Print

Mail

wiki links

Ichiro equals record as Mariners demolish Yankees

The Chicago Cubs' Ronny Cedeno, right, slides safely into second base with a steal as Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Hu Chin-lung of Taiwan applies a late tag during the eighth inning of their game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Monday. The Dodgers won 11-3 to stay four games off the lead in the NL West. PHOTO: AP

Ichiro Suzuki had three hits to equal another Major League Baseball record and Felix Hernandez outpitched a gimpy Roger Clemens as the Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 7-1 on Monday in the opener of a crucial series.

Seattle trimmed New York's wild-card lead to one game, ending a nine-game losing streak and winning for the first time since the Mariners beat Texas on Aug. 24. The Yankees have lost three of their last four.

Suzuki homered in the third inning to reach 200 hits for the seventh consecutive season, tying the American League mark. He also singled twice against Clemens (6-6).

Red Sox 13, Blue Jays 10

At Boston, Daisuke Matsuzaka nearly gave away a 10-1 lead, allowing seven runs -- matching his major league high -- and 10 hits in five-and-a-third innings as Boston edged Toronto.

Mike Lowell hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs for the Red Sox, who opened a seven-game lead over the second-place Yankees. Lowell is 10-for-16 with eight RBIs in his last four games.

After the Blue Jays scored eight times in the sixth, Boston bounced back with three runs in the bottom half on Jason Varitek's RBI single, Coco Crisp's run-scoring sacrifice bunt and Jason Frasor's balk.

Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 32nd save.

Angels 9, Athletics 5

At Anaheim, California, Ervin Santana (6-2) pitched two-hit ball over six scoreless innings for his first win since June 9 as Los Angeles downed Oakland.

Santana had been 0-6 with an 8.28 ERA in his prior nine starts

Gary Matthews Jr, Jeff Mathis and Garret Anderson homered for the Angels, who maintained a 6.5-game lead over second-place Seattle in the AL West.

Chad Gaudin (10-10) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- and eight hits in five innings.

The A's are 14 games out of first, matching their largest deficit this season.

Indians 5, Twins 0

In Minneapolis, C.C. Sabathia threw eight shutout innings to lead Cleveland past Minnesota and extend its lead over the defending division champs to 10.5 games.

Ryan Garko homered and each of the three batters walked by Santana scored. The left-hander gave up six hits and four runs in six innings and struck out three.

Devil Rays 9, Orioles 7

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Carlos Pena hit his team-record 35th homer, a tiebreaking two-run drive in a three-run seventh that helped Tampa Bay overcome a 4-0 deficit to beat Baltimore.

Pena's drive off Jim Hoey (1-4) struck an overhanging catwalk and gave Tampa Bay a 6-4 lead. Pena's home-run total is one more than Jose Canseco (1999) and current Orioles designated hitter Aubrey Huff (2003) hit while playing for the Devil Rays.

Royals 8, Rangers 1

At Arlington, Texas, Zack Greinke (6-5) allowed five hits in five shutout innings for his first win as a starter since April 10 as Kansas City trounced Texas.

Ross Gload homered and Alex Gordon had three hits and four RBIs for the Royals, who matched a season high with 16 hits. With one more win, the Royals would avoid their fourth straight 100-loss season.

Kameron Loe (6-11) left after three innings due to a sore right elbow. He allowed two runs, five hits and four walks.

Pedro Martinez earned his 3,000th strikeout in Major League Baseball on Monday in his first game in nearly a year as he led the resurgent New York Mets to a 10-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

The National League's East Division leaders increased their lead to five games over the Phillies.

Martinez (1-0), who had major shoulder surgery last October, returned after just four rehabilitation appearances in the minors.

He threw 76 pitches in five innings and allowed three runs -- one of them the result of center fielder Carlos Beltran's error -- and five hits, striking out four.

The three-time Cy Young winner fanned Aaron Harang in the second inning to become the 15th pitcher with 3,000 career strikeouts.

Padres 10, Diamondbacks 2

In Phoenix, Greg Maddux won for the first time in Phoenix and San Diego took a one-game lead in the West Division.

Maddux extended his streak without a walk to 49 innings over seven starts and improved to 2-10 lifetime against the Diamondbacks.

Dodgers 11, Cubs 3

In Chicago, Esteban Loaiza outpitched Carlos Zambrano in his Dodgers' debut, helping Los Angeles stay within four games of the West Division lead.

Loaiza allowed three runs in seven innings and James Loney backed him with three RBIs.

Central Division-leading Chicago maintained a 1.5-game lead over Milwaukee and a two-game margin over St. Louis.

Braves 5, Phillies 1

In Atlanta, Lance Cormier did not give up a home run for the first time in seven starts and Brian McCann hit a two-run double in a three-run fourth inning that lifted Atlanta to a win over Philadelphia.

The Phillies are 1-3 since sweeping a four-game series from the New York Mets last week and fell five games back in the East.

Rockies 7, Giants 4

In Denver, Chris Iannetta's two-run triple highlighted a seven-run third inning as Colorado opened a six-game homestand that will be crucial for their playoff hopes with a win over San Francisco.

The Rockies moved within four games of Arizona in the NL West wild-card race. They are five games above .500 for the first time since Aug. 15.

Astros 9, Brewers 7

In Milwaukee, the Brewers' bullpen failed to protect a three-run lead during the eighth inning as Astros rookie Hunter Pence hit a key two-run triple. The loss put and end to the Brewers' three-game winning streak.

Nationals 6, Marlins 3

In Washington, Jason Bergmann struck out nine and Wily Mo Pena homered to lead Washington over Florida.

Austin Kearns went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Nationals, who moved one game ahead of Florida at the bottom of the East Division.

Washington won for the third straight time since losing seven in a row.

Pirates 11, Cardinals 0

In St. Louis, Ian Snell threw seven scoreless innings to win for only the second time in 11 starts as Pittsburgh ended a five-game losing streak by routing Kip Wells and St. Louis.

Jack Wilson matched a career high with four hits, including a two-run home run, and had three RBIs as the Pirates emerged from a skid in which they were outscored 35-13.

Ronny Paulino and Freddy Sanchez both went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
This story has been viewed 1579 times.