Wang Chien-ming's (王建民) poor throw on a pickoff attempt to first base that skidded past Jason Giambi's extended glove for a two-base error and an eventual two-run first inning, was just one of several costly mistakes by the New York Yankees that made it look easy for the home St. Louis Cardinals in their 8-1 trouncing of the US$200 million-plus club from the Big Apple.
Taiwan's second-and-latest major league pitcher found out the hard way about what it takes to succeed in the big leagues in his shortest outing of the season thus far, yielding seven runs (four earned) on seven hits over four frames in a losing effort, giving him a 3-2 record for the year.
It would be unfair to measure Wang's long-term survivability in the majors on the basis of Friday's performance, given the fact that the 25-year-old rookie pitched against the hottest club in the National League -- winners of three straight against the defending world champs the Boston Red Sox.
PHOTO: EPA
The heart of the Cardinals' order consits of former National League MVPs Albert Pujols and Larry Walker and longtime hitting icon Jim Edmonds, and they hammered Wang for a combined 5-for-7 with two walks.
Following the two-run first, Wang had a 1-2-3 second inning against the bottom of the Cardinals' order before a five-run third that included a double, three singles, two walks (one intentional) plus two Yankees errors to give the Cards a commanding 7-0 lead.
"We were just too nonchalant," Yankees manager Joe Torre told the New York Times. "I was surprised that we let them run us off the field. There's no other way to put it.
PHOTO: EPA
"Normally, I try to find the most positive thing I can find. But I don't think I can find one," Torre said.
The Yankees bullpen at least did its job after Wang was pulled to start the fifth, allowing a run on three hits the rest of the way, but the offense was nowhere to be seen.
Other than back-to-back doubles by rookie second baseman Robinson Cano and New York captain Derek Jeter in the fifth that scored the lone run of the game for the Yankees, it was as one-sided a game.
Veteran righty Jason Marquis improved to 8-3 for the year after eight solid innings of work. Marquis allowed one run on six hits while fanning three and walking two.
Wang should hold his head high despite the loss that upped his earned run average to 4.44 for the year, because he is still only one of two starters with a winning record on a Yankees rotation that includes big time players Mike Mussina (6-4 with a 4.33 ERA), Randy Johnson (5-5 with a 4.04 ERA), Carl Pavano (4-5 with a 4.38 ERA), and Kevin Brown (4-6 with a 5.43 ERA).
CUBS 14, RED SOX 6
The Chicago Cubs pounded Boston 14-6 with 20 hits in the Red Sox's first-ever trip to Wrigley Field in the storied teams' first meeting since the 1918 World Series.
Jeromy Burnitz hit two of the Cubs' four homers, a long-ball display that also included one by 39-year-old Greg Maddux, who connected off reliever John Halama in the sixth inning.
"It's always fun. There's not a lot of history between these two teams and I think that's what made it a little bit special today," Maddux said.
Maddux (5-3) got career win No. 310, allowing seven hits and three runs in 6 2-3 innings, including David Ortiz's sixth-inning homer. Maddux also improved his career record against Boston to 5-0.
"It had sort of a playoff atmosphere," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "Other than the Cardinals series rarely do you see as many fans on their side as our side."
Bronson Arroyo (4-3) was the loser.
Orioles 4, Reds 3
At Cincinnati, Melvin Mora hit a three-run homer off Aaron Harang (4-4), outshining one of baseball's greatest collections of power hitters and leading Baltimore over Cincinnati.
The Orioles are visiting Cincinnati for the first time since the 1970 World Series, which third baseman Brooks Robinson turned into his showcase. Baltimore won the series, 4-1.
The interleague matchup marked the first time that three 500-homer players appeared in the same game -- Sammy Sosa (580), Rafael Palmeiro (559) and Ken Griffey Jr., who hit a solo shot in the eighth for No. 511.
The trio went 3-for-11, with Griffey providing the only hit of any note. Sosa, who hit No. 500 at Great American Ball Park two years ago, had a particularly rough time, striking out in his three at-bats.
Rodrigo Lopez (5-2) rebounded from his shortest outing of the season, a three-inning start against Detroit last Saturday.
Nationals 9, Mariners 3
At Washington, Brian Schneider hit a go-ahead two-run single, and Washington took advantage of five walks in the eighth inning to break open a tie game against Seattle for their eighth consecutive victory.
The game went to the bottom of the eighth at 3-all, but Washington sent 11 men to the plate and managed to score six runs with the benefit of just three singles.
Luis Ayala (6-3) earned the win by getting three outs in the eighth. Hector Carrasco, the fifth Washington pitcher, worked a scoreless ninth.
The day began with the Nationals making a flurry of changes. They acquired second baseman Junior Spivey from Milwaukee for Friday's scheduled Washington starter, Tomo Ohka. And they claimed two right-handers off waivers, including the Texas Rangers' opening day starter, Ryan Drese.
With Ohka gone, Sun-woo Kim made his first start of the season, and he went five innings, allowing two runs and five hits.
Angels 12, Mets 2
At New York, Steve Finley and Darin Erstad each homered to help Bartolo Colon win his fourth straight decision as the Los Angeles Angels thrashed the New York Mets.
The Angels' ace now has four wins in six starts since losing May 7 to Detroit. Colon (8-3) went six innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits. He struck out three with no walks.
Finley, who went 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly, has 16 RBIs in his past 13 games. Erstad's homer extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Orlando Cabrera added a three-run shot off Manny Aybar in the ninth
Kazuhisa Ishii (1-5) struck out nine and walked just two in 5 2-3 innings. He gave up five runs on six hits.
Athletics 6, Braves 4
At Atlanta, Eric Chavez hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Oakland snapped an 11-game road losing streak with a win over Atlanta.
Bobby Crosby also hit a two-run homer as Oakland won on the road for the first time since May 20 at San Francisco.
Danny Haren (4-7) won his third straight decision, giving up six hits and four runs in 6 2-3 innings. Haren also drove in two runs for his first RBIs since 2003, when he had one with St. Louis.
Huston Street got four outs for his third save in five chances.
Marcus Giles had two hits, including his fourth homer, for the Braves, who have dropped four straight series. Atlanta has lost 10 of 14 games and has dropped to two games over .500 for the first time since April 25.
Chavez homered off Colon (0-3).
White Sox 4, Padres 2
At San Diego, Jon Garland pitched seven strong innings to join Dontrelle Willis as the only 10-game winners in the major leagues as the Chicago White Sox defeated San Diego.
Garland (10-2) also got his first career RBI with a single to right field in a two-run second.
The AL Central-leading White Sox, who at 41-19 have the best record in the majors, won their fourth straight and eighth in nine games. Dustin Hermanson, who was with the Padres from 1995-1996, allowed a run on Brian Giles' RBI groundout in the ninth but recorded his 15th save.
Indians 10, Giants 2
At San Francisco, C.C. Sabathia allowed five hits in eight innings and also hit a two-run double in Cleveland's first trip to San Francisco.
Sabathia (5-3) held the struggling Giants to two runs and delivered a big hit off Brett Tomko (5-8) in the seventh inning.
The meeting was the first between the franchises since Willie Mays and the New York Giants swept the Indians in the 1954 World Series.
Jody Gerut and Aaron Boone hit consecutive RBI triples in the second inning to lead the Indians offense. Gerut went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Boone had two RBIs.
Moises Alou homered and scored twice for the Giants, who have lost 12 of 14 and scored only six runs in their last five losses.
Diamondbacks 12, Royals 11,
10 innings
At Phoenix, Troy Glaus led off the 10th inning with his 14th home run, giving Arizona a victory over Kansas City.
Glaus' drive into the left-field seats against Mike MacDougal (2-3) came after the Arizona bullpen blew an eight-run lead in the last two innings.
Kansas City scored six runs in the eighth and two in the ninth.
Closer Brian Bruney (1-2) pitched a perfect 10th for the win.
Dodgers 6, Twins 5
At Los Angeles, Choi Hee-seop hit his second homer of the game in the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Dodgers a win over Minnesota in the teams' first meeting since their memorable World Series nearly 40 years earlier.
Choi, who had hit a two-run homer in the first inning, drove Terry Mulholland's first pitch of the game high down the right-field line, with the ball hitting the foul pole screen.
The winning home run was his eighth homer of the year, and third multihomer game of his career.
The Dodgers beat the Twins in the 1965 World Series when Sandy Koufax pitched Game 7 on two days' rest and held Minnesota to three hits in a 2-0 victory.
The interleague series at Dodger Stadium is the first regular-season meeting between the teams.
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