Looking for answers after a historic sweep at the hands of the worst team in major league baseball, upset New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner held a conference call with general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Torre on Friday.
Torre said it has become an increasingly rare occurrence in recent seasons for The Boss to include him in such discussions, but this was a rare situation.
"It's happened a number of times, but not in recent times," Torre said. "This was sticking to why we're having a tough time. All of the same questions I ask myself.
PHOTO: AP
"He was unhappy. If I tried to tell you anything other than that, you'd be questioning if I was telling you the truth, and I'm not going to lie to you."
New York (27-26) has lost five games in a row, including an embarrassing three-game sweep by the lowly Kansas City Royals, just the third time in the Yankees' storied history that they've been swept in three games by a team with the worst record in the majors, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Steinbrenner participated on the call from Florida, with Torre and Cashman in Minneapolis for the series against the Minnesota Twins.
PHOTO: AFP
Torre and Cashman characterized the call as a "state-of-the-team" discussion and said no decisions were made at the conclusion.
"I didn't feel any better because we were talking about all the bad things that have happened," Torre said. "We talked about individuals and my feeling that the pitching is really the key for us. Why we're not hitting is everybody's mystery. It's something you just have to fight your way out of. We didn't solve anything."
Cashman said he holds regular discussions with Steinbrenner about the team, but agreed it was rare for Torre to be included.
PHOTO: EPA
"It was good for him to hear from Joe," Cashman said. "[Steinbrenner] is no less happy than anyone else here."
Particularly Torre, who held a closed-door meeting on Wednesday after the US$200 million Yankees dropped their second game in a row to the Royals.
Torre said he takes much of the responsibility for the team's recent struggles and was completely befuddled by the veteran group's seemingly fragile confidence.
"I'm accountable," Torre said. "I'm the manager and I'm in charge. This obviously is something that I need to find an answer for. It's up to me to find a way to make this thing start working again."
The demanding Steinbrenner was obviously upset after watching the team with the highest payroll in the major leagues get swept by a ragtag group of journeymen and youngsters in Kansas City.
"He's put up a lot of money to put this kind of a ballclub in our dugout," Torre said. "This isn't the results that should be accompanying that."
As soon as he heard about the call, Torre knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. Torre has gotten used to outbursts from Steinbrenner during his 10 years in New York. When the Yankees are winning, their owner wants them to win bigger, and when they are losing, look out.
"It's a long season and George isn't a very patient man and we understand that," Torre said. "In dealing with George, when you lose and you're supposed to be winning, it's not a happy time. But when you win, he's constantly driving you to improve, so the tone doesn't change much."
Johnny Damon lined a three-run double over the head of center fielder Steve Finley to break an eighth-inning tie Friday and give the Boston Red Sox a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
"That's one of the hardest-hit balls I've ever seen," said Angels reliever Scot Shields.
The Angels led 4-1 and Kelvim Escobar was coasting, allowing just three Red Sox hits and one unearned run over six innings. But Escobar, in just his second start since bone spurs landed him on the disabled list, was lifted after 95 pitches and Boston scored three times off Brendan Donnelly in the seventh and three more off Shields (4-3) in the eighth.
"Brendan and Scot have been there all year for us," Scioscia said. "They hit a little bump in the road here the last outing or two, but they'll bounce back."
Mike Myers (2-1) was charged with one hit and an intentional walk in one inning, striking out two to win the matchup of first-round opponents from last year's American League playoffs. Keith Foulke pitched the ninth for his 12th save -- his first since May 20. He struck out Finley with the bases loaded to end it.
Tigers 5, Orioles 3
In Detroit, Ivan Rodriguez homered and hit a tiebreaking double, and Jason Johnson pitched into the ninth inning to lead Detroit past Baltimore.
Detroit (26-26) has won six of seven -- including a three-game sweep last weekend at Baltimore -- to reach .500 this late in the season for the first time since Sept. 8, 2000.
Johnson (4-4) gave up three runs -- one earned -- and six hits in eight-plus innings, striking out six and walking one. He improved to 3-1 in six career starts against Baltimore, where he played from 1999-2003.
Baltimore's Bruce Chen (5-3) allowed three runs and five hits while striking out four in 6 1-3 innings.
White Sox 6, Indians 4
In Chicago, Jermaine Dye had three hits and Orlando Hernandez came off the disabled list to get his first win since May 11 to lead Chicago over Cleveland.
Activated before the game after being put on the DL with a sore shoulder, Hernandez (6-1) had control problems, hitting four batters and squandering a 4-0 first-inning lead. He gave up four runs and six hits in six innings, including a game-tying three-run homer to Coco Crisp in the third.
Neal Cotts pitched two shutout innings of relief and Dustin Hermanson pitched the ninth for his 12th save in as many chances.
Carl Everett hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the fifth when the White Sox broke the tie against Jake Westbrook (2-8), who had settled down after giving up six first-inning singles and four runs.
Twins 6, Yankees 3
In Minneapolis, Lew Ford homered, tripled and drove in three runs to lead the undermanned Minnesota past slumping New York.
The Yankees (27-27) squandered a 3-0 lead and lost their sixth in a row, their longest skid since dropping seven straight in September and October 2000.
The Twins roughed up Yankees starter Mike Mussina (5-4) with two home runs and eight hits to win their third in a row and sixth in their last eight.
Brent Abernathy hit his first homer of the season to start the Twins' comeback in the fourth, and Kyle Lohse (5-3) settled down after a rocky start to get the victory.
Royals 2, Rangers 1
In Kansas City, Missouri, Matt Stairs homered and Runelvys Hernandez pitched six solid innings, leading the resurgent Kansas City past Texas for its first four-game winning streak in 21 months.
Buddy Bell joined Whitey Herzog as the only Royals managers to win their first four games.
Stairs hit a 1-0 pitch from Pedro Astacio (2-6) over the fence in left leading off the second inning for his seventh home run and second in two games. The Rangers, who swept the Royals at home last week, became the last team in the majors to lose three straight.
Rookie left-hander Andrew Sisco (1-1) got his first major league win with 1 1-3 innings of hitless relief. Mike MacDougal, selected by Bell as the closer, pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven opportunities.
Blue Jays 6, Athletics 2
In Oakland, California, Roy Halladay pitched seven sharp innings to earn his AL-leading ninth win, and Toronto snapped Oakland's season-high four-game winning streak.
Frank Catalanotto went 4-for-4 with a solo homer and Orlando Hudson added a two-run single in a three-run fourth inning for Toronto, which had lost five of seven.
That was more than enough for Halladay (9-2), who allowed one run and six hits and put together his fifth straight sterling start. The 2003 AL Cy Young pitching award winner is 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA during that span and has tied Florida's Dontrelle Willis for the major league lead in wins.
Journeyman Ryan Glynn (0-1), making his A's debut, retired nine of his first 10 batters. Catalanotto broke through for Toronto when he hit the first pitch of the fourth over the right-field wall to make it 1-0.
Devil Rays 6, Mariners 1
In Seattle, Aubrey Huff hit his second homer off Aaron Sele in less than a week, and Tampa Bay broke a five-game losing streak with a rare road win over Seattle.
Huff hit a three-run shot in the fifth inning for his fourth homer of the season, giving the Devil Rays a 4-1 lead. Tampa Bay had lost its last six on the road, but is still just 4-21 away from home.
Huff added an RBI single off reliever J.J. Putz in Tampa Bay's two-run seventh. He homered last Sunday against Sele (4-5), his first since April 18.
Doug Waechter (2-3) got the win in relief. He took over in the fourth after starter Casey Fossum left with tightness in his left groin and improved to 3-0 lifetime against Seattle.
Ryan Church drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly off John Riedling in the 11th inning to give the Washington Nationals a 3-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.
Jamey Carroll walked to open the bottom of the 11th, and Jose Guillen hit a grounder to Nate Bump (0-3) that seemed destined for a rally ending double play. But the reliever's throw to second sailed over shortstop Alex Gonzalez's head for an error. Matt Perisho then walked Nick Johnson to load the bases with no outs.
One out later, Church hit a shallow fly to left, and Carroll easily beat left fielder Miguel Cabrera's throw to the plate, which was wide and short.
Luis Ayala (4-3) threw just one inning, getting out of a bit of a jam in the 11th with an inning-ending double play.
The Nationals, who didn't have a hit after the fourth inning, got their 19th comeback victory of the season.
Pirates 3, Braves 1
In Pittsburgh, Kip Wells threw shutout ball into the eighth inning and beat Atlanta ace Tim Hudson (6-4) for his first win since May 8.
Wells (4-4) gave up six hits and struck out a season-high seven in 7 2-3 scoreless innings for Pittsburgh, while allowing only one runner to reach third base.
Mike Gonzalez relieved Wells after the Braves loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth and retired pinch-hitter Julio Franco on a grounder to third base. Jose Mesa allowed an RBI single to Pete Orr in the ninth, but still earned his 15th save in 17 chances.
Cardinals 2, Astros 0
In Houston, Chris Carpenter pitched eight mostly dominant innings, and Albert Pujols hit a solo homer in the ninth to lead St. Louis past Houston.
Carpenter (8-3) became the latest pitcher to stifle the Astros' punchless offense, striking out six and walking two for his fourth win in five starts. Julian Tavarez got three outs for his third save.
Carpenter gave up eight hits and joined a list of starters that includes teammate Mark Mulder, Atlanta's Tim Hudson and Atlanta's Mike Hampton in keeping Houston scoreless for at least seven innings. The Astros have been shut out a major league-leading 10 times this season.
Andy Pettitte (3-6) allowed five hits in seven innings, striking out five with no walks. But his solid effort was wasted -- again -- as the Astros came up with nothing against Carpenter.
Padres 6, Cubs 2
In San Diego, Adam Eaton won his career-best seventh straight decision, hit his first triple and scored twice as San Diego snapped Chicago's 7-game winning streak.
Cubs slugger Derrek Lee went 0-for-5, dropping his average to .379 -- still the best in the majors. Todd Hollandsworth had three hits. Chicago right-hander Sergio Mitre (0-1), who went to San Diego City College a few blocks away, was chased in the fifth, when he allowed four runs.
Eaton (8-1) has seven wins and two no-decisions in his last nine starts. The right-hander hasn't lost since April 16 at the LA Dodgers.
Rockies 12, Reds 4
In Denver, Preston Wilson hit a pair of home runs to lead an 18-hit night for Colorado. Wilson had four hits and drove in three, Clint Barmes had three hits and three RBIs, and Luis Gonzalez also added three hits.
Rookie Jeff Francis was the beneficiary and remained unbeaten at Coors Field. Francis (5-2) improved to 6-0 in seven career starts at home, striking out six over six innings.
The Rockies took control with a six-run sixth off relievers Ryan Wagner and Ricky Stone to take a 10-2 lead. Brad Hawpe had a pinch-hit two-run single in the inning and Barmes added a bloop RBI single.
Barmes gave the Rockies a 2-0 lead in the second with a two-run single to center off Eric Milton (3-7).
Brewers 7, Dodgers 5
In Los Angeles, Carlos Lee hit a grand slam in the first inning, and Bill Hall added a three-run shot for Milwaukee's win over Los Angeles.
Chris Capuano (5-4) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, including Olmedo Saenz's seventh homer. The left-hander struck out eight and walked one. Capuano, who had a 1.94 ERA last month, has allowed more than three earned runs only once in his 12 starts -- but has yet to record back-to-back wins.
Jeff Weaver (5-5) fell behind 4-0 after just 16 pitches. Milwaukee loaded the bases on singles by Brady Clark and Jeff Cirillo and a walk to Geoff Jenkins before Lee hit his ninth grand slam.
Jason Phillips helped narrow the Brewers' lead to 7-5 in the eighth while walking off the field -- and barely avoided a serious injury in the process. Second baseman Hall caught Phillips' popup near the foul line, then whirled around and threw toward home plate. The ball hit Phillips flush on the helmet, knocking down the catcher and allowing Jayson Werth to score from third.
Andres Galarraga plans to spend his retirement helping youngsters from his baseball-mad native country make it to the major leagues.
Galarraga, who retired on March 29 after spring training with the New York Mets, said Thursday that he planned to build a training camp for children with dreams of playing in Major League Baseball.
The 43-year-old former Atlanta Braves first baseman said Venezuela's future ball players need a place "where the boys learn to play, have the opportunity to learn English and generally get wrapped up in the world of baseball."
Galarraga, who made his big league debut with the Montreal Expos in 1985 and has played for St. Louis, Colorado, Texas, Atlanta, San Francisco and the Angels, recalled his own struggles as a Spanish-speaking rookie.
"I know from my own experience how difficult it is for a youngster to leave his country, his family and open his way in a new world, all that is more difficult if you don't speak English," Galarraga said.
Galarraga -- known as "El Gato," or "The Big Cat" -- finished his career with a .288 batting average, 399 home runs, 2,333 hits and 1,425 RBIs in 2,257 games.
Before retiring, he signed a minor league deal with the Mets in the offseason after making his second successful return from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma last season. Galarraga is a five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner in his 19-year career.
With the Rockies, Galarraga hit .370 to win the NL batting title in 1993, and led the league with 47 homers and 150 RBIs in 1996.
"We admire him for what he's done, he's a hero to those of us who love the game," said 13-year-old Jose Ramon Sosa, who plays baseball with friends in city parks on the weekends.
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