Brandon Lyon walked Jorge Posada with the bases loaded in the ninth and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-5 Wednesday night after Mariano Rivera blew a four-run lead in the top half.
For the second straight week, the Yankees took two of three from Boston. New York had been struggling lately, prompting owner George Steinbrenner to say it was manager Joe Torre's job to solve the problems. Rivera couldn't close out Boston, and Bill Mueller's infield single with two outs drove in the tying run.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Trot Nixon followed with a sharp single off first baseman Todd Zeile's glove. The ball skittered away and Soriano deflected it.
The second baseman quickly recovered and threw out Shea Hillenbrand at the plate, drawing cheers from Steinbrenner.
"We took a chance, they made a play. That's why they're the Yankees," Hillenbrand said.
Japanese slugger Hideki Matsui doubled with one out in the ninth and continued to third when left fielder Manny Ramirez's throw sailed away. After two intentional walks, Posada walked on a 3-2 pitch from Brandon Lyon.
Catcher Jason Varitek punched the air in frustration, threw down the ball and shouted at plate umpire Joe West as he walked back to the dugout.
"It's just a shame that we lost," Varitek said. "I was caught up in the heat of the moment."
Indians 8, Tigers 2
In Detroit, Jody Gerut homered and drove in three runs to lead the Cleveland over Detroit 8-2, preventing the Tigers from winning a home series for the first time this season.
Tim Laker had three hits and drove in three runs for Cleveland, which has won three of its last four games, splitting the first two games of the series.
Detroit dropped to 13-38, the worst record in the major leagues, and is 4-19 at Comerica Park.
Twins 6, Athletics 5
In Minneapolis, Doug Mientkiewicz, Jacque Jones and Dustan Mohr homered as Minnesota beat Oakland and extended their winning streak to four. Joe Mays (6-3) won his third straight start, allowing four runs and eight hits in six innings.
Eddie Guardado pitched the ninth for his 15th save in as many chances, and his 20th straight extending to last year.
Mariners 5, Royals 2
In Kansas City, Missouri, Jamie Moyer won his fifth straight start, and Dan Wilson went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead Seattle over Kansas City.
Moyer (8-2) allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, tying Toronto's Cory Lidle for the American League lead in wins. Kazuhiro Sasaki worked the ninth, finishing the five-hitter for his eighth save in 12 chances.
White Sox 8, Blue Jays 0
In Toronto, Jon Garland pitched eight scoreless innings and Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer as part of a six-run ninth inning as Chicago ended Toronto's six-game winning streak.
Garland (3-4) won for the first time since May 1, a span of four starts. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed five hits while striking out six and walking none. Garland and Billy Koch combined for Chicago's fourth shutout of the season.
Orioles 6, Angels 2
In Baltimore, Brian Roberts hit his second grand slam in seven days and Melvin Mora went 3-for-3 with two walks as Baltimore beat Anaheim. Roberts, summoned from the minors last week, put Baltimore up 4-0 in the second. He has hit safely in all seven games since his recall and has driven in 10 runs.
Deivi Cruz homered to help the Orioles complete a two-game sweep of the defending World Series champions.
Devil Rays 6, Rangers 4
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Ben Grieve homered twice and drove in four runs to lead Tampa Bay over Texas. Grieve hit a solo shot in the second inning, his first homer at home since Sept. 22, and added a three-run drive in the fourth. Grieve went 3-for-3 and had his fourth two-homer game, his first since April 12, 2002.
Atlanta became only the second team in major league history to start a game with three straight homers and went on to a 15-3 rout of the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Atlanta became only the second team in major league history to start a game with three straight homers.
The only other team to accomplish the feat was the San Diego Padres. Marvelle Wynne, Tony Gwynn and John Kruk homered in a row against San Francisco on April 13, 1987.
"I'll be darned," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "That's only the second time it's ever happened? I'm sure it's the first I've ever seen it."
Even after the three straight home runs, the Braves weren't finished with Austin. Later in the same inning, Javy Lopez hit a two-run homer that finally chased the Reds starter. Austin became the first pitcher in 11 years to get knocked out of two straight starts without making it through the first. Last Friday, he was rocked by the Marlins in the first inning of an 8-4 loss.
The last pitcher to get knocked out of two straight starts in the first was Cleveland's Scott Scudder in 1992.
Cubs 5, Pirates 4
In Chicago, Damian Miller hit a three-run homer and Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run drive as Chicago beat Pittsburgh and stopped the Pirates' three-game winning streak.
Mark Prior (6-2) struck out eight in 7 2-3 innings, allowing four runs and eight hits. Mike Remlinger relieved and escaped an eighth-inning jam when Randall Simon flied out, and Joe Borowski finished for his 10th save in 12 chances. Jeff D'Amico (4-5) dropped to 6-1 against the Cubs, giving up all five runs and five hits in seven innings.
Marlins 4, Expos 3
Marlins 6, Expos 0
In Miami, Michael Tejera pitched six shutout innings to help Florida complete a doubleheader sweep of Montreal.
The Marlins have won six in a row, their longest winning streak since a six-game string from Sept. 26-Oct. 1, 2000.
Tejera (1-3) gave up five hits, walked two and struck out four.
Zach Day (4-3) took the loss in the second game, giving up six runs on eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.
Mike Lowell had three hits, including a two-run double in the first inning, and Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run triple in the sixth. The Marlins won the opener thanks to Tommy Phelps (2-0), a 29-year-old left-hander, who gave up three runs and four hits in 5 1-3 innings.
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