American League
AP, NEW YORK
Baltimore sent Roger Clemens to his quickest exit in a year, with Jeff Conine and B.J. Surhoff hitting early home runs to back Sidney Ponson and lead the Orioles over the New York Yankees 5-3 on Thursday.
Clemens (9-7), in the final season of his 20-year career in the major leagues, lasted just four innings, gave up nine hits and left trailing 5-0.
Ponson (14-5) tied Toronto's Roy Halladay and Atlanta's Russ Ortiz for the major league lead in victories, winning his fourth straight start since a June 30 loss to the Yankees. He had been 0-8 in 14 starts against the Yankees since Sept. 19, 1998.
Ponson, watched closely by teams in the trade market, tied for the major league lead with 14 wins as he led the Baltimore Orioles over Roger Clemens and the New York Yankees 5-3 Thursday.
"If it happens, it happens," Ponson said of a possible deal. "I just pack my bags and I'm gone."
He took a shutout into the sixth inning before the Yankees got a pair of runs. He allowed six hits, struck out five and walked three.
Ponson says he's put the talks out of his mind.
"It just shows you how much Sidney has grown, to be able to separate the two," Orioles manager Mike Hargrove said.
Devil Rays 15, Red Sox 9
In Boston, Damian Rolls hit a grand slam to highlight a seven-run fifth inning as Tampa Bay got a team-record 21 hits to beat Boston.
Rolls' first major league slam helped him drive in a career-high five runs. Antonio Perez also homered and had a career-best five RBIs as Tampa Bay matched its highest-scoring game of the season.
Twins 6, Royals 2
In Minneapolis, pinch-hitter A.J. Pierzynski singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning after Shannon Stewart's hustle on a bunt forced a key misplay, leading Minnesota past Kansas City.
Tigers 7, Indians 4
In Cleveland, Craig Monroe homered as Detroit roughed up C.C. Sabathia and beat Cleveland to end a six-game losing streak.
Sabathia (8-6) retired the first seven batters, but lost his command after the Tigers scored an unearned run on third baseman Casey Blake's error in the third.
White Sox 4, Blue Jays 3, 13 innings
In Toronto, Frank Thomas hit a go-ahead single in the 13th inning as Chicago won its season-high seventh straight game, 4-3 over Toronto in a rain-soaked SkyDome.
Angels 10, Rangers 6
In Arlington, Texas, Kevin Appier beat Texas for the first time in over seven years and David Eckstein had four hits as Anaheim defeated the Rangers.
Athletics 3, Mariners 0
In Seattle, Mark Mulder had a season-high 11 strikeouts in seven innings and Eric Chavez hit a solo homer as Oakland beat Seattle.
National League
AP, SAN FRANCISCO
Barry Bonds threw himself quite a birthday bash.
Bonds led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his 646th career homer only moments after making a spectacular, run-saving throw to give the San Francisco Giants their eighth straight win, 3-2 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday.
Playing on his 39th birthday, the star left fielder threw out Craig Counsell at the plate in the top of the ninth, sending fans at Pacific Bell Park into a frenzy.
Then, it got even more crazy. Bonds followed with his major league-leading 33rd homer, giving him a San Francisco record 470 to pass Willie McCovey (469).
The crowd of 42,666 remained standing for several minutes, chanting "Barry! Barry!" and Bonds stepped out of the dugout and waved.
It was Bonds' seventh career game-ending homer, but he didn't stick around to celebrate. He rushed off to a hospital to visit his father, Bobby, who has lung cancer.
"My dad's in the hospital right now and I've got to go," Bonds said.
Dodgers 1, Rockies 0, 11 innings
In Los Angeles, Shawn Green hit an RBI single in the 11th inning and Kevin Brown pitched eight scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies to earn a split of their four-game series.
Brown, who lost his previous four starts, allowed three singles and lowered his ERA to a major league-leading 2.12. But Colorado All-Star Shawn Chacon was just as tough for seven innings.
Phillies 14, Cubs 6
In Chicago, Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam along with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly during a nine-run burst in the sixth inning that sent the Philadelphia Phillies over the Chicago Cubs.
Placido Polanco drove in four runs with four hits and Todd Pratt homered for the Phillies.
Pirates 7, Reds 5, 11 innings
In Cincinnati, Matt Stairs had an RBI double in the 11th inning, and the trade-decimated Pittsburgh Pirates completed another sweep at Great American Ball Park by beating the Cincinnati Reds.
Braves 5, Marlins 2
In Atlanta, Russ Ortiz won his seventh consecutive start and became the NL's first 14-game winner and Javy Lopez hit a two-run homer as the Atlanta Braves beat the Florida Marlins.
Brewers 2, Astros 1
In Milwaukee, Keith Ginter hit a pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning to lift Milwaukee over the Houston Astros.
Expos 5, Mets 1
In Montreal, Livan Hernandez won his fourth straight decision and Wil Cordero homered to lead Montreal over New York.
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