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Yankees batter old nemesis Beckett in rout of Red Sox

American League

Jason Giambi and Andy Phillips each hit a three-run homer in a seven-run second inning and the New York Yankees battered old nemesis Josh Beckett in a 13-5 rout of the Boston Red Sox on Monday.

Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano added two-run doubles in the third, making it an easy night for ace Mike Mussina (8-1) in the opener of a four-game series.

The Yankees batted around in the second and third -- and hardly missed Derek Jeter. The captain sat out with a bruised right thumb after he was hit by a pitch in Baltimore on Sunday.

New York finished with 11 hits, its 12th consecutive game with at least 10. That broke the franchise record of 11 straight games set in May 1937. The longtime rivals have now split eight meetings this season -- the Yankees have won three in a row.

Staked to a 13-2 cushion after three innings, Mussina allowed five runs -- four earned -- and eight hits in six innings, striking out a season-high eight.

In other AL games it was: Orioles 4, Blue Jays 0; Devil Rays 4, Angels 0; Mariners 4, Royals 1.

National League

Carlos Zambrano pitched no-hit ball for 7 1-3 innings before Preston Wilson grounded an opposite-field single, leading the Chicago Cubs over the Houston Astros 8-0 on Monday.

Zambrano was trying to become the first Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Milt Pappas on Sept. 2, 1972, against San Diego. Instead, he beat the Astros with his arm and bat. He homered and drove in four runs, and was in control on the mound.

Zambrano (4-3) threw 72 of his 126 pitches for strikes and struck out eight in eight innings. Will Ohman worked a perfect ninth inning.

Zambrano was perfect until he walked Morgan Ensberg to lead off in the fifth. In his sixth season, Zambrano has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven starts.

In other NL games it was: Nationals 5, Braves 4; Brewers 5, Padres 2; Reds 8, Cardinals 7; Pirates 5, Rockies 2; Giants 14, Marlins 2; Mets 4, Dodgers 1; Phillies 4, Diamondbacks 3.
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