American League
Kevin Brown gave the Yankees a big boost by pitching into the seventh inning in his first start in more than seven weeks, and Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in two runs in New York's 2-1 victory Friday night over Baltimore.
PHOTO: REUTERS
On the night before baseball's trade deadline -- with speculation swirling about whether the Yankees will be able to strike a deal with Arizona for Randy Johnson -- Brown was impressive. Brown (8-1), activated from the disabled list before the game after being sidelined since June 10 with a lower back spasm and an intestinal parasite, allowed one run and four hits in 6 1-3 innings. He struck out five and walked two, throwing 88 pitches.
PHOTO: AP
"It was great to be back on the mound," said Brown. "When you go out there, you realize how much you miss it."
Tom Gordon struck out the side in the eighth, and Mariano Rivera got three outs for his major league-leading 36th save. Daniel Cabrera (8-5) took the loss for the Orioles, who scored on a homer by B.J. Surhoff in the third.
"It was a well-played game all around," said Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli, who fell to 2-9 against the team he used to coach for.
Red Sox 8, Twins 2 In Minneapolis, Bronson Arroyo pitched seven-plus sharp innings, Gabe Kapler drove in three runs as Boston ended Minnesota's four-game winning streak. Arroyo (4-7) frustrated the Twins, allowing two runs off eight hits and striking out eight in his first start since last week's bench-clearing brawl at Fenway Park with the Yankees. The fight started after Arroyo hit Alex Rodriguez with a pitch and led to six players being suspended and/or fined. Boston got 11 hits off starter Kyle Lohse (4-8), who also walked four batters. Tigers 5, White Sox 4 In Detroit, Bobby Higginson drew a tiebreaking walk with two out in the eighth inning to help Detroit hand Chicago its sixth straight loss. Damaso Marte (4-4) loaded the bases in the eighth. Alex Sanchez led off with an infield single, Carlos Guillen singled with one out and Rondell White walked with two out to load the bases. Marte then walked Higginson on a 3-2 pitch. Esteban Yan (1-2) got two outs for the win and Ugueth Urbina pitched a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 19 opportunities. Dmitri had a two-run homer for the Tigers. Carlos Lee drove in two runs for the White Sox. Rangers 7, Athletics 5 In Arlington, Texas, Laynce Nix and Michael Young hit consecutive two-run singles with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning as Texas rallied from an early four-run deficit to beat Oakland reclaim first place in the American League West. Oakland starter Rich Harden held the Rangers hitless until the fourth, and he left after six with a 4-2 lead. But the bullpen failed, and Chad Bradford (5-5) took the loss. Frankie Francisco (2-1) pitched a hitless eighth for the victory, ending a six-game winning streak for the A's. Texas had lost three straight and five of six. Francisco Cordero allowed Damian Miller's RBI double in the ninth but stranded him at second for his 31st save in 33 chances. Angels 6, Mariners 5 In Anaheim, California, Bengie Molina hit a two-run, go-ahead single with two outs in the eighth inning as Anaheim got homers from Robb Quinlan and Jose Guillen to beat Seattle. Molina, whose two-run shot in the ninth tied Thursday night's game before the Mariners won it in the 13th, lined an 0-1 pitch to left-center against J.J. Putz (0-3) to score Garret Anderson and Darin Erstad. Seattle rookie Bucky Jacobsen gave the Mariners a 5-4 lead in the top of the inning with a two-run single off All-Star Francisco Rodruguez after an RBI single by Randy Winn. National League AP, Chicago Aramis Ramirez hit three home runs and the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat Philadelphia 10-7 Friday, sending the slumping Phillies to their fifth straight loss. Ramirez hit solo homers off Eric Milton in the second and sixth innings and another bases-empty shot off Roberto Hernandez in the seventh. It was the second three-homer game of Ramirez's career. While with the Pirates, he did it against Houston on April 8, 2001. "Sometimes you don't have to run to play the game," Ramirez said. "I'm not 100 percent, but I can play and I proved today I can. It's a good feeling." The Phillies took a 6-3 lead as Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell hit two homers off Mark Prior, but the Cubs put together seven hits in a five-run sixth inning. "A couple of hits here or there and the next thing you know it's a tie game and then things just kind of unfolded," Burrell said. "What else can you do but get ready and come back tomorrow? Guys are frustrated." Jon Leicester (3-0) worked 1 2-3 innings of scoreless relief and beat Rheal Cormier (4-5). LaTroy Hawkins got his 15th save. Braves 3, Mets 1 In Atlanta, Marcus Giles had three hits and drove in the go-ahead run, and Atlanta handed New York its 12th loss in 17 games. Before the game, the Mets acquired pitchers Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano and a minor league infielder in separate trades, and unloaded infielder Ty Wigginton, highly touted minor league pitcher Matt Peterson and infielder Jose Bautista. He was acquired earlier in the day. Mike Hampton (7-8) pitched four-hit ball over seven innings, and John Smoltz got his 24th save. Andruw Jones had two hits and an RBI for Atlanta, which beat Steve Trachsel (9-8). Expos 9, Marlins 0 In Miami, Livan Hernandez pitched a three-hitter and Brad Wilkerson and Nick Johnson homered to help Montreal spoil Josh Beckett's third return from the disabled list for Florida. Beckett (4-6), who had been out since July 6 because of torn skin on his right middle finger, lasted only three-plus innings, allowing four runs on six hits, including Wilkerson's two-run shot in the second inning. Last season's World Series MVP was making his third start since May 30. He's been on the DL twice because of his finger problems and once because of a strained back muscle. Hernandez (8-10) went 3-for-4 at the plate with a two-run double in the eighth. Brewers 5, Pirates 0 In Milwaukee, Doug Davis allowed four hits in seven innings, and Brady Clark hit a two-run double to lead Milwaukee over Pittsburgh, which before the game dealt pitcher Kris Benson to the New York Mets for infielder Ty Wiggington and two minor leaguers. Davis (10-9) snapped a personal three-game losing streak with the help of two double plays. The Brewers chased Sean Burnett (5-3) in the third with five runs on three hits, a hit batter and a throwing error by the rookie. Rockies 4, Diamondbacks 1 In Denver, Randy Johnson allowed four runs and struck out six in what might have been his last start for Arizona, but Colorado beat the "Big Unit." Jason Jennings (10-8) allowed one run in seven innings and Matt Holliday hit a two-run triple in the Rockies' four-run seventh inning off Johnson (10-9). He might be headed to Anaheim, the New York Yankees or the Los Angeles Dodgers before Saturday's non-waiver trade deadline. Johnson was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the eighth after allowing six hits and no walks in his second straight frustrating start against Jennings and the Rockies. Colorado beat Arizona 3-2 Sunday after the Diamondbacks' bullpen blew a dominating performance by Johnson 14 -- strikeouts in eight scoreless innings -- in the ninth. Dodgers 12, Padres 3 In San Diego, Milton Bradley homered twice and Jeff Weaver pitched eight innings of four-hit ball, and Los Angeles took a 3 1/2-game lead over San Diego in the NL West . Bradley also robbed Phil Nevin of a two-run homer in the third, when he made a backhanded grab over the fence for the final out. Weaver (8-10) allowed only two hits after the third inning and the Dodgers staked him to a 7-1 lead in a fourth inning highlighted by Bradley's two-run drive. Adam Eaton (6-9) allowed seven runs on nine hits over 3 2-3 innings. Cardinals 7, Giants 4 In San Francisco, Barry Bonds hit his 685th homer, but Jim Edmonds had a two-run triple during the St. Louis' six-run sixth inning against San Francisco. Tony Womack tripled to start the Cardinals' decisive rally, and Mike Matheny added a two-run double as St. Louis rallied from an early three-run deficit for its fifth straight win. Bond and Michael Tucker homered in the first, but the Giants' bullpen failed after starter Jerome Williams left midway through the fourth with an undisclosed injury. Jim Brower (6-6) took the loss (6-6). Chris Carpenter (11-4) pitched 6 2-3 innings and won despite allowing three homers. Jason Isringhausen got his 27th save. Notebook AP, New York New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi has been diagnosed with a benign tumor, but is expected to return to the team later this season after undergoing treatment. The Yankees announced Friday night that Giambi was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will be treated immediately. The team, citing privacy issues, declined to divulge where the tumor is or what type of treatment Giambi will undergo. Yankees manager Joe Torre said he didn't believe surgery would be necessary for Giambi. General manager Brian Cashman said: "I think the next few days, he'll be treated and we'll see how he's feeling. He has to get his strength back and then we'll take it from there." Giambi, a former AL MVP, is batting only .221 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs. He's been feeling fatigued virtually all season, and was diagnosed with a parasite on June 29. He tried to play through it, but began to feel increasingly weaker. Giambi underwent a battery of tests earlier this week. "The testing has not revealed the presence of any infectious disease," team physician Dr. Stuart Hershon said in a statement. "The Yankees expect that, with appropriate treatment, he will rejoin the team as soon as possible." Cashman said he spoke to Giambi on Friday, and said the slugger is in good spirits. "He's obviously happy that he knows what's going on now," Cashman said. Cashman didn't have an immediate timetable for Giambi to return to the team.
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