out four for Los Angeles, which scored four runs in the first inning. Hong-Chih Kuo pitched 12/3 innings in relief of Tomko and was charged with two runs in the eighth, after Danys Baez gave up an RBI single by Johnny Estrada and a run-scoring double by pinch-hitter Tony Clark. But Baez got the last four outs for his fifth save.
Braves 3, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON -- Wilson Betemit hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, driving in two fellow Atlanta fill-ins. The go-ahead homer came on a 1-2 pitch off Gary Majewski (1-1), Washington's fourth pitcher. Atlanta wasn't able to get anything going against starter Tony Armas Jr., who threw 61/3 scoreless innings and allowed only three singles. Atlanta's John Thomson gave up one run on consecutive doubles by Nick Johnson and Jose Guillen in the first inning -- and that was it in front of an announced crowd of 21,569, the smallest at RFK Stadium since baseball returned to D.C.
Associated Press
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