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The Yankees edge past Boston 2-1 to split series

Curtis Pride of the New York Yankees hits the ball to win the game against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the ninth at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, on Monday. The Yankees won 2-1. PHOTO: AFP

Todd Walker booted Curtis Pride's bases-loaded grounder in the ninth inning, giving the New York Yankees a 2-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Monday and a split of their four-game series.

Pedro Martinez and Mike Mussina matched each other pitch for pitch in a marquee matchup that lived up to its billing, and Red Sox reliever Kim Byung-hyun had another forgettable day at Yankee Stadium.

"If there's a blueprint for beating Pedro, that's the blueprint. Keep it close and hope for a break," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "He doesn't give you much."

New York won without Derek Jeter and Alfonso Soriano, who left early after bruising their hands on high-and-tight pitches from Martinez, and increased its AL East lead to four games over Boston.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner thought Martinez was coming up and in on purpose.

"I don't know what was going through his mind, but if it's what it looked like, it's not good," Steinbrenner said. "It's not good for his team, not good for baseball. ... Fortunately, both of our men are OK."

Second base umpire Jim Reynolds, right, ejects San Francisco Giants' manager Felipe Alou in the fourth inning at Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco on Monday. Alou was ejected after arguing a called out by Reynolds on a steal attempt by Jose Cruz Jr. PHOTO: AP

Hideki Matsui and Karim Garcia singled off Kim (2-2) to start the ninth. Pinch-hitter Jorge Posada was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, and Robin Ventura struck out.

With the infield drawn in, Pride hit a grounder to second base that Walker struggled to corral on his backhand side.

Once he got a hold of the ball it was too late, and his high throw to the plate had no chance to get Matsui.

"It was a short hop," said Walker, who was charged with an error. "Infield in cuts down your reaction time. It was a play that should have been made. It just slipped out of my glove. It was a tough way to lose."

Pride, who is almost totally deaf, homered in his Yankees debut Sunday for his first longball in more than two years. He had been out of the majors since 2001 before being called up by the Yankees on Friday.

Mariano Rivera (3-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory as the Yankees shut down Boston's big offense for the second straight day after getting blown out in the first two games of the series.

Pitching inside all day, Martinez struck out 11 in seven sharp innings. But Mussina was just as good, retiring 21 in a row after Manny Ramirez's RBI double in the first.

Livan Hernandez scattered seven hits in his second complete game this season, and Brian Schneider's two-run double keyed a five-run fourth inning as the Montreal Expos beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-1 Monday.

Phillies manager Larry Bowa was ejected during a wild fourth inning in which benches cleared after Brandon Duckworth (3-3) hit Hernandez with a pitch.

Hernandez appeared to follow through with a swing as the ball hit the upper part of his right arm. Plate umpire Bill Welke immediately pointed to first base. Hernandez shouted at Duckworth, who motioned that Hernandez had swung at the pitch.

"I was mad because I didn't want him to hit me on the elbow or the face," Hernandez said. "The point is, I know he didn't want to hit me but you're mad because you don't want to lose your career because he hits you in the elbow or in the face. I don't do that. I try to pitch against pitchers down and away."

Orlando Cabrera went 3-for-4 with two RBIs -- including his 13th homer -- for Montreal, which ended a three-game losing streak.

"It's one game, but it's a step in the right direction and we needed that type of game," Expos manager Frank Robinson said. "The bullpen rested tonight and we should be able to battle tomorrow."

Braves 7, Mets 3

In New York, Chipper Jones homered twice for the second straight day, and Horacio Ramirez (8-2) pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game in 15 major league starts as Atlanta beat New York.

Jones hit a three-run homer in the first off Jae Seo (5-5) and added a solo shot in the eighth for his 28th multihomer game. He hit two home runs in the Braves' 7-5 win over Montreal on Sunday for his first multihomer game this season.

Cubs 6, Marlins 3

In Chicago, Matt Clement (6-7) hit a tie-breaking two-run double in a three-run fourth after Josh Beckett (3-4) intentionally walked Paul Bako as Chicago defeated Florida.

Clement allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Mark Guthrie, Kyle Farnsworth and Joe Borowski finished with hitless relief, with Borowski getting three outs for his 17th save.

Tom Goodwin went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two stolen bases. He replaced center fielder Corey Patterson, expected to miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his left knee.

Astros 7, Reds 1

In Houston, Roy Oswalt allowed one run and three hits in six innings, struck out three and walked one as Houston downed Cincinnati.

Oswalt (5-4) pitched for the first time since June 11, when he left after one inning with a strained right groin in the game against the Yankees that became the first six-pitcher no-hitter in major league history. He is 7-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 10 starts against the Reds.

Richard Hidalgo hit a three-run double in the fourth off Ryan Dempster (2-6) as Houston overcame a 1-0 deficit.

Houston stopped a three-game losing streak and sent the Reds to their fifth straight loss, matching their season high. Cincinnati was held to four hits by Oswalt, Ricky Stone and Billy Wagner.

Brewers 9, Pirates 2

In Milwaukee, Wayne Franklin (5-5) didn't give up a hit until Jeff Reboulet tripled to center field to open the sixth, and combined with Luis Vizcaino, Leo Estrella and Shane Nanceon a four-hitter as Milwaukee beat Pittsburgh.

Kip Wells (2-4), winless in six starts since May 31, allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on seven hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Milwaukee turned three double plays in the first five innings.

Diamondbacks 14, Rockies 6

In Phoenix, Shea Hillenbrand became the sixth player to homer in three straight innings, setting career highs with five hits and seven RBIs as Arizona beat Colorado.

Hillenbrand hit a pair of solo shots off Jason Jennings, and added a three-run homer against Nelson Cruz (3-5). Arizona overcame a 5-0 deficit to win for the 16th time in 19 games.

With a chance to tie the record for homers in a game, Hillenbrand hit a two-run double against Joe Roa in the seventh inning.

Stephen Randolph (4-0) allowed one run in three innings, combining with starter John Patterson and relievers Oscar Villareal and Brady Raggio on a five-hitter.

Giants 5, Cardinals 1

In San Francisco, Barry Bonds hit his 639th career home run an estimated 142 meters (471 feet), and Marquis Grissom homered and drove in three runs as San Francisco beat St. Louis.

Grissom hit a two-run homer with one out in the first off Garrett Stephenson (4-9), and Bonds connected one batter later, sending the ball high over the main concession stand in center field. It was the third time this season the Giants hit back-to-back homers.
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