CPBLTorrential rain in southern Taiwan caused the contest between the Macoto Cobras and the La New Bears to be postponed in a very wet week for the Chinese Professional Baseball League, with the only game on Saturday being the Brother Elephants' 14-5 blowout win over the Sinon Bulls at Sinjhuang.
Chen "Golden Warrior" Chih-yuan's solo homer off Bulls starter Alfredo Gonzalez ignited a three-run sixth that broke a 3-1 game wide open as the Elephants piled on 11 of their 15 runs for the game during the last four innings.
After the Bulls drew first blood in the bottom of the opening frame on cleanup man Chang "Prince of the Forest" Tai-shan's two-out single to give his team a quick 1-0 lead, the Elephants responded in the top of the fourth when rookie designated hitter Chen Guan-ren got a hold of an offering from Gonzalez and drove it over the right-field wall for a two-run homer in what ended up being a three-run fourth inning.
Held scoreless for six innings after the one-run first, the Bulls finally strung together four singles and a walk on top of an Elephants error to score four runs in the eighth.
But it was too little too late for the defending champs as they trailed the Elephants 9-5.
Three different Elephants hitters had three-hit games, led by Chen Guan-ren's 3-for-5 night with four RBIs.
The rookie out of the Taipei Physical Education College was a single short of batting for the cycle, with his fourth homer of the season, a stand-up double and a triple to rack up nine total bases for the night.
His also added to his team-best batting average to .364, good enough for third in the league.
American righty Joey Dawley picked up his fourth win of the year with seven strong innings of one-run ball on five hits and five strikeouts.
Taking the loss was veteran Gonzalez of the Dominican Republic, who missed a chance to become the CPBL's first eight-win man by allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 5-1/3 innings of work to lose a game for the first time in over a month. He is now 7-4 with an ERA of 2.69.
American League
Tadahito Iguchi singled home Pablo Ozuna in the 11th inning on Saturday and the Chicago White Sox rallied for two runs against closer Bob Wickman in a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
After Chicago's Mark Buehrle and Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia locked up in a pitchers' duel, the Indians took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th when Victor Martinez hit his second homer of the game.
In came Wickman (1-1), who was 8-for-8 in save chances this season and had the longest current streak in the majors with 24 straight saves dating to last season.
A.J. Pierzynski singled leading off the bottom half, moved up on Scott Podsednik's sacrifice and scored on Rob Mackowiak's tying RBI single.
Mackowiak went to second on the throw and then tried to score on Ozuna's single. But right fielder Casey Blake made a strong throw as Martinez blocked the plate with his left leg and Mackowiak was out.
Iguchi delivered a single past diving first baseman Ben Broussard and Ozuna, who had moved to second on the play at the plate, scored easily as the White Sox raced from the dugout to celebrate.
Athletics 5, Yankees 2
At New York, Frank Thomas hit a two-run homer, Kirk Saarloos combined with three relievers on a six-hitter and surging Oakland beat New York.
Thomas hit his 16th homer with two outs in the first after Mark Kotsay opened the inning with double off Mike Mussina (8-2). The Athletics added two more in the fifth on a two-run single by rookie Mike Rouse and went on to their eighth victory in 10 games.
Saarloos (3-4) allowed solo homers by Jason Giambi, his 18th, and rookie Kevin Thompson, his first in the majors.
Tigers 5, Blue Jays 3
At Toronto, Brandon Inge and Marcus Thames homered to help Zach Miner earn his first major league win, and Detroit defeated Toronto despite managing only three hits.
Blue Jays starter Ted Lilly (5-7) had a season-high 12 strikeouts in 8 2-3 innings, but lost his third straight start. He is 1-5 in his last six outings. Lyle Overbay and Troy Glaus homered for Toronto.
Inge hit a three-run homer in the second, and Thames added a two-run shot in the fourth.
Miner (1-1) yielded two runs and four hits in six innings. Todd Jones earned his 17th save, retiring Alex Rios with two on to end it.
Mariners 12, Angels 6
At Anaheim, California, Richie Sexson hit his 12th career grand slam and Ichiro Suzuki added a three-run homer to lift Seattle over Los Angeles.
Adrian Beltre also homered and Jose Lopez had a two-run double, helping the Mariners win for the eighth time in 10 games.
Gil Meche (6-4) won his fourth consecutive start at Angel Stadium, allowing two runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out three. The right-hander has a 12-3 record and 3.21 ERA in June throughout his career.
John Lackey (4-4) allowed eight runs and nine hits in 4 2-3 innings. Sexson's grand slam was the first given up by the right-hander in his previous 803 1-3 career innings during the regular season, and 38 2-3 more in the postseason.
In other AL games it was: Rangers 7, Red Sox 4; Tigers 5, Blue Jays 3; Devil Rays 9, Royals 5; Orioles 9, Twins 7.
National League
Alay Soler threw a two-hitter in his fourth major league start and the New York Mets beat Brandon Webb 5-0, sending Arizona to its sixth consecutive loss.
Soler (2-1) gave up a double to Orlando Hudson in the third inning and a double to pinch-hitter Jeff DaVanon in the eighth. The right-hander dominated a team that touched him for seven runs in five innings May 30 at Shea Stadium.
Coming off seven innings of one-run ball Monday at Dodger Stadium, Soler outpitched Arizona's ace in this one. Webb (8-1) gave up four runs, one earned, in eight innings, striking out a season-high nine.
The Mets won their ninth straight game at Chase Field, and Soler threw New York's first complete-game shutout of the season.
Cubs 4, Reds 2
At Cincinnati, Michael Barrett's grand slam in the seventh inning sent Carlos Zambrano and Chicago to a victory over Cincinnati.
Barrett's two-out homer off reliever Esteban Yan broke open a scoreless game and powered the Cubs to their second consecutive victory over Cincinnati, which had won eight straight with a high-powered offense.
Zambrano (5-3) shut it down by allowing only four hits, including Ken Griffey Jr.'s solo homer, in 7 2-3 innings, his second straight overpowering performance. The right-hander outpitched Brandon Claussen (3-7), who left a scoreless game with the bases loaded in the seventh.
Griffey led off the eighth with his 547th homer, leaving him one behind Mike Schmidt for 11th on the career list.
Ryan Dempster got three outs for his 11th save. He gave up an RBI single to Brandon Phillips before retiring Griffey and Rich Aurilia to end it.
Brewers 4, Cardinals 3
At Milwaukee, pinch-hitter Corey Hart's RBI single in the eighth inning lifted Milwaukee over St. Louis.
Corey Koskie walked to lead off the eighth and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gabe Gross. The Cardinals pulled reliever Randy Flores (0-1) for Braden Looper.
Hart, who was pinch-hitting for reliever Matt Wise (4-3), singled up the middle to give Milwaukee its first lead of the game. Derrick Turnbow pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.
In other NL games it was: Braves 4, Astros 2; Phillies 6, Nationals 2; Pirates 2, Giants 0; Rockies 12, Dodgers 9; Marlins 2, Padres 1.
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