Nomar Garciaparra hit three doubles and a triple, then put down his first sacrifice bunt since 1997 to set up Manny Ramirez's winning single in the 14th inning as the Boston Red Sox beat the Houston Astros 3-2 for a three-game sweep.
"He did it himself," Red Sox manager Grady Little said.
Manny Ramirez followed with the run-scoring single that gave the Red Sox a three-game sweep over Houston and former manager Jimy Williams.
PHOTO: AFP
"All we needed was one run and the [third baseman] was back," Garciaparra said. "We just needed to move the guy up and then we'd have two shots. I figured I would lay one down, and it was a good try to even get the base hit."
Garciaparra's four extra base hits were a career high and his triple, which center fielder Richard Hidalgo lost in the sun, was his major league-leading 12th. Everything didn't go the shortstop's way, though -- he flied out with the bases loaded in the 11th inning.
Todd Walker started the 14th with a single off Nathan Bland (1-2). He advanced on Garciaparra's sacrifice off Pete Munro. Ramirez, who grounded out in the 11th with the bases full, followed with his hit to right-center.
With the hit, Ramirez improved to 5-for-5 with two homers against Munro.
"We just took a shot, righty against righty, and Manny won the battle," said Williams, who managed the Red Sox from 1997 until being fired in 2001. "They pitched very, very well for one thing. How many runs did we score? They pitched and played good defense."
Yankees 5, Cardinals 2
In New York, Mike Mussina pitched eight sharp innings and Robin Ventura hit a two-run double that sent the New York Yankees over St. Louis for a three-game sweep in their first meeting since the 1964 World Series. Albert Pujols homered for the Cardinals.
Mussina (9-4) retired his final 13 batters and allowed four hits, winning his second start in a row after losing four consecutive decisions. He walked one and struck out five, giving him 99 this season and passing Clemens for the American League lead.
Dodgers 4, Indians 3
In Cleveland, Hideo Nomo pitched two-hit ball for seven innings and Shawn Green drove in three runs as Los Angeles beat Cleveland.
A bizarre baserunning sequence by the Indians in the eighth helped the Dodgers complete a 6-0 interleague trip in which they gave up just 11 runs. Cleveland lost its fourth in a row.
Nomo (7-6) allowed one run, struck out eight and walked one. He won for the first time in four outings since May 24.
With one run already in and one out in the eighth, the Indians loaded the bases. Milton Bradley then hit a sharp grounder off second baseman Jolbert Cabrera's glove that scored another run, but Matt Lawton was trapped rounding third base. While Lawton was in the rundown, Crisp advanced all the way to third and Bradley alertly went to second. But right before Lawton was tagged, Crisp suddenly retreated all the way back to second and he was tagged out, too.
Eric Gagne pitched the ninth for his 26th save and 34th straight dating to last season.
Blue Jays 5, Cubs 4
In Toronto, rookie Reed Johnson led off the bottom of the first and 10th innings with home runs, lifting Toronto over the Chicago Cubs.
Johnson, playing in place of the injured Shannon Stewart, homered off Mark Guthrie (0-3). He went 2-for-3 with three RBIs for the Blue Jays, who took two of three from the Cubs. Johnson added a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
Aquilino Lopez (1-1) pitched 2 2-3 scoreless innings for the win.
Troy O'Leary hit a grand slam in the sixth to put the Cubs up 4-2.
Orioles 5, Brewers 4
In Baltimore, Rodrigo Lopez returned from the disabled list to earn his first victory of the season, and Tony Batista and Deivi Cruz homered as Baltimore beat Milwaukee.
Pitching for the first time since May 1, Lopez (1-3) allowed two earned runs and six hits over 6 2-3 innings. He struck out two and walked none.
Geoff Jenkins drove in two runs and Brooks Kieschnick homered for the Brewers, who dropped two of three to the Orioles in the first meeting between the teams since 1997. Batista and Cruz hit two-run homers off Ben Sheets (6-6) in the fourth inning.
Rockies 5, Tigers 4
In Detroit, Mark Sweeney's three-run double capped a five-run fifth inning and Colorado beat Detroit to win their first road series of the season.
The Rockies took two of three in Detroit for their first series win away from Coors Field since August 12-14 against the Florida Marlins. The Tigers have still not won a set at home this season and have lost nine of their last 10 overall.
Jason Jennings (6-5) won his third straight start, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks in six innings.
Gary Knotts (2-5) gave up five runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 2-3 innings. He is 0-2 in his last four starts.
Padres 1, White Sox 0
In Chicago, Oliver Perez pitched 6 2-3 scoreless innings and Rod Beck closed for his first save since 2001 as San Diego defeated the Chicago White Sox.
Perez (2-3), making his first appearance since being promoted back to the majors, allowed five hits in his longest outing of the season. He struck out six and walked two.
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