Sun, Sep 14, 2003 - Page 24 News List

Red Sox pull off a win with five hits

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Boston still trails the AL East-leading Yankees by four games. The White Sox remain tied with Minnesota for first place in the AL Central

AP , BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTSAND MIAMI, FLORIDA

Oakland Athletics second baseman Mark Ellis, left, forces out Texas Rangers' Gerald Laird, but is unable to complete the double play during the ninth inning in Arlington, Texas, Friday. Ryan Christenson was safe at first on a fielder's choice. Oakland won, 9-3.

PHOTO: AP

American League

Johnny Damon drew three of Boston's 12 walks, including two with the bases loaded, and the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 7-4 Friday night despite getting just five hits.

Jeff Suppan (2-2) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks, striking out two in six innings. South Korea's Kim Byung-hyun pitched the ninth for his 13th save.

"That's why this offense is so good," said Todd Walker, who had two hits but was the only player in the Red Sox lineup without a walk. "We've got a good contingent of guys who are aggressive, and guys who can be patient."

Dan Wright (1-6) lasted just one-plus inning for Chicago, giving up four runs -- three earned -- on two hits and five walks.

The Red Sox still trail the American League East-leading Yankees by four games. The White Sox remained tied with Minnesota for first place in the AL Central.

"That's the best thing to come out of tonight," White Sox manager Jerry Manuel said. "We needed a little help tonight."

Carl Everett was 2-for-4 with a homer and a double for the White Sox, and Jose Valentin also homered.

Indians 4, Twins 3

In Cleveland, C.C. Sabathia matched his win total of last season, and Jhonny Peralta hit a three-run homer to lead Cleveland over Minnesota.

Sabathia (13-8) allowed two runs and six hits in 6 2-3 in innings. David Riske gave up an RBI single to Shannon Stewart in the ninth before getting his seventh save.

The Twins got a two-run homer from Torii Hunter. He also saved two runs, robbing Casey Blake of a two-run shot in the seventh with a leaping catch against the wall in center.

Peralta's fourth homer in the fifth gave the Indians a 3-2 lead against Kenny Rogers (11-8).

Yankees 10, Devil Rays 4

In New York, Jason Giambi emerged from his slump with four hits and a homer, and Aaron Boone hit a three-run shot as New York won its sixth straight by beating Tampa Bay.

Boone drove in four runs and had his first three-hit game since July 27, when he was with Cincinnati. Juan Rivera had two run-scoring doubles, and Nick Johnson added three hits and an RBI for the Yankees, who had 17 hits.

David Wells (14-6) pitched seven innings for his 199th win and improved to 8-1 career against the Devil Rays. New York has won its first five in a stretch of 15 games against losing teams.

Victor Zambrano (10-9) gave up 11 hits and seven runs in 4 1-3 innings.

Tigers 3, Royals 0

In Detroit, Mike Maroth won for the first time since Aug. 2, and Detroit beat Kansas City for its fifth shutout this season.

Warren Morris homered and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who stopped a six-game losing streak.

Kansas City, struggling to stay in the AL Central race, lost for the ninth time in 13 games. The Royals are 3 1/2 games back of Chicago and Minnesota.

Maroth (7-20) allowed five hits in six-plus innings. He had been 0-5 in six starts since beating Minnesota in his first start of August. On Sept. 5, he became the first 20-game loser in the majors since Oakland's Brian Kingman in 1980.

Matt Anderson, Jamie Walker and Fernando Rodney finished the six-hitter, with Rodney getting four outs for his second career save.

The Tigers need five or more wins in their last 16 games to avoid matching the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in a season since 1900.

Paul Abbott (1-1) gave up three runs in six innings.

Athletics 9, Rangers 3

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