American League
Derek Jeter broke out of an 0-for-32 slump with a leadoff home run, Miguel Cairo hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 7-5 victory on Thursday night.
PHOTO: REUTERS
"A streak like that, you wouldn't want to wish on anyone, even other teams," Jeter said. "Guys on other teams even have been giving me support."
The Yankees hit four home runs off Barry Zito (2-3). The former Cy Young pitching award winner allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings and struck out nine.
"I had sharpness, and the curveball was good and the changeup was good," Zito said. "I think it was just that they didn't miss anything."
Bernie Williams and Alex Rodriguez also went deep to help Kevin Brown (4-0). The right-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.
Eric Chavez hit a two-run shot in the first for the A's, who have lost six straight.
Red Sox 7, Devil Rays 3, 2nd game
In Boston, the Red Sox finally allowed a run after 32 scoreless innings, then extended their winning streak to six with a sweep of the day-night doubleheader with Tampa Bay.
Jason Varitek's three-run homer capped a seven-run first inning in the night game after Byung-Hyun Kim and three relievers pitched Boston's third straight shutout in the opener.
Boston's scoreless streak ended quickly when Derek Lowe (3-1) allowed two runs in the first inning. He worked seven innings, giving up three runs -- one earned -- and nine hits.
Damian Moss (0-1) allowed seven runs and recorded just one out.
Boston's bullpen extended its scoreless innings streak to streak to 32 1-3 scoreless innings.
In the opener, Kim (1-0) returned from the disabled list and allowed one hit in five innings in his first start of the season. Victor Zambrano (3-2) struck out 10 in the loss.
Tampa Bay's Jose Cruz Jr. went a combined 0-for-5, extending his slump to 0-for-33.
White Sox 6,Blue Jays 4
In Chicago, Esteban Loaiza stayed unbeaten as Chicago rallied for five runs in the sixth inning and beat Toronto.
Loaiza (4-0) ran his career record in April to 18-3, including 10 straight victories in that month dating back to 2001 when he pitched for Toronto.
Loaiza went six-plus innings, allowing seven hits and four runs. After Neal Cotts struck out three in two innings, Billy Koch pitched the ninth for his second save.
Michael Nakamura (0-1) was the loser.
Angels 12, Tigers 3
In Detroit, Vladimir Guerrero homered and Anaheim had an eight-run fourth inning, beating Detroit to win for the fifth time in its last six games.
Guerrero homered, doubled and singled twice in five at-bats.
Jarrod Washburn (4-1) pitched eight innings for the victory, allowing three runs and nine hits. He struck out six and walked none.
Nate Robertson (1-1) was tagged for nine runs and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings.
Jose Guillen hit a two-run homer and Darin Erstad had two hits and four RBIs for the Angels.
Rangers 9, Royals 7
In Kansas City, Missouri, Michael Young and Brad Fullmer homered during Texas' three-run rally in the ninth inning over Kansas.
Young tied it with a solo shot against Curtis Leskanic (0-3). Hank Blalock followed with a triple and Fullmer homered with two outs.
It was Leskanic's third blown save in five opportunities.
Carlos Almanzar (3-0) worked two perfect innings to pick up the victory. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his seventh save in seven chances.
Carlos Beltran had three hits, including his eighth home run for the Royals.
Orioles 9, Mariners 5
In Baltimore, Eric DuBose pitched seven innings of three-hit ball and Melvin Mora and Brian Roberts had four hits each as Baltimore downed Seattle.
DuBose (3-2) has given up just four earned runs in his last 21 innings.
Luis Matos had three hits and drove in two runs for the Orioles, who got 15 hits, including 12 against Seattle starter Joel Pineiro (1-3).
The last-place Mariners have lost seven of eight.
Playing in his 614th consecutive game, Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada left in the eighth after being struck in the face by a throw from first baseman Rafael Palmeiro.
National League
Houston Astros 2, Pirates 0
Andy Pettitte (1-1), who hadn't pitched in 23 days because of a strained left elbow, and three relievers held Pittsburgh to two hits on Thursday as the Houston Astros blanked the Pirates 2-0.
"It's exciting to be able to get my first win as an Astro and, obviously, it's a nice milestone to get No. 150 in my career," Pettitte said. "It's special, but I didn't think it would take this long to get one."
Raul Mondesi was the lone Pittsburgh player to reach base against him, with a walk and single.
Pettitte struck out three and walked one, and Octavio Dotel struck out the side in the ninth for his third save in three chances.
Brad Ausmus hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh off Kip Wells (2-3), and pinch-hitter Jose Vizcaino singled to make it 2-0.
Cardinals 5, Phillies 4, 13 innings
In St. Louis, Jim Edmonds homered to lead off the 13th inning, helping St. Louis avert a three-game sweep at the hands of Philadelphia.
Edmonds hit an 0-2 pitch from Amaury Telemaco (0-1), entering his fifth inning of relief, over the right-field wall for the sixth game-ending homer of his career.
The Cardinals raised their home record to 4-9, avoiding their worst start at Busch Stadium since going 2-11 in 1969.
Manager Tony La Russa became the second manager in major league history to win 700 games with two different teams, joining Sparky Anderson.
Mike Lincoln (3-2) pitched a perfect 13th.
Phillies pinch-hitter Ricky Ledee hit a two-run homer in the ninth that tied it at 7.
Marlins 4, Giants 3
In San Francisco, Barry Bonds hit his 668th home run, but World Series champion Florida hit three homers of its own to defeat San Francisco.
Mike Lowell connected for a tiebreaking solo homer off Felix Rodriguez (1-1) in the top of the ninth inning.
Hee Seop Choi and Ramon Castro also homered for the Marlins.
Justin Wayne (2-0) pitched 1 2-3 innings for the victory in his major league debut.
Franklyn Gracesqui, promoted from the minors a day earlier, made his major league debut and struck out Michael Tucker with a runner on third to end it for a save.
Padres 2, Expos 1
In San Diego, David Wells pitched seven effective innings for his first win with his new team as San Diego edged Montreal.
Khalil Greene had a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh as San Diego completed a four-game sweep of Montreal for the first time since both teams joined the major leagues in 1969.
Wells (1-2) allowed two hits and one run -- unearned -- to pick up his first win for the Padres in his fifth start.
Trevor Hoffman pitched the ninth for his sixth save in seven opportunities.
Mets 6, Dodgers 1
In Los Angeles, Karim Garcia hit a two-run homer for New York and Jae Seo (1-3) held the Los Angeles to one run on six hits in 6 1-3 innings.
Garcia homered off Jeff Weaver (1-3) with two out in the third inning to give New York a 3-0 lead.
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