American LeagueRoberto Alomar and Frank Thomas homered in a seven-run fourth inning as the Chicago White Sox routed David Wells and the New York Yankees 11-2 Wednesday.
Alomar drove in four runs with a two-run homer that capped big rally and had a two-run double in the sixth that chased Wells (12-5), who was charged with a season-high 10 runs.
Bartolo Colon (12-11) struck out a season-high 10, and the AL Central-leading White Sox got 15 hits -- including three by Thomas -- in winning for the eighth time in nine games.
The Yankees' AL East lead over Boston, which was 7 games last Thursday, was cut to four. After Thursday's series finale, New York visits Fenway Park for a three-game series.
Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 3
In Boston, Todd Walker hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning as Boston overcame a three-run deficit for its sixth win in seven games.
With the score 3-all, Walker connected on an 0-2 pitch from Roy Halladay (17-6) for a two-run homer. David Ortiz added an eighth-inning homer for Boston, which tied the game in the fifth on a three-run homer by Jason Varitek.
Reliever Mike Timlin (6-4) pitched one scoreless inning, and Kim Byung-hyun got four outs for his 11th save in 14 chances.
Devil Rays 8, Mariners 4
In Seattle, Travis Lee hit a two-run homer, and Julio Lugo and Aubrey Huff later added solo shots on consecutive pitches as Tampa Bay beat slumping Seattle.
Seattle fell a game behind Oakland in the AL West. It's the first time since April 14 the Mariners, who have one victory in the past eight games, haven't held a share of first place.
Tampa Bay stopped a six-game losing streak as Doug Waechter won in his major league debut. Joel Pineiro (13-10) lost his fifth straight decision.
Athletics 6, Orioles 2
In Oakland, California, Miguel Tejada hit two homers and Barry Zito pitched eight innings of four-hit ball as Oakland won its fifth straight game.
Zito (11-11) retired 19 of his first 21 batters, taking a two-hitter into the eighth. Tejada hit a solo homer in the second and a two-run shot in the fifth off Pat Hentgen (5-7). Eric Chavez also homered for the A's, who got their ninth win in 11 games.
National League
Pinch-hitter Joe Vitiello singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Montreal Expos beat Philadelphia Phillies 9-6 Wednesday night to close within a game of the NL wild-card lead.
Montreal has won four straight overall and eight in a row at home. The Expos led 6-1 in the seventh, but Pat Burrell hit an RBI double and Marlon Byrd tied in the score with his first career grand slam. The homer came against Hector Almonte (1-1), who got his first major league win.
Endy Chavez hit a two-out double off Dan Plesac (2-1) in the bottom half and Vitiello, hitting for Almonte, lined a single to right for a 7-6 lead. Brian Schneider had a two-run double in the eighth Silva as Philadelphia lost its fifth straight game.
Giants 6, Rockies 4
In Denver, Sidney Ponson took a two-hit shutout into the eighth inning, and San Francisco handed Colorado its fifth straight loss.
Jeffrey Hammonds hit a two-run homer for the Giants, who won for the seventh time in eight games. Rich Aurilia also had two RBIs. Ponson (2-3) allowed one run and five hits in 7 2-3 innings while beating Jose Jimenez (1-7). Tim Worrell struck out Greg Norton with two on in the ninth for his 29th save.
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