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Yankee's snag win as Soriano returns

Mariners second baseman Bret Boone tags out Miguel Olivo of the White Sox at second base on a stolen-base attempt during the third inning in Seattle, Washington, Friday. Chicago ended up winning the game 4-2 as the Sox lead the AL Central division. PHOTO: AP

Gary Sheffield hit two homers and Alex Rodriguez had another as the New York Yankees overcame Alfonso Soriano's triumphant return to the Bronx with a 7-6 victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Staked to a four-run lead, Rangers starter Kenny Rogers allowed five home runs to the Yankees, who have won 10 of 11.

"The sky's the limit for this team," Sheffield said. "We're starting to hit our stride."

Derek Jeter left in the fourth inning with a tight left groin, and the Yankees said their captain was day to day.

"Hopefully, it's just a couple of days," Torre said.

Former Ranger Kevin Brown (7-1) allowed homers to Soriano, who was traded for Rodriguez in the offseason, and Mark Teixeira.

Sheffield's second homer off Jay Powell (1-1) put the Yankees ahead in the third.

Mariano Rivera finished for his fourth save in four days and 22nd of the season.

Royals 5, Red Sox 2

In Kansas City, Missouri, Jimmy Gobble pitched six strong innings, retiring 15 consecutive batters during one stretch to lead Kansas City to a victory over struggling Boston.

The 22-year-old left-hander gave up two runs on five hits, with no walks and one strikeout. Jeremy Affeldt pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save in seven chances.

After Johnny Damon led off with a double and was stranded at third, Gobble (3-3) didn't allow another baserunner until Doug Mirabelli homered leading off the sixth.

The Red Sox lost their fourth in a row -- and sixth in eight games -- and fell to a season-worst 3 1/2 games behind first-place New York in the American League East.

Tim Wakefield (4-4) went 6 2-3 innings and was charged with five runs on nine hits.

Indians 9, Angels 6

In Anaheim, California, Ronnie Belliard gave Cleveland the lead with his first homer of the season, a three-run shot in the eighth inning off Francisco Rodriguez, as the Indians rallied from four runs down to beat Anaheim.

After Jose Guillen homered off David Riske (2-2) to increase Anaheim's lead to 6-4, the right-hander didn't like the way Guillen left the batter's box, and shouted at him as he rounded the bases. Guillen kept glaring before crossing the plate. Both dugouts and bullpens emptied, but no punches were thrown.

Travis Hafner, 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, greeted Rodriguez (1-1) with a leadoff single in the eighth, and Ben Broussard was hit by a pitch one out later before Belliard's homer.

Jose Jimenez got three outs for his second save, striking out Raul Mondesi with two on to end it.

White Sox 4, Mariners 2

In Seattle, Jon Garland pitched into the eighth inning and Frank Thomas hit a go-ahead two-run homer to lead Chicago over Seattle.

The AL Central-leading White Sox ended a two-game losing streak, while the last-place Mariners lost their third game in a row.

Garland (5-2) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk and had three strikeouts in winning his third straight decision, and fourth in five.

Billy Koch pitched the ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances.

Freddy Garcia (3-4) had a personal two-game winning streak ended. He allowed four runs and seven hits in 7 2-3 innings. He walked two, hit a batter and struck out seven.

Mark Prior retired the first 13 batters and pitched six stellar innings for Chicago, but the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for two runs in the ninth and a 2-1 victory.

Prior was overpowering at times, allowing just two hits. He walked none and struck out eight.

"It felt good to be out there. I'm not going to lie," Prior said. "I had some anxiety going and probably a little nervousness going into it."

Chicago lost for the eighth time in 11 games when the Cubs' bullpen blew a 1-0 lead. Jack Wilson doubled off Joe Borowski (2-4) and scored on Craig Wilson's two-out single to tie it. Pinch-hitter Chris Stynes then hit a go-ahead single off Mike Remlinger.

"To come in against Prior that's going to be tough from the first pitch. We definitely needed this win after dropping five in a row," Wilson said.

Salomon Torres (4-1) got the win and Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 14th save as the Pirates ended a five-game losing streak.

Phillies 9, Braves 1

In Atlanta, Bobby Abreu and Mike Lieberthal homered to back seven impressive innings by Eric Milton as Philadelphia beat Atlanta to end a four-game losing streak.

Milton (7-1) held the Braves scoreless after the first inning, allowing just one earned run and five hits overall. The left-hander struck out five and walked two.

Pitching opposite Travis Smith (0-2) for the second time in six days, Milton retired 10 straight after Eli Marrero walked with two outs in the first. He also escaped a jam in the fifth with runners on first and second and one out when Nick Green popped up and Julio Franco grounded into a fielder's choice.

Smith, filling in for injured starter Horacio Ramirez, allowed six hits, three earned runs and one walk.

Cardinals 5, Astros 3

In St. Louis, Scott Rolen snapped a fifth-inning tie with a two-run single, giving him a major league-leading 57 RBIs and sending St. Louis past Houston.

The Cardinals have won five in a row and eight of nine to pull within a game of NL Central-leading Cincinnati.

St. Louis won without manager Tony La Russa, serving the first game of a two-game suspension for his shouting match with Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon on Thursday.

Dodgers 7, Diamondbacks 3

In Phoenix, Paul Lo Duca hit a three-run homer and Milton Bradley, playing while appealing a four-game suspension, drove in two runs to help Los Angeles beat Arizona for its fifth win in six games.

Kazuhisa Ishii (7-3) overcame six walks and improved to 5-1 against Arizona. He allowed three runs on four hits.

Guillermo Mota allowed two hits in two innings for the save.
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