A-Rod and the streaking New York Yankees made Jake Peavy’s first – and probably last – appearance in The House that Ruth Built a short one.
Dan Haren had much more success facing his old team for the first time.
Alex Rodriguez, last year’s AL MVP, homered off Peavy, the NL Cy Young Award winner, and the Yankees held off San Diego 8-5 Wednesday night, setting a season high with their sixth consecutive victory.
Peavy (5-4), pitching for the first time at Yankee Stadium – which will close after this season – lasted four innings. In his second start since coming off the disabled list, he gave up four runs – three earned – and six hits. On a pitch count of 85-95, Peavy lasted 93 as he rebuilds his stamina.
“I felt a whole lot better than I did five days ago. The results just weren’t there,” Peavy said. “The first two innings took a lot out of me.”
“Next time, get that up over 100 and hopefully things will work a little better.”
The right-hander missed nearly a month with a strained right elbow.
In other interleague games it was: Boston 7, Philadelphia 4; Detroit 7, San Francisco 2; Baltimore 2, Houston 1, in 10 innings; Tampa Bay 5, the Chicago Cubs 4; Milwaukee 5, Toronto 4; Atlanta 5, Texas 2; Minnesota 11, Washington 2; the Chicago White Sox 8, Pittsburgh 2; Kansas City 3, St. Louis 2; Colorado 4, Cleveland 2; Florida 8, Seattle 3; and the New York Mets rallied in the ninth and beat the Angels 5-4 in 10 innings.
In the only National League game, Los Angeles beat Cincinnati, 6-1.
For Rodriguez, his solo shot to left off Peavy in the bottom of the third, his 14th this season and No. 532 in his career, gave him homers in four consecutive games.
“Peavy’s an awesome competitor. I wish we had him on our team,” Rodriguez said. “Although we didn’t get a lot of runs early, we were able to get him out of there. We knew he was on a pitch count.”
Rodriguez finished with three hits, two RBIs and a stolen base. He also scored twice and made a nice backhand play at third with two on to end the fourth.
“I feel good, but the whole team is swinging the bat with a lot of confidence. That’s very contagious,” Rodriguez said.
In Phoenix, Haren came away with mixed emotions after dominating the Oakland Athletics for seven innings in an 11-1 victory for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It was a little weird,” said Haren, who was acquired by the Diamondbacks in an offseason trade. “A lot of those guys are still really close friends for me.”
One of his closest friends is Joe Blanton, who lasted only three innings, his shortest outing since May 25, 2005. Haren helped drive Blanton (3-10) from the game with a bases-clearing double in the third.
“It was kind of bittersweet,” Haren said. “Obviously, I want to win the game. But Blanton is one of my best friends. Those games happen.”
Haren (7-4) limited the A’s to four hits and a run in seven innings, walking one and striking out eight.
In New York, Yankees starter Darrell Rasner (4-4) snapped his four-start losing streak, with plenty of help from the Yankees offense and bullpen.
Johnny Damon had three hits and two RBIs for the Yankees, who have won 11 of 14 to move a season-best six games above .500. Wilson Betemit also had three hits, and Mariano Rivera worked a scoreless ninth for his 19th save in 19 chances.
New York goes for its second series sweep in a row Thursday, with Joba Chamberlain on the mound.
“We are just playing consistent baseball,” manager Joe Girardi said.
Mets 5, Angels 4
At Anaheim, Calif., Jerry Manuel got his first win managing the Mets when New York rallied to tie it in the ninth inning against Francisco Rodriguez and Damion Easley homered in the 10th.
Manuel, who replaced the fired Willie Randolph, lost his debut with the Mets on Tuesday night.
Down to their last out, the Mets made it 4-all in the ninth on David Wright’s RBI single off Rodriguez.
Easley connected with two outs off Justin Speier (0-4) for his second homer of the season.
The blown save was the second in 30 opportunities this season for Rodriguez, and snapped his franchise-record streak of 25 consecutive save opportunities.
Mets relievers allowed one hit over the final four innings. Billy Wagner pitched a perfect 10th for his 16th save.
Duaner Sanchez (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the victory.
Dodgers 6, Reds 1
At Cincinnati, Derek Lowe earned his first road win since last August by pitching into the sixth inning, and Los Angeles extended its season-long domination of the Reds.
James Loney had a solo homer and a run-scoring double off Bronson Arroyo (4-6), sending the Dodgers to their sixth victory in seven games against the Reds.
Lowe (5-6) hadn’t won on the road since Aug. 22 at Philadelphia, going 0-6 in his next 11 starts away from Dodger Stadium.
The Reds lost for the 11th time in 16 games.
Red Sox 7, Phillies 4
At Philadelphia, J.D. Drew tied a career high with four hits and fell a triple short of the cycle for Boston.
Justin Masterson (4-1) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings, the shortest of his six career starts. Jonathan Papelbon, the fourth Boston reliever, pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save in 24 chances.
Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick (6-3) gave up six runs and six hits in three innings.
Tigers 7, Giants 2
At San Francisco, Placido Polanco had four hits, drove in two runs and scored three as Detroit knocked struggling San Francisco starter Barry Zito out after two innings.
Armando Galarraga (7-2) didn’t allow an earned run in six innings and struck out five to win his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision.
Zito (2-11) has one win in his past five starts and this was the second-shortest start of his career. He allowed five runs and five hits, struck out two and walked four.
Orioles 2, Astros 1, 10 innings
At Baltimore, Kevin Millar singled in the game-winning run in the 10th inning as Houston lost its seventh straight game.
With one out in the 10th, Melvin Mora singled off Jose Valverde (4-2). Aubrey Huff hit an opposite-field single to left to put runners on the corners for Millar, who bounced a single up the middle.
Chad Bradford (3-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the Orioles.
Lance Berkman hit his 20th home run for Houston.
Rays 5, Cubs 4
At St. Petersburg, Fla., Andy Sonnanstine allowed three runs in five-plus innings for Tampa Bay.
B.J. Upton, Eric Hinske, Evan Longoria and Willy Aybar drove in runs off Carlos Zambrano during Tampa Bay’s four-run third inning, helping the Rays clinch their ninth consecutive series at home.
Zambrano (8-3) lost for the second time in his past nine decisions. He allowed five runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. The Cubs later said he was lifted because of right shoulder discomfort.
Troy Percival went one inning to earn his 17th save in 19 opportunities and tie Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers for ninth place on the career list with 341.
White Sox 8, Pirates 2
At Chicago, Toby Hall hit his first home run in two years and Carlos Quentin slugged his 17th this season for Chicago.
Mark Buehrle (4-6) gave up two runs and four hits with two walks in eight innings. He struck out three and threw only 96 pitches. He lost a no-hit bid in the sixth when Jose Bautista homered on the first pitch.
Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny (5-6) gave up four runs and five hits in six innings. He is 0-3 in Chicago this season.
Royals 3, Cardinals 2
At St. Louis, David DeJesus and Alex Gordon hit solo home runs in the eighth inning to rally Kansas City.
The Royals had been 0-37 this season when trailing after seven innings.
Braden Looper held the Royals scoreless on two hits until John Buck had an RBI single in the seventh. Reliever Kyle McClellan (0-2) had allowed only two home runs in 35 2-3 innings when he took over in the eighth with a 2-1 lead. DeJesus hit his eighth homer with one out. Gordon connected off the rookie right-hander with two outs for his eighth home run.
Joakim Soria worked a perfect ninth for his 17th save in 18 opportunities.
Twins 11, Nationals 2
At Minneapolis, Kevin Slowey won his second straight start since his worst outing of the year and Justin Morneau had three RBIs for Minnesota.
Carlos Gomez of the Twins bunted for two of his three singles, scored two runs and drove in an insurance run in the seventh.
Jason Bergmann (1-5) allowed one earned run and five hits in six innings but lost his third straight for Washington.
Slowey (4-6) allowed one earned run and seven hits over six-plus innings.
Braves 5, Rangers 2
At Arlington, Texas, Omar Infante hit a tiebreaking single and Atlanta scored three times in the ninth inning.
Jeff Bennett (1-4) pitched a scoreless eighth for Atlanta, and Mike Gonzalez had a perfect ninth to earn a save in his first appearance of the season. Gonzalez was removed from the disabled list before the game, 13 months after ligament replacement surgery in his left elbow.
C.J. Wilson (0-2) allowed three runs – one earned – and two hits in the ninth inning.
Chipper Jones hit his 16th homer and went 2-for-5 to keep his major league-leading average at .400.
Brewers 5, Blue Jays 4
At Milwaukee, Mike Cameron and Russell Branyan homered for Milwaukee, which won its third straight.
Ben Sheets (8-1) gave up four hits in six innings and Salomon Torres picked up his ninth save by getting four outs.
Shaun Marcum (5-4) struck out six in six innings, allowing four runs and six hits.
Rockies 4, Indians 2
At Denver, Jeff Baker homered and scored three runs and Jeff Francis allowed one run over six innings for Colorado.
Omar Quintanilla went 2-for-3 and had two RBIs for the Rockies, who have won four of five. Brian Fuentes pitched the ninth for his 12th save.
Francis (3-6) earned his second win in his past four starts. Aaron Laffey (4-4) lost for the first time since May 22 and for just the second time since April 28.
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