NEW YORK (AP) -Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 27th homer, Chien-Ming Wang came within one out of a complete game and the New York Yankees won the second Subway Series of the season Sunday night with an 8-2 victory over the stumbling Mets.
Johnny Damon and Jorge Posada also homered, helping the Yankees win for the 11th time in 12 games. They finished their finest homestand in nine years with an 8-1 record and split the six-game season series with their crosstown rivals for the third straight year.
Wang (7-4) struck out a career-high 10 and walked one. He scattered six hits, sending the NL East leaders to their 11th defeat in 13 games. The Big Apple neighbors are headed in opposite directions – the Mets have lost five consecutive series, while the Yankees have won five in a row.
Rodriguez hit a mammoth homer and knocked in three early runs as the Bronx Bombers jumped out to a 6-0 lead against ex-Yankee Orlando Hernandez (3-3), the second consecutive Mets starter to get roughed up. The right-hander gave up six runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings, one day after Tom Glavine was tagged for seven runs and eight hits in four-plus innings while blowing three early leads.
Angels 10, Dodgers 4
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Howie Kendrick and Orlando Cabrera had three hits each and drove in a combined three runs, helping the Angels clinch the second Freeway Series of the season.
Kelvim Escobar (8-3) allowed three runs and eight hits in seven innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked two.
The Angels dropped the opening game, then won the final two of the interleague series, giving them a 5-1 record against the Dodgers this season.
Randy Wolf (8-5) gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings, walked three and struck out one in losing for the second time in three games.
Gary Matthews Jr. hit an inside-the-park homer in the eighth. Dodgers right fielder James Loney attempted to backhand the drive to the wall and crashed into an auxiliary scoreboard. He was taken off the field in a cart after a delay of several minutes. The team said Loney bruised his right knee.
Cardinals 10, Athletics 6
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Ryan Ludwick hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning and drove in a career-high five runs, leading St. Louis to their first interleague series win in four tries this season.
Colby Lewis (0-2) allowed three straight singles to start the seventh before Ludwick’s high drive landed in the elevated seats in left-center for his third homer. Lewis’ streak of 24 straight retired batters ended on Albert Pujols’ base hit up the middle to start the rally.
The Cardinals’ comeback kept Anthony Reyes from becoming the first St. Louis pitcher to lose nine straight games to start a season since Danny Jackson did it from April 27 to July 2, 1995.
Russ Springer (3-0) struck out two in a perfect sixth to win for the second time in as many days.
Juan Encarnacion extended his hitting streak to 17 games – a Cardinals’ season high – with a single in the seventh.
Tigers 7, Phillies 4
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Justin Verlander lost his bid for another no-hitter early and watched Detroit come through late, scoring five runs in the seventh to rally and beat Philadelphia.
The Tigers used three pinch-hitters in the seventh, including Gary Sheffield who hit for Verlander and knocked in a run off Geoff Geary (1-2) that cut it to 3-2.
Craig Monroe and Magglio Ordonez followed with consecutive two-RBI hits to complete the rally for a 6-3 lead.
Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.
Verlander (8-2) saw his bid for consecutive no-hitters spoiled with one out in the second. He gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.
Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz was ejected by plate umpire Bill Welke in the eighth and manager Charlie Manuel was tossed moments later. Third base coach Steve Smith also was thrown out for arguing from the dugout.
Red Sox 9, Giants 5
BOSTON (AP) – Barry Bonds added baseball’s oldest ballpark to his long-ball list on his way to the sport’s most hallowed record.
The San Francisco slugger hit his 748th career homer adding Fenway Park, the Red Sox and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to his totals and moving within seven of Hank Aaron’s record.
Bonds’ sixth-inning solo shot merely cut Boston’s lead to 8-4, and Manny Ramirez padded the lead with his second homer in as many games. Ramirez was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, David Ortiz had a pair of doubles, and Wakefield (7-7) pitched well before faltering in the sixth to help the Red Sox complete the three-game sweep.
Matt Morris (7-4) lasted just four innings for San Francisco, allowing eight runs and nine hits. He walked two and struck out two.
Twins 10, Brewers 9
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Justin Morneau hit the first pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning over the baggie in right field for his third walk-off homer of the season for Minnesota.
The blast by the reigning AL MVP bailed out teammate Lew Ford, whose two fielding miscues in the top of the inning allowed Milwaukee to tie the game off closer Joe Nathan (3-1).
Filling in for the injured Torii Hunter, who was hit by a pitch on the left hand in the first inning, Ford had a career-high four RBIs, but nearly cost the Twins the game in the ninth.
Ford lost a sky-high popup in the Metrodome’s white roof, and Prince Fielder turned it into an inside-the-park homer to make the score 9-8.
Later in the inning, Ford double-clutched on a sacrifice fly, allowing Bill Hall to score and tie the game.
Morneau hit his 20th homer of the season off Chris Spurling (1-1) in the bottom of the inning to help the Twins avoid a sweep.
Indians 5, Braves 2
CLEVELAND (AP) – Fausto Carmona pitched seven-plus innings to help Cleveland avoid a three-game sweep.
Casey Blake extended the majors’ longest hitting streak of the season to 26 games as Cleveland won for only the third time in eight games.
Carmona (8-2) was charged with two runs and five hits. He struck out five.
Joe Borowski worked the ninth for his 100th career save. He is 20-for-22 in save chances this year.
Two Atlanta errors helped the Indians take a 5-0 lead with a four-run sixth against Kyle Davies (3-6).
Astros 10, Mariners 3
HOUSTON (AP) – Mike Lamb hit a grand slam and drove in five runs and Houston completed a three-game sweep.
Lamb was exceptional throughout the weekend series, going 8-for-10 with two homers, eight RBIs and three doubles.
His grand slam into the bullpen came in the first inning and gave starter Roy Oswalt (7-4) some breathing room to pick up his first win since May 12. Oswalt wasn’t sharp, allowing a season-high 12 hits but giving up just three runs in 5 2-3 innings.
The sweep is Houston’s first in a three game series this season. The Mariners have lost five straight since a season-high five game winning streak.
Jarrod Washburn (5-6) lasted just three innings in his shortest start of the season. The lefty allowed a season-high seven runs and six hits with three walks.
Devil Rays 7, Rockies 4
DENVER (AP) – Jonny Gomes hit a pair of two-run homers, Carlos Pena hit a solo shot into the third deck at Coors Field and Tampa Bay avoided a three-game sweep.
Gomes had the fourth multi-homer game of his career and first since June 11 of last season against Kansas City. Gomes, who now has four homers this season, finished the day with three hits and four RBIs.
Pena’s shot to deep right was the 27th homer at Coors Field to reach the third deck. The last one hit up there was by Todd Helton on July 7, 2005.
Scott Kazmir (5-3) went six innings, giving up three runs and six hits. He also had his first major league hit and RBI when he lined a single to left in the fifth to tie the score at 3.
Aaron Cook (4-4) lost for the third time in four starts. He gave up 10 hits and a season-high six runs.
Nationals 4, Blue Jays 2
TORONTO (AP) – Ryan Zimmerman homered for the second straight game for Washington, which overcame Frank Thomas’ record 244th homer as a designated hitter.
Thomas tied it at 2 with a solo homer in the third inning, moving him past Edgar Martinez for the most by a DH in major league history. It was his ninth of the season, the 496th of his career and first since May 31 against the Chicago White Sox.
Micah Bowie (4-2) allowed two runs and four hits over six innings, matching his longest start of the season, to win his fourth straight decision. He walked three and struck out a season-high six.
Josh Towers (2-5) allowed four runs and seven hits over seven innings for Toronto, which had won three straight. He walked one and struck out four.
Royals 5, Marlins 4
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Brian Bannister won his fourth consecutive start, Esteban German drove in the go-ahead run and Kansas City improved to 8-4 in interleague play.
The Royals have won all four series this season against National League teams – St. Louis, Philadelphia, Colorado and Florida.
Bannister (4-3) worked six-plus innings, allowing four runs and nine hits with a walk. Bannister has given up five earned runs in 28 innings in June. He was 0-3 through May.
Octavio Dotel got three outs for his fifth save in five chances.
Jeremy Hermida hit a two-run homer, and Josh Willingham had three of the Marlins’ nine hits.
Left-hander Scott Olsen (5-6) took the loss, giving up five runs – four earned – and 10 hits with three walks. He struck out five.
Diamondbacks 6, Orioles 4
BALTIMORE (AP) – Chad Tracy singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Arizona capitalized on another poor performance by the Baltimore bullpen in a victory that extended the Orioles’ losing streak to eight.
Eric Byrnes and Chris Snyder homered for the Diamondbacks, who outscored Baltimore 21-11 during a three-game sweep.
Brandon Webb (7-4) allowed three runs, two earned, and seven hits in seven innings for Arizona. The 2006 Cy Young winner is 4-1 in his last five starts.
Baltimore has lost 13 of 15 after going 1-8 on the horrid homestand that ended Sunday.
Chad Bradford (0-4) picked up the loss. He recorded just one out in the eighth and was charged with two runs, one earned.
Jose Valverde got three outs for his 22nd save in 25 chances.
Rangers 11, Reds 4
CINCINNATI (AP) – Kevin Millwood got his first victory in two months, and Marlon Byrd hit his first homer in nearly a year and drove in three runs for Texas.
Sammy Sosa pinch-hit and grounded into a forceout, leaving him one homer away from becoming the fifth to reach 600. Byrd took his place in right field and had a breakout game, helping the Rangers take two of three in a matchup of the leagues’ worst teams.
The Rangers (26-43) won a road series for only the second time this season. The Reds (27-43) lost another at home – they’re 14-23 overall at Great American Ball Park – despite hitting nine homers in the series.
Adam Dunn had two more Sunday off Millwood (3-6), who struck out a season-high 10 batters to get his first victory since April 13.
Bronson Arroyo (2-8) matched his career high by losing his sixth straight decision. He allowed seven runs and eight hits in six innings.
Pirates 8, White Sox 7
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Nate McLouth had a career-high four RBIs and Jose Bautista homered and drove in two runs for the Pirates.
Jack Wilson scored three runs, and Xavier Nady’s two-run single in the seventh broke a 5-5 tie and proved to be the winning hit for Pittsburgh, which finished its interleague homestand 4-2.
Juan Uribe had two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox, who had a five-run fourth inning but lost for the 17th time in 21 games.
Shawn Chacon (3-1) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings to get the win and Matt Capps earned his fifth save despite allowing two unearned runs in the ninth.
Nick Masset (2-3) got the loss.
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