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INTERLEAGUE PLAY: Ramirez powers Cubs past White Sox

Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce calls himself safe after sliding into second base before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the St Louis Cardinals at Fenway Park in Boston on Friday. PHOTO: AP

Aramis Ramirez led off the bottom of the ninth with his second homer of the game to send the Chicago Cubs past the Chicago White Sox 4-3 in a clash of division leaders at raucous Wrigley Field on Friday.

Ramirez lined a 1-0 pitch from Scott Linebrink (2-2) over the fence in center and the majority of the 41,106 fans — most of them obviously pulling for the Cubs — went into a frenzy.

A.J. Pierzynski and Jermaine Dye homered for the White Sox to lead 3-1 into the seventh before Derrek Lee and Ramirez hit consecutive homers off reliever Octavio Dotel to tie the game.

It was the first time the two city rivals met as first-place teams since interleague play began in 1997.

Mariners 10, Braves 2

At Atlanta, Jose Lopez drove in four runs with three hits, including a three-run double in the eighth, and Seattle enjoyed one of its best offensive games of the year, routing the Braves in Jim Riggleman’s debut.

Reds 4, Yankees 2

At New York, Edinson Volquez pitched seven sharp innings in Cincinnati’s first game at Yankee Stadium in 32 years, and the Reds beat Mike Mussina and New York to end a five-game skid.

Angels 7, Phillies 1

At Philadelphia, Ervin Santana struck out nine in seven impressive innings, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and Los Angeles beat Philadelphia in a matchup of division leaders.

Astros 4, Rays 3

At St. Petersburg, Florida, Carlos Lee had a two-run double and Houston snapped an eight-game losing streak. Lee put the Astros ahead 2-0 with a two-out, two-run double in the first. He has 38 RBIs in his last 42 games.

Twins 7, Diamondbacks 2

At Minneapolis, Scott Baker won for the first time in more than two months, Craig Monroe homered and Minnesota beat Randy Johnson and Arizona.

Pirates 1, Blue Jays 0, 12 innings

At Pittsburgh, shortstop John McDonald misplayed Jason Michaels’ hard-hit grounder with the bases loaded and none out for a game-ending error in the 12th inning, and Pittsburgh ruined Cito Gaston’s return as Toronto’s manager.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

AP, DENVER, COLORADO

The New York Mets beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 in the National League on Friday, with Carlos Delgado hitting a two-run homer amidst a five-run second inning.

Interim manager Jerry Manuel won for the second straight game, his first consecutive wins since taking over for the fired Willie Randolph.

New York pitcher John Maine made a shaky start, conceding a two-run homer in the first inning, but blanked the Rockies after that, retiring eight straight at one point. He also had six strikeouts.



■ SCHILLING FACES KNIFE

AP, BOSTON

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling will have surgery on his ailing shoulder tomorrow, ending his season and possibly his career.

The 41-year-old will have the operation after a rehabilitation program preferred by the team failed to fix the tendon injury that sparked a spring training dispute between doctors about how to treat it.

“My season is over and there is a pretty decent chance I have thrown my last pitch forever,” Schilling said on Friday on WEEI radio in Boston.

Schilling has been out since the start of spring training. His physician, Craig Morgan, confirmed that he would perform the surgery tomorrow in Wilmington, Delaware.

“This could conceivably be a career-ending procedure,” Morgan said. “We’re doing this so that Curt Schilling will have a totally functional, pain-free shoulder for the rest of his life.”

Schilling did not return a phone call but addressed the issue on his blog, 38 pitches.com.

“Coming back from this surgery at 31 would be an enormous challenge, at 41 more so,” he wrote. “But, if that is an option at least I’ll be able to make that decision with all the cards on the table, and it will end on terms I choose. I won’t come back throwing 85 [mph, 137kph] with so-so crap. If there is not an option to come back and be good, I won’t.”