The Boston Red Sox rallied from a six-run deficit to record a 16-11 triumph over the New York Yankees on Saturday, with the home team recording a second consecutive comeback victory over their bitter rivals in as many days.
Once again, home runs played a big role in Boston’s ninth victory in a row, just as they had on Friday, when Kevin Youkilis’ walk-off homer in the 11th rubber-stamped a stirring 5-4 win for the Red Sox.
Mike Lowell supplied the power this time, with the third baseman belting a three-run homer in the seventh to put Boston 12-10 ahead before adding a three-run double in the eighth.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Six home runs were hit in the game, including a grand slam by Boston’s Jason Varitek in a five-run fourth inning.
New York had built a 6-0 lead in the fourth on Robinson Cano’s two-run homer in the third and a two-run double in the fourth.
Boston got one run back on Jason Bay’s RBI single in the fourth and closed within one on Varitek’s grand slam.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Jacoby Ellsbury leveled the score at 6-6 on a solo homer for Boston in the fifth before Bay drilled a two-run double.
The Yankees regrouped on Johnny Damon’s two-run homer in the sixth and went ahead for the last time at 10-9 on a two-run error by Boston in the seventh.
ATHLETICS 5, RAYS 2
At Oakland, California, Jason Giambi hit the first homer of his second stint with Oakland and Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run double as Oakland snapped a five-game skid.
Dallas Braden (2-2) allowed one run and four hits in five-and-two-third innings to earn the win.
Travis Buck also homered for Oakland leading off the third.
Matt Garza (1-2) gave up four runs in the loss. He struck out six in five-and-two-third innings but walked four, three of which scored.
In other AL action it was:
• Rangers 6, Orioles 5
• Mariners 9, Angels 8
• Twins 7, Indians 1
• White Sox 10, Blue Jays 2
• Tigers 9, Royals 1
Albert Pujols hit his second grand slam of the season and surpassed 1,000 career RBIs, sending St Louis to an 8-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the surging Cardinals ninth straight home win on Saturday.
The Cardinals are 13-5 overall, good for first place in the National League Central.
Pujols drove the first pitch from reliever David Patton in the seventh inning to left field an estimated 441 feet. It was the eighth career grand slam for Pujols, who is hitting .348 with 25 RBIs and seven homers already this season.
The four RBIs gave Pujols 1,002 in his career, making him the sixth Cardinals player to reach that milestone.
The Cubs have lost their last four games.
BRAVES 10, REDS 2
At Cincinnati, Ohio, Yunel Escobar drove in a career-high four runs and finished a triple short of the cycle, leading Atlanta to the victory.
Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer and also drove in four runs as the Braves jumped on Bronson Arroyo for six runs in the first two innings and handed the Cincinnati pitcher his first loss in four starts.
Escobar and Jones — the Braves’ No. 2 and No. 3 hitters — went a combined 5-for-8 with two home runs, a double and eight RBIs in support of Derek Lowe (2-1), who struck out eight in seven innings.
Arroyo (3-1) allowed nine runs and nine hits in five-and-two-third innings.
METS 8, NATIONALS 2
At New York, Mike Pelfrey gave New York a healthy and effective start, Ryan Church drove in three runs and the Mets took advantage of sloppy play by stumbling Washington.
In other NL action it was:
• Phillies 6, Marlins 4 (10)
• Dodgers 6, Rockies 5
• Brewers 9, Astros 8 (11)
• Pirates 10, Padres 1
• Giants 5, Diamondbacks 3
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