Wednesday, August 29, 2007
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Yankees 5, Red Sox 3
NEW YORK — Johnny Damon hit a tiebreaking homer against his former team and Andy Pettitte won his sixth straight start, halting another Yankees slide. Derek Jeter also homered and Jorge Posada hit an RBI double for the Yankees, who moved to seven games back of Boston in the AL East. Pettitte (12-7) allowed three runs and six hits in seven innings, improving to 8-1 in 10 starts since the All-Star break. Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek homered for the Red Sox, who had won four straight — all blowouts at the Chicago White Sox. Matsuzaka (13-11) lost his third consecutive start, allowing five runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Devil Rays 15, Orioles 8
BALTIMORE — Tampa Bay scored 11 eighth-inning runs during another embarrassing performance by Baltimore’s bullpen, and the Orioles wasted six home runs in their seventh straight loss. The Devil Rays trailed 6-3 before sending 15 batters to the plate in the eighth. The Orioles’ bullpen has a 22.29 ERA during the losing streak. Baltimore has been outscored 84-28 over the last seven games. Miguel Tejada homered twice for Baltimore, which tied a club record for home runs in a home game. Nick Markakis, Aubrey Huff, Kevin Millar and Ramon Hernandez also connected.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Phillies 4, Mets 2
PHILADELPHIA — Ryan Howard’s two-run home run off Guillermo Mota in the 10th inning capped a late rally and led Philadelphia over the Mets. Shane Victorino, who scored the tying run in the eighth on a pair of bizarre plays, opened the 10th with a bloop single off Mota (1-1). Then Howard hit a 1-2 pitch deep the opposite way into the left-field seats for his 35th homer, giving the Phillies wins in the first two games of this pivotal four-game series.
Cubs 5, Brewers 3
CHICAGO — Jacque Jones hit a game-tying two-run double in the seventh and scored the go-ahead run on an error by reliever Scott Linebrink as Chicago rallied to increase their lead on Milwaukee in the Central to 2 1/2 games. The slumping Brewers lost for the 11th time in 14 games. The Cubs, down 3-1, scored four in the seventh. After starter Jeff Suppan hit leadoff batter Cliff Floyd, Linebrink (4-6) relieved and promptly gave up an infield single to Mark DeRosa and the double to Jones. After an intentional walk to Daryle Ward and Alfonso Soriano’s fly out, Ryan Theriot hit a high bouncer back to the mound. Linebrink jumped for the ball but it went in and out of his glove for an error as Jones raced home with the go-ahead run. Chicago starter Rich Hill (8-7), who struck out the first four batters and five of the first six he faced, allowed seven hits and three runs in seven innings, finishing with nine strikeouts.
Cardinals 7, Astros 0
HOUSTON — Chris Duncan shook off an August slump with a three-run homer and an RBI single to help St. Louis ruin Cecil Cooper’s first game as Phil Garner’s successor. Duncan, meanwhile, snapped a 28-game home run drought with a three-run drive into the upper deck in the first inning off Houston starter Woody Williams (8-13). Duncan was hitting just .167 with only three RBIs this month before Tuesday’s outburst. Rick Ankiel and Aaron Miles added RBI doubles for the Cardinals.
Marlins 4, Braves 3, 11 innings
MIAMI — Alejandro De Aza’s 11th-inning sacrifice fly gave Florida a win in a game in which Atlanta struck out 19 times. Braves starter John Smoltz fell behind early, but the Braves rallied on Chipper Jones’ two-run homer in the eighth, tying the game at 3. In the 11th, Oscar Villarreal (2-2) walked Alfredo Amezaga with one out and Jeremy Hermida moved Amezaga to third with a double off the left-center field scoreboard. Villarreal intentionally walked Matt Treanor, loading the bases for De Aza, who flied to right to score Amezega.
Associated Press