Wed, Apr 28, 2004 - Page 19 News List

Lilly leads Blue Jays to a rare win

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALLThe Toronto pitcher only allowed Minnesota to snag a pair of hits in the 6-1 win

AP , MINNEAPOLIS AND NEW YORKAP, PITTSBURGH AND CHICAGO

Cincinnati Reds starter Aaron Harang pitches against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, Monday. The Reds beat the Pirates 5-2, but Austin Kearns suffered a broken forearm.

PHOTO: AP

American League

Ted Lilly tossed a two-hitter, giving Toronto's struggling starters a big boost and leading the Blue Jays to a 6-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.

Lilly struck out eight and walked two. He's the first Blue Jays starter to win this year other than AL Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay.

Orlando Hudson had three hits and Josh Phelps drove in two runs with a double.

Michael Cuddyer spoiled Lilly's shutout bid on the first pitch of the sixth with his first home run of the season.

Brad Radke (2-2) yielded four runs and 10 hits in seven innings.

BOSTON 2, YANKEES 0

Pedro Martinez pitched seven sharp innings and Manny Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Javier Vazquez for a 2-0 Boston win over New York which completed a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

With its first series sweep of New York since 1999, Boston improved to 6-1 against the Yankees for the first time since 1913 -- when the Red Sox were defending World Series champions.

The US$183 million Yankees are struggling mightily at the plate, leaving their fans restless. In addition to jeers for New York, chants of "Let's Go Red Sox!" could be heard from the crowd of 55,338 on a drizzly afternoon.

Even captain Derek Jeter got booed. He's hitless in a career-high 25 at-bats after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.

First-place Boston, which has finished second to New York for six straight seasons, took a 4 1/2-game lead over the Yankees, New York's biggest AL East deficit since May 10, 2002, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

At 8-11, the Yankees are three games under .500 this late in the season for the first time since April 22, 1997.

Angels 4, Athletics 3

At Oakland, California, Salmon snapped an 0-for-13 skid when he connected against Rich Harden (0-2) in the sixth to give the Angels a 4-2 lead. The Athletics were swept at home for the first time since May 2002, a span of 49 series.

Ramon Ortiz (1-2) pitched five solid innings in his best outing of the season before turning the game over to Anaheim's stellar bullpen. Troy Percival earned his fifth save.

Indians 3, Tigers 2

At Detroit, Jake Westbrook allowed two runs and two hits in his first start of the season and second career complete game. Westbrook (1-1) retired 27 straight batters over three appearances before Carlos Pena homered in the second inning.

Jody Gerut homered off Jason Johnson (1-4).

Blue Jays 15, Orioles 3

At Baltimore, Roy Halladay (2-3) cruised to an easy victory, Chris Woodward had a career-high four hits and Toronto won consecutive games for the first time this season. Carlos Delgado and Eric Hinske each had three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who roughed up Sidney Ponson (2-1).

Rangers 14, Mariners 6

At Arlington, Texas, Laynce Nix, Rod Barajas and rookie Adrian Gonzalez hit consecutive homers in the sixth inning as Texas handed Seattle its fifth straight loss.

Nix also hit a leadoff homer in the fourth and had a career-high five RBIs. Kevin Mench had a homer and a triple among his career-best four hits and tied a team record with five runs scored.

Twins 4, Royals 2

At Kansas City, Missouri, Torii Hunter hit a three-run homer in his first game since coming off the disabled list. Carlos Silva (3-0) gave up one run in seven innings, and Joe Nathan got out of a bases-loaded jam for his sixth save.

Devil Rays 6, White Sox 5

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