Pettitte continues winning ways for Yankees

Hideki Matsui of the Yankees hits a double off Blue Jays starter John Wasdin during first-inning action in Toronto, Friday. Matsui has been honored with a starting role in Major League Baseball's upcoming All-Star game in Chicago on Tuesday. PHOTO: REUTERS

American League

Andy Pettitte won his sixth straight start and Jason Giambi hit his 24th homer run as the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-5 Friday night.

Yankees right fielder Raul Mondesi returned to the starting lineup, a day after angrily complaining about playing time. Toronto reliever Scott Service walked Mondesi with the bases loaded in the seventh, scoring the go-ahead run.

Enrique Wilson followed with an RBI single, and Giambi's homer off Service in the eighth gave New York an 8-5 lead.

Pettitte (11-6) hasn't lost since June 8. He allowed five runs and nine hits, while striking out five and walking three in seven innings.

The fading Blue Jays have lost four in a row and 11 of 13, including the first four of 12 straight games against the Red Sox and Yankees -- the two teams ahead of them in the AL East.

Red Sox 5, Tigers 3

In Detroit, John Burkett scattered four hits over seven innings and Jason Varitek homered, leading Boston to its fourth straight win.

Todd Walker, who entered in a 6-for-44 slump, had two doubles for the Red Sox. Trot Nixon, Varitek and Freddy Sanchez each added two hits to support Burkett (7-4), who won for the fourth time in five decisions.

Varitek hit his 16th homer of the season off the foul pole in right field in the seventh. Burkett gave up three runs and struck out four and walked one. He retired the last nine batters he faced.

Mike Maroth (4-13) allowed four runs in 5 2-3 innings. He walked three, struck out four and hit a batter. He tied teammate Jeremy Bonderman for the most losses in the major leagues.

Royals 13, Rangers 3

In Arlington, Texas, Carlos Beltran and Raul Ibanez each homered and had three RBIs, and Kansas City used an eight-run eighth inning to route Texas.

Beltran, who entered the game in a 2-for-27 slump, keyed the eight-run eighth when he homered off reliever Aaron Fultz. It was Beltran's 12th homer of the season.

Ibanez's 12th home run capped a four-run third inning off Texas starter R.A. Dickey.

Earlier, the Rangers traded AL saves leader Ugueth Urbina to the Florida Marlins for three minor leaguers, including first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2000 amateur draft.

Indians 12, White Sox 5

In Cleveland, Ben Broussard hit two home runs and had a career-high five RBIs, and Brian Anderson earned his third straight win as Cleveland defeated Chicago.

It was the first multihomer game for Broussard, who also had a single and double for his first four-hit game.

Broussard opened Cleveland's scoring with his seventh homer, a shot over the wall in right-center off Dan Wright (0-4) that brought the Indians within 2-1 in the second inning. He hit a two-run shot to center in the seventh to make it 10-5.

Anderson (7-6) allowed five runs -- two earned -- and seven hits over five innings to improve to 4-0 in his last six starts.

National League

Vinny Castilla homered for the second straight game and drove in four runs as the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 9-5 Friday, their season-high eighth straight win.

Castilla homered and had two doubles and four RBIs in an 11-3 victory Thursday. At one point Castilla had a hit in six straight at-bats against Chicago before grounding out in the sixth.

Atlanta starter Mike Hampton (5-5) allowed five runs and 11 hits in 7 1-3 innings. He also hit a two-run triple in the eighth.

The game's outcome was overshadowed by a scary moment in the second when Braves second baseman Marcus Giles collided violently with Cubs starter Mark Prior while trying to field a grounder, sending both players to the ground wincing in pain.

Giles left with a mild concussion and was released from the hospital after further tests.

Andruw Jones hit a two-run homer off Prior (8-5), who lasted 4 2-3 innings and allowed six runs and six hits.

Sammy Sosa had two solo homers, his 16th and 17th, and was 4-for-4.

Marlins 5, Expos 4

In Montreal, Todd Hollandsworth hit a tying homer and Juan Encarnacion singled in the go-ahead run later in the ninth inning to lead Florida over Montreal.

Trailing 4-3, Florida tied it on Hollandsworth's pinch-hit homer off closer Rocky Biddle (3-4) to lead off the ninth.

Hollandsworth was hitting for starter Brad Penny (8-6), who allowed Wil Cordero's grand slam in the fourth after retiring his first 10 batters. Mike Lowell and Derrek Lee also homered for the Marlins, who have won seven of 10.

The win capped a day of good news for Florida as rookie left-hander Dontrelle Willis was added to the NL All-Star team and AL saves leader Ugueth Urbina was acquired from Texas before the game for three prospects.

Penny allowed five hits in eight innings. Braden Looper pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save.

Phillies 10, Mets 3

In New York, Pat Burrell homered to cap a four-run first inning, and Mike Lieberthal drove in two runs in Philadelphia's six-run fifth as the Phillies cruised past New York. Randy Wolf (10-4), headed to his first All-Star game, allowed one run and scattered four hits over six innings as the Phillies won their fourth straight and improved to 4-1 on their road trip.

The Phillies jumped on rookie Aaron Heilman (0-2) early, sending the Mets to their fifth loss in a row -- all at home.

Reds 6, Brewers 1

In Milwaukee, Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, and Ryan Dempster (3-6) pitched seven strong innings as Cincinnati ended an eight-game losing streak by beating Milwaukee.

The Reds scored four runs in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and take control of the game.

Griffey's homer was the 480th of his career. The last time he homered in four straight games was May 20-23, 1994.

Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets (7-7) allowed four runs on six hits in five innings.

Astros 4, Pirates 2

In Houston, Jeff Bagwell homered and Wade Miller pitched six solid innings as Houston beat Pittsburgh for its fifth straight victory.

Adam Everett, Craig Biggio and Morgan Ensberg also drove in runs for the NL Central-leading Astros.

Pirates first baseman Randall Simon served the second game of a three-game suspension for hitting one of the Milwaukee Brewers' sausage mascots with his bat Wednesday. Simon was also fined US$2,000 by MLB Friday.

Cardinals 4, Padres 2

In St. Louis, Woody Williams did not allow a baserunner into the sixth inning and had a sacrifice fly in a decisive two-run seventh as St. Louis beat San Diego to snap a four-game losing streak.

Mark Kotsay hit a two-run homer in the sixth for the Padres' first hit. Williams allowed two hits over eight innings. Williams (12-3), named to his first All-Star team at age 36 earlier this week, joined Russ Ortiz of the Braves as the NL's only 12-game winners.