It was a good night Friday for newly promoted managers, none of whom lost in nine innings.
Well, maybe that’s stretching the optimism a bit for Toronto. But the slumping Blue Jays hung tough in a 1-0, 12-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets each picked up much-needed victories.
Blue Jays shortstop John McDonald misplayed Jason Michaels’ grounder with the bases loaded and none out for a game-ending error in the 12th inning, a disappointing end to an otherwise strong performance in Cito Gaston’s return as Toronto manager.
“We haven’t been able to get any runs,” said Gaston, promoted earlier in the day to replace the fired John Gibbons. “It’s the first night, not to make any excuse. We’re going to have to get some hitting and, if we don’t, you’re going to see more nights like that.”
Jim Riggleman got much more offense from the Mariners in his first game since taking over for the fired John McLaren, watching Jose Lopez drive in four runs with three hits in a 10-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Jerry Manuel also got plenty of runs while improving to 2-1 since taking over for fired manager Willie Randolph. The Mets used a two-run homer from Carlos Delgado and strong pitching from John Maine to beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2.
In other games Friday, it was the Chicago Cubs 4, the Chicago White Sox 3; Oakland 7, Florida 6 in 11 innings; Washington 4, Texas 3 in 14 innings; Cincinnati 4, the New York Yankees 2; the Los Angeles Angels 7, Philadelphia 1; Houston 4, Tampa Bay 3; Minnesota 7, Arizona 2; San Francisco 9, Kansas City 4; St. Louis 5, Boston 4; Baltimore 8, Milwaukee 5; San Diego 6, Detroit 2; and Cleveland 6, the Los Angeles Dodgers 4 in 10 innings.
Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay pitched seven shutout innings in Pittsburgh, but was lifted after being struck on the right temple by Nyjer Morgan’s line drive in the seventh. Halladay had precautionary X-rays after the game but is expected to make his next start.
Doug Mientkiewicz doubled for his third hit to start the 12th against Jesse Carlson, Toronto’s fifth pitcher, and Jack Wilson singled off the plate before Jason Frasor replaced Carlson and walked Raul Chavez to load the bases.
Michaels followed with his grounder against a drawn-in infield to make a winner of Tyler Yates (3-0), who pitched two innings to cap a solid night by the Pittsburgh bullpen.
There wasn’t nearly as much drama in Atlanta, where the Mariners matched their season high with 15 hits, including eight doubles, and scored five runs in the eighth to match their high mark for an inning this season.
Riggleman was managing his first game since Oct. 3, 1999, the end of his five-year run with the Chicago Cubs.
“It’s still a night where I feel for John,” said Riggleman, who was promoted from bench coach to manager. “I feel like we did a lot of things that John talked about. We had good at-bats, we had patience, all the things that John had been preaching all the time.”
Ryan Rowland-Smith (1-1) threw 1 2-3 scoreless innings as the second reliever behind Seattle starter Erik Bedard, who left with back spasms after three scoreless innings.
Bedard said it was too early to know whether he’ll miss a start, but he needed support just to make it to the clubhouse.
“I couldn’t even walk down,” Bedard said.
In Denver, Delgado’s two-run homer highlighted a five-run second for New York, and Trot Nixon hit his first homer in a Mets uniform, a solo shot in the third.
It was Nixon’s first homer since last July 7 with Cleveland. He spent the first part of the season with Triple-A Tucson before the Mets acquired him from Arizona on June 13.
“I’ve got this opportunity and I want to make the most of it,” he said.
Maine (7-5) shook off a shaky first – giving up a two-run homer to Jeff Baker – and a bothersome blister on his right middle finger to stop a personal two-game slide. He went 6 2-3 innings against the Rockies, allowing two runs and six hits.
“To give those runs up in the first inning and kind of settle down, and come back and not do anything after that, that was a big lift,” Maine said, “a good confidence boost.”
Cubs 4, White Sox 3
At Chicago, Aramis Ramirez led off the bottom of the ninth with his second homer of the game, giving Kerry Wood (4-1) a win against the Cubs’ crosstown rival.
Athletics 7, Marlins 6, 11 innings
At Oakland, Calif., Kurt Suzuki drove in the winning run in the 11th inning, and the Athletics withstood two homers by Dan Uggla.
Nationals 4, Rangers 3, 14 innings
At Washington, Elijah Dukes drove in the winning run with two outs in the 14th inning with his fifth hit, after Nationals pitchers allowed only one hit after the fourth inning.
Reds 4, Yankees 2
At New York, Edinson Volquez pitched seven sharp innings in Cincinnati’s first game at Yankee Stadium in 32 years, and the Reds beat Mike Mussina and New York to end a five-game skid.
Angels 7, Phillies 1
At Philadelphia, Ervin Santana struck out nine in seven innings, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and Los Angeles took the interleague matchup of division leaders.
Astros 4, Rays 3
At St. Petersburg, Fla., Roy Oswalt rebounded from a poor outing to pitch into the eighth inning, Carlos Lee had a two-run double and Houston snapped an eight-game losing streak.
Twins 7, Diamondbacks 2
At Minneapolis, Scott Baker won for the first time in more than two months, Craig Monroe homered and Minnesota kept the Diamondbacks’ Randy Johnson winless since May 18.
Giants 9, Royals 4
At Kansas City, Mo., Ray Durham had three hits, including a bases-clearing double in a four-run sixth, and the Giants snapped the Royals’ five-game winning streak.
Cardinals 5, Red Sox 4
At Boston, Kyle Lohse won his sixth straight start and the Cardinals hit three homers to beat Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox in their first game in Boston since Curt Schilling’s “bloody sock” victory in the 2004 World Series.
Orioles 8, Brewers 5
At Milwaukee, Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5 with two homers, and Baltimore’s bullpen pitched seven scoreless innings with George Sherrill closing it out for his 25th save.
Padres 6, Tigers 2
At San Diego, Adrian Gonzalez drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning and the Padres snapped a four-game losing streak.
Indians 5, Dodgers 4, 10 innings
At Los Angeles, Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run double with two out in the 10th inning after the Cleveland bullpen blew a four-run lead for Cliff Lee, and the Indians won their first regular-season meeting at Chavez Ravine.
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