Mon, Apr 17, 2006 page18

• Cobras shut down Bears

  PRO BASEBALL While both squads managed to pound out 13 hits, the Cobras got the most out of theri effort, taking an 11-0 lead as early as the fifth inning Saturday

  • By Paul huang / CONTRIBUTING REPORTER
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  Wet weather throughout the island limited action in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League to just one game on Saturday as the Macoto Cobras blew out the La News Bears in a 12-4 win at Kaohsiung.

  The Cobras waisted no time against the home Bears in the opening inning by buzzing rookie starter Tsai Ying-fong for three quick runs before knocking him out in a five-run second en route to a commanding 8-0 lead.

  After scoreless third and fourth innings, the Bears gained three more runs in a hitless fifth when relievers Huang Jung-chung and Lin Shih-ching combined for five walks and two wild pitches to make it 11-0 for the Cobras.

  

  Cobras starter Yang Chi-jia tossed seven innings of shutout ball before being pulled with an 11-0 lead in Saturday's 12-4 blowout win over the La New Bears in Kaohsiung.

  PHOTO: HUANG CHIH-YUAN, TAIPEI TIMES

  With another run scored in the ninth to make it an even dozen, the Bears finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning on six base hits off Cobras reliever Chen Jia-hong for four harmless runs, highlighted by second baseman Shih Chih-wei's two-run single up the middle.

  In came Cobras right-hander Tsai Shih-chin, who retired the last two Bears hitters to close out the game.

  Both squads managed to pound out 13 hits, with six of the Bears 13 coming in the ninth inning..

  Cobras starter Yang Chi-jia improved to 2-0, allowing no runs on seven scattered hits, while his counterpart Tsai suffered the loss to fall to 2-2 for the season.

  American League

  Paul Konerko homered twice off A.J. Burnett to spoil the right-hander's Toronto debut, giving the Chicago White Sox a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays on Saturday.

  Konerko hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the fifth -- his second of the game, fourth of the Major League Baseball season and third in two games.

  Burnett (0-1), who signed a five-year, US$55 million contract with Toronto, gave up seven hits and four runs in six innings while walking one and striking out five.

  Indians 7, Tigers 2

  In Detroit, Fausto Carmona allowed one run in six innings in his MLB debut to lead the Indians.

  Carmona (1-0), recalled from Triple-A minor-league affiliate in Buffalo to replace C.C. Sabathia (abdominal strain), gave up five hits to help Cleveland snap a three-game losing streak. He walked two and struck out four.

  Mariners 3, Red Sox 0

  In Boston, Joel Pineiro and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout for the Mariners.

  Seattle took advantage of two passed balls by Josh Bard to score three runs in the third inning. Bard had trouble handling Tim Wakefield's knuckleball. Raul Ibanez and Richie Sexson each drove in runs.

  Athletics 5, Rangers 4

  In Oakland, California, Eric Chavez, Frank Thomas and Milton Bradley homered on three straight pitches in the sixth inning for the Athletics.

  Rich Harden (2-0) allowed four runs and three hits in seven innings to help Oakland snap a four-game losing streak. He walked five and struck out eight.

  Orioles 3, Angels 2

  In Baltimore, Erik Bedard pitched eight strong innings to earn his third win for the Orioles.

  Jeff Conine had an RBI double and Melvin Mora singled in a run for Baltimore. Ramon Hernandez had three hits.

  Bartolo Colon (0-2) gave up only one earned run in seven innings for Los Angeles, but the 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner now has gone three starts without a victory.

  Devil Rays 6, Royals 3

  In St Petersburg, Florida, Ty Wigginton drove in three runs to help Tampa Bay beat Kansas City.

  Trailing 3-2, the Devil Rays loaded the bases with no outs against Luke Hudson (0-1) in the seventh. Andrew Sisco came in to strike out Travis Lee before Jonny Gomes walked on four pitches to tie the game. After pinch-hitter Damon Hollins struck out, Wigginton lined a two-run single to center to give the Devil Rays a 5-3 lead.

  Tampa Bay added a run in the eighth on Carl Crawford's RBI double to make it 6-3.

  Shawn Camp pitched two innings for his first save.

  Kansas City took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh on Mark Grudzielanek's sacrifice fly off Seth McClung (1-2).

  Twins 6, Yankees 5

  In Minneapolis, Start calling the Minnesota Twins the comeback kids.

  Justin Morneau hit a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning off Mariano Rivera to lift the Twins over the Yankees for their fifth straight come-from-behind win.

  The Twins trailed 5-4 heading into the ninth with Rivera (0-1), one of the league's best closers for the past decade, on the hill.

  But Luis Castillo beat out an infield hit -- his fourth hit of the game -- to start the inning and advanced to third on a single by Joe Mauer, who reached second when Hideki Matsui threw to third.

  Rivera came back to strike out Rondell White and Torii Hunter, but Morneau followed with a lazy, broken-bat single to right, and Mauer raced around third to beat Gary Sheffield's throw, whipping the more than 42,000 in attendance into a frenzy.

  Juan Rincon (1-0) pitched one inning of perfect relief for the win.

  National League

  Japanese right-hander Tomo Ohka shut down New York's offense and hit a go-ahead double, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-2 victory Saturday that stopped the New York Mets' winning streak at seven.

  Pitching against a team that began the day with an National League-high .310 batting average, Ohka (1-1) allowed two runs -- one earned -- and five hits in seven innings. He had been 0-5 in seven appearances at Shea Stadium entering the game.

  Carlos Lee and Geoff Jenkins homered for Milwaukee, which began the day tied with Kansas City with a major league-low 37 runs. The Brewers had not scored five or more runs since April 8.

  Before the game, the teams honored Jackie Robinson, who was the first black to play in US Major League Baseball in the modern era on April 15, 1947. His widow, Rachel Robinson, walked to the mound for a tribute. In addition, Robinson's retired No. "42" was outlined in the infield dirt behind second base, and large painted "Jackie Robinson Day" logos were behind first and third base.

  Cardinals 9, Reds 3

  In St. Louis, Albert Pujols, Hector Luna and Scott Spiezio homered and Sidney Ponson won his home debut with the Cardinals.

  Luna tied his career high with three RBIs for the Cardinals, who are 3-2 at new Busch Stadium. They pounded Dave Williams for six runs and six hits in the first three innings after totaling three runs the previous two games.

  Nationals 2, Marlins 1

  In Miami, John Patterson allowed three hits in eight innings and matched a career high with 13 strikeouts for the Nationals.

  Royce Clayton doubled home the go-ahead run in the sixth inning for Washington, which snapped a six-game losing streak. The Nationals, who had been off to the franchise's worst start since 1970, improved to 3-9.

  Braves 2, Padres 0

  In Atlanta, John Smoltz gave Atlanta's starting staff its first win of the year with his 16th career shutout.

  Smoltz (1-1) allowed only four hits and two walks. He recorded his first shutout since June 21, 2005, a 5-0 win over Florida. He pitched his 51st complete game, his first since June 26, 2005, against Baltimore.

  Pirates 2, Cubs 1

  At Pittsburgh, Pirates starter Zach Duke bounced back from the worst start of his short major league career to limit Chicago to a run over seven innings.

  Craig Wilson, now the Pirates' everyday first baseman with Sean Casey out for up to two months with a back injury, tripled and scored both runs against Cubs starter Jerome Williams (0-1). The Pirates ended an eight-game home losing streak to Chicago that dated to April 15, 2005, and the Cubs had won 12 of 13 overall from Pittsburgh since then.

  Mike Gonzalez pitched a perfect ninth for his second save in two opportunities, giving Duke his first victory since beating Milwaukee in the Pirates' last game in 2005.

  Rockies 10, Phillies 6

  At Denver, Matt Holliday homered and drove in five runs to lift Colorado over Philadelphia.

  Holliday's bases-loaded triple broke the game open in a five-run seventh inning. He had three hits, including an RBI double in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He also hit a solo homer in the fourth.

  Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell each hit two-run homers for Philadelphia.

  Ray King (1-1) pitched a hitless inning to earn the victory.

  Astros 10, Diamondbacks 0

  At Phoenix, Adam Everett drove in three runs with a homer and a double, and Wandy Rodriguez allowed two hits through seven innings to lead Houston over Arizona for its second shutout in three games.

  Morgan Ensberg was 3-for-4 with a homer and an RBI double. Willy Taveras was 3-for-4 with a walk and scored twice, and Jason Lane homered and singled in the Astros' 15 hit attack.

  Rodriguez (2-0) struck out six and walked one. Chad Qualls and Mike Gallo completed the two-hitter,

  Ensberg and Everett had leadoff homers, in the second and third innings, respectively.

  Dodgers 3, Giants 1

  At Los Angeles, Odalis Perez pitched seven strong innings and held Barry Bonds in check, Kenny Lofton hit an RBI triple for his first hit with Los Angeles, and the Dodgers beat San Francisco.

  Perez (2-0) allowed only three hits before being lifted for a pinch hitter. Takashi Saito pitched a scoreless eighth, and Danys Baez worked the ninth for his third save in as many chances.
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