Wang hit hard as Rangers cruise

New York Yankees starter Wang Chien-ming delivers a pitch against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of their game at Yankee Stadium in New York on Thursday. The Rangers won 14-2. PHOTO: AP

Mark Teixeira had four hits and drove in three runs to help the Texas Rangers crush the New York Yankees and Wang Chien-ming (王建民) 14-2 in the final game of their series on Thursday.

Pinch Victor Diaz struck his first career grand slam home run as the Rangers battered Wang and three relievers for 16 hits.

The Rangers set a season high in both runs and hits to win for the first time in six games against the Yankees this season. It was only their third win in 21 meetings between the teams.

Teixeira scored three runs as Texas plated seven in the eighth inning to turn the game into a rout and drop the Yankees (16-17) back under the .500 mark.

"We scored a lot of runs today and we got guys in with big hits," Teixeira said after the Rangers improved to 14-20, last in the AL West.

"A game like this doesn't hurt, but consistency is the big thing. Scoring 14 runs is great, but if you get shut out the next two nights, you forget all about the 14 runs," he said.

The Rangers scored three runs off Wang in the fifth to take the lead and another three in the seventh gave them a 7-2 edge after seven innings before the big eighth inning completed the scoring.

Yankee Joe Torre told reporters he was pleased with his team's recent play after New York completed a 4-3 home stand.

"I'm comfortable with the way we're playing," Torre said. "We can't worry about them as much as we have to continue to win eight out of 10 or 12 and continue to do those things."

"We have to pay attention to our record and deal with the other stuff at the time you need to deal with it," he said.

Brandon McCarthy (3-4) allowed just one run on five hits over five-and-a-third innings, striking out three and walking two, with three relievers combining to complete the seven-hitter.

Sammy Sosa had three hits and drove in two runs to help the Rangers' 16-hit effort. Gerald Laird had three hits and scored twice and Brad Wilkerson drove in three runs and scored twice.

Wang was tagged for seven runs on 11 hits in six innings, striking out two and walking one.

Melky Cabrera had two hits for the Yankees.

Athletics 17, Royals 3

Dan Johnson and Jack Cust each homered twice and the Oakland Athletics routed the Kansas City Royals 17-3 Thursday.

Danny Putnam hit his first home run in Major League Baseball and Eric Chavez also connected for Oakland. The A's set season highs for homers, runs and hits (18).

Johnson 4-for-4 with two walks, driving in four runs and scoring four. Chavez had four RBIs and Shannon Stewart had four hits.

White Sox 3, Twins 0

In Minneapolis, Jose Contreras pitched a five-hitter for his second career shutout and Chicago won for the fourth time in five games.

A.J. Pierzynski, Ryan Sweeney and Pablo Ozuna hit RBI singles for the White Sox.

Contreras struck out four and walked one. His other shutout was a three-hitter against Detroit on Aug. 11, 2006.

Angels 8, Indians 0

In Anaheim, California, Kelvim Escobar pitched a seven-hitter and Gary Matthews Jr. hit a three-run homer in the third inning for Los Angeles.

Escobar struck out nine and walked none to win his third straight start. It was his fourth career shutout and first since he did it for the Toronto Blue Jays on June 8, 2003, at Cincinnati.

Jose Molina stole home in the fourth to make it 6-0, part of a delayed double steal. Reggie Willits took second and Molina came home in a close play at the plate.

Tigers 7, Mariners 3

In Detroit, Magglio Ordonez and Brandon Inge homered against Seattle starter Jeff Weaver and Detroit won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Weaver a former Tiger, gave up six runs in five innings and has lost each of his six starts this season. It's the longest losing streak of his career. He left the game with a 14.32 ERA.

Red Sox 8, Blue Jays 0

In Toronto, Tim Wakefield pitched seven sharp innings and Boston roughed up Roy Halladay to send the Jays to their ninth straight loss.

Mike Lowell homered for the third consecutive game for Boston, which has won seven of eight.

Halladay gave up eight runs -- seven earned -- and 11 hits in five innings on the same day Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, ending his season.

Orioles 11, Devil Rays 6

In Baltimore, Kevin Millar homered and drove in four runs and Corey Patterson had three hits and three RBIs for the Orioles.

Millar have had six RBIs if not for an outstanding catch by Tampa Bay center fielder Rocco Baldelli. Still, Baltimore set a season high for runs and moved into second place in the AL East with its fifth win in seven games.

Daniel Cabrera (3-3) allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings but improved to 4-0 against Tampa Bay in eight career starts.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 569th career homer Thursday, a two-run shot that tied him for ninth most in Major League Baseball history and helped the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-5 victory over the Houston Astros.

Houston the first three games of the series, improving to 5-0 at Great American Ball Park this season.

Griffey a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer that left him tied with Rafael Palmeiro for ninth most career homers in MLB. Harmon Killebrew is eighth at 573.

Marlins 3, Dodgers 0

In Miami, Josh Willingham hit a three-run homer off Derek Lowe with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give Florida the win.

Lowe took a four-hitter into the ninth, but Hanley Ramirez walked to lead off and third baseman Wilson Betemit was charged with an error when he failed to come up with a grounder.

Miguel Cabrera advanced the runners by tapping out to Lowe. Willingham then hit the first pitch for his sixth home run.

Braves 5, Padres 3

In Atlanta, Kelly Johnson came through with a two-out, bases-loaded double in the sixth inning for Atlanta.

Tim Hudson (4-1) yielded two runs and nine hits in six innings for the first-place Braves, who went 7-3 during an 11-day stay at home.

Pirates 6, Cubs 4

In Chicago, Jason Bay homered and drove in three runs against Carlos Zambrano to lead Pittsburgh.

Bay a two-run double in the first and led off the fifth inning with his fifth homer to help the Pirates (15-18) win their first series since they swept the Houston Astros from April 18 to April 20.

Zambrano gave up four earned runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Rockies 5, Giants 3

In Denver, Aaron Cook neutralized Barry Bonds and knocked in a run with a sacrifice bunt in Colorado's win over the Giants.

Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-run double off Noah Lowry (4-3) in the third and scored from second base when shortstop Omar Vizquel threw wildly past third base after fielding Matt Holliday's bouncer.

The Rockies made it 4-0 in the fourth when Cook sacrificed a runner home with a bunt. First baseman Ryan Klesko fielded it and threw to first for the second out of the inning instead of home for a play at the plate.