Tue, Sep 07, 2004 - Page 19 News List

Boston Red Sox squeak past the Texas Rangers

AP , BOSTONAP, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI

Red Sox third baseman Bill Mueller throws out Alfonso Soriano of the Rangers at Fenway Park in Boston, Sunday.

PHOTO: AP

American League

Curt Schilling pitched into the ninth inning for his major league-leading 18th win, David Ortiz hit his 35th homer and the Boston Red Sox held on for a 6-5 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

The Red Sox, whose 10-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday, completed a 9-1 homestand and remained 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. Boston, which opens a seven-game road trip on Monday at AL West-leading Oakland, has won 17 of its last 19 overall, and 12 of its last 13 at Fenway Park.

Schilling (18-6) allowed three runs and five hits in 8 1-3 innings, struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter in winning his fifth straight start. It was his third game this season with 10 or more strikeouts, and 89th of his career.

Michael Young homered twice for the Rangers, who fell seven games behind the AL wild card-leading Red Sox. Ryan Drese (11-8) took the loss, allowing four runs and seven hits in six innings.

Yankees 4, Orioles 3

At New York, Jorge Posada drew a bases-loaded walk from Jorge Julio (2-3) in the ninth inning, giving the Yankees the victory.

Derek Jeter reached base four times and scored three runs for the Yankees, who rallied from a three-run deficit for their major league-leading 53rd comeback win. Bernie Williams had his first sacrifice bunt since 1996, moving Jeter to third in the ninth.

Rafael Palmeiro hit a three-run homer in the first inning for the Orioles, who were looking for their first three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium since June 6-8, 1986. Instead, they had their six-game winning streak snapped.

Mariano Rivera (4-1), who gave up four runs and got only one out Saturday, pitched out of a first-and-third, none-out jam in the ninth for the win.

White Sox 6, Mariners 2

At Chicago, Joe Borchard and Paul Konerko each hit two-run homers to back a strong outing by Felix Diaz and the White Sox won their third straight.

Ichiro Suzuki went 1-for-4 to give him a major league-leading 224 hits, 33 short of the all-time single-season record. He has 26 games remaining to reach the record of 257 hits, set by George Sisler in 1920 with the St. Louis Browns.

Diaz (2-4), who entered with a 9.09 ERA, allowed one run and five hits -- none to Suzuki -- in six innings. Damaso Marte got four outs for his fifth save, despite giving up Jolbert Cabrera's solo homer in the ninth.

Seattle starter Jamie Moyer (6-10) allowed five runs in seven innings in his eighth straight loss. He hasn't won since June 18 at Pittsburgh, and has seven no-decisions during that span.

Angels 2, Indians 1

At Cleveland, John Lackey allowed two hits in 7 1-3 innings and the Anaheim Angels moved a little closer to Oakland in the AL West.

Lackey (12-11) gave up just doubles in the sixth and eighth innings to lead the Angels to a three-game sweep that pulled them within three games of the first-place Athletics.

Francisco Rodriguez worked out of a jam in the eighth, blocking the plate after taking a blind backhanded throw from catcher Bengie Molina to get a sliding Ronnie Belliard. Rodriguez also worked a perfect ninth for his 11th save.

Troy Glaus homered off Jake Westbrook (12-7) for Anaheim, which has won 15 of 20 and is 17-4 in its last 21 road games.

The Indians, who were within one game of first in the AL Central three weeks ago, have lost five in a row, 16 of 20 and are 11 games back.

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