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Devil Rays spoil Wang's return

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson throws against the San Diego Padres during the first inning of their National League baseball game on Tuesday in Phoenix, Arizona. Johnson, who had back surgery in October, was making his season debut. PHOTO: AP

Carl Crawford hit his first career grand slam and New York's Alex Rodriguez had his 23-game hitting streak ended in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' 6-4 victory over the Yankees on Tuesday.

The loss was the Yankees' fifth straight and dropped them into last place in the American League East Division.

A night after hitting his 13th and 14th homers to tie the major league record for home runs in April, Rodriguez went 0-for-3 with a walk. Rodriguez hit safely in 18 consecutive games to start the season and 23 straight dating to last September.

Wang Chien-ming (王建民) allowed four runs and nine hits in six-and-one-third innings after being activated from the disabled list earlier on Tuesday. He left with two runners on in the seventh. Luis Vizcaino intentionally walked Rocco Baldelli to load the bases. One out later, Crawford capped a 4-for-4 night with the home run that erased a 3-2 deficit and gave Tampa Bay a two-game sweep.

Blue Jays 10, Red Sox 3

At Boston, Vernon Wells went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBIs and Roy Halladay struck out 10 in eight innings for Toronto, which took advantage of four Boston errors.

Wells, who hit his fourth homer in the first inning, matched career highs for hits and runs. It was the 12th four-hit game of his career and the third time he has scored four runs.

Angels 9, Tigers 8, 10 innings

At Anaheim, California, Detroit closer Todd Jones' throwing error led to the winning run for Los Angeles, which blew a seven-run lead and still came away with the victory.

Athletics 4, Orioles 2

At Baltimore, Dallas Braden allowed three hits over six innings to win his major league debut and give Oakland a two-game sweep.

Braden (1-0) gave up one run, struck out six and walked one -- his first batter. The left-hander permitted only one runner past second base.

Indians 5, Twins 3

At Minneapolis, Minnesota's Johan Santana lost his second straight home start and Cleveland's Fausto Carmona got a long-awaited win.

White Sox 9, Royals 7

At Kansas City, Missouri, Chicago's Boone Logan (1-0) got his first major league victory after Kansas City's Joakim Soria allowed two ninth-inning runs on a throwing error.

Paul Maholm allowed three singles in his first career complete game and Pittsburgh avoided its longest home losing streak to start a season in 109 years, beating Houston 3-0 in the National League on Tuesday.

The Pirates, playing only their fifth home game, got their best-pitched game this season from Maholm (1-2), who hadn't won since Sept. 15. Jason Bay had two run-scoring hits.

The left-handed Maholm faced only 29 batters, walking one. Craig Biggio, who had two of Houston's three hits, was thrown out trying to steal second in the fourth. He also was retired on a double-play grounder after hitting a line-drive single to left field on Maholm's first pitch of the game.

The Pirates haven't lost their first five home games since 1898, the 12th season of their existence.

Woody Williams (0-3) gave up nine hits over seven innings.

Giants 5, Dodgers 3

At Los Angeles, Matt Morris took a three-hitter into the eighth inning and light-hitting Dave Roberts homered for San Francisco over Los Angeles in its sixth straight victory.

Bengie Molina had three hits and Randy Winn drove in two runs for the Giants, who snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Dodgers -- the fourth-longest skid for either team in the history of the series and longest since 1953, when the Giants beat their rivals 10 straight times.

Barry Bonds, who had homered in five of his previous seven games to give him 740, went hitless in two at-bats and walked twice against Derek Lowe (2-3). Bonds, 15 homers behind career leader Henry Aaron, was lifted for a pinch runner in the seventh.

Morris (3-0) gave up six hits and three runs in seven-and-one-third innings. Armando Benitez worked the ninth for his fifth save.

Braves 11, Marlins 6

At Miami, four Atlanta relievers combined to pitch six shutout innings, and the Braves scored all of their runs with two outs.

Peter Moylan (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings for his first major league win. Bob Wickman finished with a one-hit ninth and has yet to allow a run in nine-and-two-thirds innings.

Phillies 6, Nationals 3

At Philadelphia, Wes Helms drove in the go-ahead run with a single in a three-run eighth inning to lead Philadelphia to its fourth straight win.

Mets 2, Rockies 1, 12 innings

At New York, pinch-hitter Damion Easley hit a tying homer for New York with two outs in the 10th inning and Endy Chavez drove in the winning run with a bunt single in the 12th. Slumping Colorado rookie Troy Tulowitzki broke up a scoreless game with a two-out RBI triple in the 10th off Billy Wagner.

Brewers 4, Cubs 1

At Chicago, Prince Fielder homered for the second straight game for Milwaukee and Chicago dropped to 3-9 at Wrigley Field.

Reds 10, Cardinals 3

At St. Louis, Ken Griffey Jr. moved past Reggie Jackson into sole possession of 10th place on the career home run list, and Alex Gonzalez tied career highs with two homers and five RBIs in Cincinnati's victory over St. Louis.

Padres 10, Diamondbacks 5

David Wells of San Diego beat Arizona's Randy Johnson at Phoenix in the oldest matchup of left-handers in major league history.
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