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Rookie has big first day at the plate

Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Rocco Baldelli, right, is tagged out trying to steal third base by Florida Marlins' Mike Lowell in the first inning in Miami on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Miguel Cabrera, playing in his first major league game, hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Florida Marlins over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3-1.

Alex Gonzalez doubled with one out in the 11th Friday night. Cabrera sent the next pitch from Al Levine over the center-field wall for his first big league hit.

Cabrera, 20, the most highly touted prospect in the Marlins' organization, was hitting .365 with 10 homers and 59 RBIs in 68 games at Double-A Carolina when he was called up Thursday. He played primarily at third base in the minor leagues, but started in left field Friday. Cabrera was 0-for-4 before homering. He grounded out to end the ninth, stranding two runners and sending a large portion of the announced crowd of 12,515 heading for the exits.

Armando Almanza (4-4) pitched a scoreless 11th for the win. Levine (2-5) took the loss.

Yankees 5, Mets 0

In New York, Andy Pettitte shut down the New York Mets for seven innings and the Yankees got consecutive home runs from Alfonso Soriano and Derek Jeter to win the opener of the Subway Series.

Jason Giambi also homered as the Yankees once again got the better of the heated intracity rivalry, beating the Mets for the 19th time in 31 regular-season meetings. The Yankees also won the 2000 World Series against the Mets in five games.

Steve Trachsel (5-5), coming off his second career one-hitter Sunday in Anaheim, held the Yankees in check except for the third inning.

He allowed two runs, five hits and five walks in seven innings.

Braves 6, Orioles 3

In Atlanta, Robert Fick hit a grand slam and Greg Maddux pitched no-hit ball into the sixth inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves over the Baltimore Orioles.

Fick drove in five runs, matching his career high. His second grand slam of the season came in the fourth against Sidney Ponson (9-4). Maddux (6-6) didn't give up a hit until Brian Roberts doubled into the right-field corner with two outs in the sixth. John Smoltz got his 27th save in 29 chances.

Baltimore's Melvin Mora, the leading hitter in the American League at .361, left the game after being hit on the right hand with a pitch in the first. He was listed as day-to-day.

White Sox 12, Cubs 3

In Chicago, Miguel Olivo's grand slam capped a six-run first inning as the White Sox routed the crosstown Cubs in the most lopsided game since the Chicago rivals began interleague play in 1997.

The White Sox, struggling as the third-place team the AL Central, made the most of wild Cubs pitching -- 10 walks -- and some shaky defense to pull away early.

Royals 10, Cardinals 4

In St. Louis, Jose Lima earned his first major league win since last August and the Kansas City Royals got four RBIs from Ken Harvey in a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Raul Ibanez had three hits and drove in three runs for the Royals. Desi Relaford homered on the second pitch of the game, and Harvey and Angel Berroa also connected for Kansas City.

Astros 12, Rangers 3

In Arlington, Texas, Craig Biggio had four hits and Adam Everett homered as the Houston Astros beat Texas, sending the Rangers to their fifth straight loss.

Alex Rodriguez homered for the Rangers, who have dropped 17 of 19 -- their worst stretch since also going 2-17 from Aug. 5-25, 1973.

Blue Jays 8, Expos 4

In Montreal, Vernon Wells, Frank Catalanotto, Orlando Hudson and Greg Myers homered as the Toronto Blue Jays extended their winning streak to four with a victory over the Montreal Expos.

Cory Lidle (10-4) allowed three hits in seven innings, joining teammate Roy Halladay to give the Blue Jays the majors' first pair of 10-game winners.

Brewers 3, Twins 2

In Milwaukee, Royce Clayton scored on a wild pitch by reliever Juan Rincon with one out in the 10th inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers over the Minnesota Twins.

Clayton led off the 10th with a double to right-center off Rincon (1-3) and advanced to third on pinch-hitter Brooks Kieschnick's fly to deep center. Rincon then bounced his second pitch to Eric Young past catcher A.J. Pierzynski, allowing Clayton to score easily.

Reliever Curtis Leskanic (4-0) pitched out off a jam in the top of the 10th.

Tigers 7, Rockies 5

In Denver, Eric Munson, Bobby Higginson and Kevin Witt homered as the Tigers beat the Colorado Rockies, snapping a four-game losing streak.

Alex Sanchez had three hits for the Tigers. Munson and Witt were among four Detroit players with two hits.

Mike Maroth (2-11) won for the first time in four starts. He went six innings, allowing nine hits and three runs -- two earned.

Dodgers 5, Angels 2

In Los Angeles, Shawn Green and Brian Jordan hit two of Los Angeles' four solo homers, and Hideo Nomo pitched into the eighth inning as the Dodgers beat Anaheim.

Nomo (8-6) held the Angels to two runs, one earned, and seven hits -- including Garret Anderson's solo shot. The right-hander struck out six and walked two in 7 1-3 innings to help the Dodgers win for the ninth time in 10 games.

Athletics 5, Giants 3

In Oakland, California, Miguel Tejada hit a two-run homer and Oakland opened the Bay Bridge Series with its season-best seventh straight victory.

Barry Bonds hit his 633rd career home run and 20th of the season for San Francisco. He went 1-for-4 in the 2,500th game of his career. Aaron Harang (1-1) pitched 5 2-3 solid innings. Oakland improved to 8-2 on its 12-game homestand and sent the defending NL champions to their fifth loss in seven games.

Padres 5, Mariners 3

In San Diego, Rondell White hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning to give the Padres a win over Seattle, the best team in baseball. White was mobbed at home plate by his ecstatic teammates after hitting his third career slam, on a 2-2 slider from Jeff Nelson (3-1) to left field. White's 12th homer this season capped a five-run rally.

Pirates 5, Indians 4

In Pittsburgh, Randall Simon homered over the center-field fence leading off the 15th inning and the Pirates shook off two rain delays to beat Cleveland in a game that lasted for more than six hours.
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