mlb roundup \ Friday’s other games

INTERLEAGUE

Cubs 4, White Sox 3

CHICAGO Aramis Ramirez is used to playing in front of a wild crowd at Wrigley Field. Happens all the time. But Friday’s game was a little more energized than usual, a first-place showdown with the other team that plays in the same city, the White Sox. And Ramirez responded. Did he ever. Derrek Lee and Ramirez tied the game with a back-to-back homers in the seventh off Octavio Dotel. Ramirez then sent Wrigley Field into pandemonium with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth. “Anytime you hit a walkoff, it’s special. You just won the game,” Ramirez said. “It’s great to play in front of 40,000 every day and we take advantage of it.” Ramirez lined a 1-0 pitch from Scott Linebrink (2-2) over the wall in center and the majority of the 41,106 fans — most of them obviously pulling for the Cubs — went home happy. The game marked the first time the two city rivals met as first-place teams since interleague play began in 1997. “It was a little different,” Ramirez said. “They just swept the Pirates. They’re in first place, we’re in first place. It’s kind of nice.” A.J. Pierzynski and Jermaine Dye homered for the White Sox. The two teams met in the 1906 World Series — city fans are envisioning a rematch this season — with the White Sox winning. Two years later, the Cubs won their second straight World Series and haven’t captured another since, a 100-year drought. The White Sox got a leadoff double from Brian Anderson in the ninth off Kerry Wood (4-1), who then retired the next three batters, striking out an agitated Pierzynski to end the threat. Pierzynski was called out on an appeal to third base umpire Mike Everett and then fired down his helmet and flipped his bat away on his way to the dugout. That’s the kind of emotion this series brings out. “It’s awesome. It’s the best atmosphere you can have besides a playoff game,” Pierzynski said. “Fans were great both ways. Booing and cheering: ‘Let’s Go Cubs, Let’s Go White Sox.’ Back and forth. It’s a fun atmosphere. This is what baseball is supposed to be.” The White Sox, who had pounded the ball while sweeping the Pirates in their previous series, had a 3-1 lead headed into the seventh before Lee and Ramirez connected off Dotel.

Mariners 10, Braves 2

ATLANTA — Jose Lopez drove in four runs with three hits, including a three-run double in the eighth, and the Mariners enjoyed one of their best offensive games of the year, routing the Braves in Jim Riggleman’s debut. The Mariners matched their season high with 15 hits, including a season-high eight doubles. They scored five runs in the eighth, also matching their high mark for an inning this season.

Reds 4, Yankees 2

NEW YORK — Edinson Volquez pitched seven sharp innings in Cincinnati’s first game at Yankee Stadium in 32 years, and the Reds beat Mike Mussina and New York to end a five-game skid. Jolbert Cabrera had four hits before departing with a dislocated finger and Joey Votto homered for Cincinnati, which snapped New York’s seven-game winning streak. Ken Griffey Jr. added an RBI single in his first game in the Bronx since 1999. Mussina (10-5) allowed four runs and 10 hits in eight innings, dropping to 0-2 in two career starts against Cincinnati. It was his first loss since he recorded just two outs against Baltimore on May 20.

Angels 7, Phillies 1

PHILADELPHIA — Ervin Santana struck out nine in seven impressive innings, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and Los Angeles beat Philadelphia. Santana (9-3) allowed two hits and one unearned run. He overpowered the NL’s second-highest scoring offense with a nasty slider and a blazing fastball that reached 98 mph.

Astros 4, Rays 3

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Roy Oswalt rebounded from a poor outing, Carlos Lee had a two-run double and Houston snapped an eight-game losing streak. Oswalt (6-7) gave up two runs and seven hits in 72‚Ñ3 innings with two walks and five strikeouts. The right-hander was coming off an outing last Sunday in which he allowed seven runs over 52‚Ñ3 innings in a 13-0 loss to the New York Yankees.

Twins 7, Diamondbacks 2

MINNEAPOLIS — Scott Baker won for the first time in more than two months and Craig Monroe homered for Minnesota. The Big Unit hasn’t won since May 18 and remains stuck at 288 career wins, tied with Tommy John for 24th all time. After an impressive May, Johnson is spinning his wheels in June and has lost four straight starts for the first time since dropping five in a row from June 20-July 10, 1999.

Cardinals 5, Red Sox 4

BOSTON — Kyle Lohse won his sixth straight start and the St. Louis Cardinals hit three homers to beat the Red Sox in their first game in Boston since Curt Schilling’s “bloody sock” victory in the 2004 World Series. The Red Sox cut the lead to one run on Mike Lowell’s two-out RBI single in the ninth off Ryan Franklin, but Kevin Youkilis flied out to right with runners at first and third as Franklin got his 10th save. Friday’s win came on the same day that Schilling announced he would have shoulder surgery Monday that would end his season and, possibly, his 20-year career.

Giants 9, Royals 4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ray Durham had three hits, including a bases-clearing double in a four-run sixth, and the Giants rallied to snap the Royals’ five-game winning streak. The Giants, who trailed 4-0 after three innings, scored all of their runs in the sixth with two outs off relievers Yasuhiko Yabuta (1-3) and Carlos Rosa. Durham, who was 2-for-19 with no RBIs on the Giants’ just-completed homestand, went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .294 and scored two runs before leaving in the bottom of the sixth with a mild right ankle sprain.

Associated Press