The Detroit Tigers surpassed their 2003 wins total with 2 1/2 months left in the season, beating the New York Yankees 4-2 Sunday behind the pitching of Nate Robertson and the hitting of Carlos Pena.
Detroit, which split the four-game series against the defending AL champions, improved to 44-47. Last year, the Tigers set an AL record for losses by going 43-119. The Tigers won the season series from New York 4-3.
"It's fun when you can crush somebody and land your punches, to use a boxing analogy," said Pena, who was 3-for-3, including a solo homer.
PHOTO: AFP
The Tigers easily set a record for fewest games needed to surpass their wins total from the previous year, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The previous mark of 106 was set by the 1962 Philadelphia Phillies (48-58 after going 47-107) and the 1989 Baltimore Orioles (55-51 following a 54-107 season).
"I'm not going to go celebrate," Detroit manager Alan Trammell said.
Before a sellout crowd of 40,132, Robertson (9-4) allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings. Ugueth Urbina finished for his 15th save in 17 chances.
PHOTO: AFP
Ruben Sierra hit a two-run shot for New York.
Red Sox 6, Angels 2
In Anaheim, California, Curt Schilling won his fourth straight decision, David Ortiz homered and drove in four runs and Boston beat Anaheim for a split of their four-game series.
Schilling (12-4) allowed one run and three hits in eight innings. He struck out seven and walked none, retiring 17 of his last 19 batters.
Pitching on nine days' rest after sitting out the All-Star game because of a sore right ankle, the six-time All-Star improved to 9-1 with a 2.04 ERA this season when pitching with more than four days off between starts. Schilling and Pedro Martinez have combined to go 14-1 since May 19.
Ortiz hit a go-ahead, three-run homer and had an RBI single that raised his league-leading RBIs total to 83. Gabe Kapler also homered off John Lackey (7-9).
Athletics 5, White Sox 3
In Oakland, California, Mark Mulder pitched three-hit ball into the ninth inning to become the first 13-game winner in the majors, and Bobby Crosby's two-run homer sent Oakland past Chicago.
Mulder (13-2) won his 11th consecutive decision, outpitching Esteban Loaiza (8-5) in a matchup of All-Stars. The left-hander struck out eight, walked two and hasn't lost in 14 starts since April 28.
Jermaine Dye had two RBI doubles, and Octavio Dotel got his fifth save with the A's.
Crosby's sixth-inning home run glanced off the glove of center fielder Aaron Rowand, giving Oakland a 4-3 lead. Jose Valentin and Aaron Rowand homered off Mulder.
Looking for an outfielder with some pop, the White Sox acquired switch-hitter Carl Everett from Montreal for minor league pitchers Jon Rauch and Gary Majewski earlier in the day.
Roger Clemens won his first game in three weeks, a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday that stopped the Astros' four-game losing streak and gave Phil Garner his first win as Houston's manager.
Clemens (11-3), rocked for six runs in the first inning during Tuesday's All-Star game in Houston, had been 0-1 in three starts since beating Pittsburgh on June 24.
"I felt fine Tuesday ... there were a lot of distractions, but I had no excuses," Clemens said. "I don't concern myself with things like that. I was showcasing the city, and I would do it again. I have no regrets on that."
He got his 321st win, moving three behind Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton, who share 12th place on the career list. Clemens allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, striking out five to raise his career total to 4,099.
"Our guys jumped out there and gave me a lead, and that makes you want to hang on," Clemens said. "We scored some runs late, just like we used to when we were winning early this season."
Brad Lidge got his eighth save in 10 chances, and Carlos Beltran, Jeff Kent and Craig Biggio hit solo homers.
Cardinals 10, Reds 4
In Cincinnati, Mike Matheny drove in three runs and Jeff Suppan won his third straight start.
Edgar Renteria and Reggie Sanders hit solo homers for the Cardinals, who won for the 11th time in 13 games.
Suppan (9-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in six-plus innings.
Jose Acevedo (4-8) gave up six runs, seven hits and three walks in 2 1-3 innings, his shortest outing of the season other than an outing shortened by a rain delay. Acevedo allowed five runs in one inning for the second consecutive start.
Mets 6, Phillies 1
In New York, Al Leiter pitched six shutout innings, and Mike Cameron and Vance Wilson hit back-to-back homers in the fifth off Brett Myers (5-7).
Leiter (6-3) allowed four hits and struck out a season-high seven for his fifth win in six starts as the Mets salvaged a split of the four-game series.
Wilson and Cameron each drove in two runs for the Mets, who moved a game above .500 at 46-45 -- two games behind Philadelphia and Atlanta in the NL East.
Braden Looper got four outs for his 19th save in 21 chances.
Rockies 10, Giants 9
In Denver, Jeromy Burnitz and Preston Wilson each homered off Matt Herges (4-4) and Aaron Miles capped Colorado's four-run ninth inning with an RBI single.
Colorado turned the tables on the Giants after a disheartening 7-5 loss to the Giants on Thursday in which closer Shawn Chacon gave up four runs in the ninth inning.
San Francisco led 9-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth after Deivi Cruz hit a tiebreaking homer to lead off the eighth and Michael Tucker and Barry Bonds hit solo shots in the top half.
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