SAN FRANCISCO - Few pitchers have the luxury to sit back and compare their one-hitters.
Jason Schmidt pitched his second one-hitter of the season to win his ninth straight decision and Edgardo Alfonzo hit a grand slam for his second big hit in as many days, leading the Giants to a 4-0 victory over the Red Sox on Sunday.
"I like this one better," Schmidt said, comparing it to his 1-0 win against the Cubs on May 18. "I felt sharp."
The Giants expect brilliance from Schmidt (9-2), who won the NL ERA title last season. His only blemish in 133 pitches was Kevin Youkilis' clean double to lead off the sixth inning.
"We believe every time he takes the mound he has a shot at pitching a no-hitter," manager Felipe Alou said. "That's the way I felt about Pedro Martinez when he pitched for me."
Schmidt struck out nine and walked two in his 15th career shutout and the first against Boston since last Sept. 17.
Boston starter Bronson Arroyo (2-6) was effectively wild, holding the Giants scoreless until the seventh despite walking five and hitting a batter.
DODGERS 5, YANKEES 4: Eric Gagne struck out Alex Rodriguez with a runner on second base in the eighth inning then finished for his 81st straight save, preserving host Los Angeles' win.
Gagne gave up a homer to Jason Giambi leading off the ninth before getting his second save of the series in the first regular-season meeting between two of baseball's most storied franchises, who have met 11 times in the World Series.
RANGERS 4, MARLINS 2 (11): Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in the 11th to give visiting Texas a weekend sweep.
Blalock's homer off newly acquired reliever Billy Koch came after Texas closer Francisco Cordero blew a save in the ninth and prevented Kenny Rogers from becoming the first 10-game winner in the majors.
BLUE JAYS 3, PADRES 0: Light-hitting Orlando Hudson homered and drove in two runs, and Miguel Batista (5-5) flirted with his second shutout in three starts.
The Padres lost for the seventh time in eight games, and the fans booed repeatedly as the offense continued to struggle at home.
ORIOLES 4, ROCKIES 2: Brian Roberts hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth, helping visiting Baltimore end a seven-game losing streak.
Colorado headed into the ninth ahead 2-0 behind seven strong innings from Joe Kennedy, but Shawn Chacon (0-5) walked two with one out and another with two outs before Roberts lifted his third career slam over the wall in right.
It was the sixth blown save and fourth in seven appearances for Chacon, who was converted to a closer this season.
INDIANS 5, BRAVES 2: Jason Davis (2-5) threw seven innings to win for the first time in almost seven weeks and also hit his first major-league home run.
The host Braves have lost eight of 12 games and five straight series, including four straight against AL opponents.
CUBS 5, ATHLETICS 3: Moises Alou hit a two-run homer and Carlos Zambrano (8-2) won his fourth straight decision, outpitching Barry Zito (4-4). Zambrano gave up one run on five hits and struck out eight in 62/3 innings. The 23-year-old left to a standing ovation and lowered his ERA to 2.25 - second-best in the NL behind Tom Glavine.
METS 6, TIGERS 1: Richard Hidalgo homered for his first hit with New York, Mike Piazza also connected and Steve Trachsel (7-5) pitched six solid innings. The host Mets moved back to .500 for the first time in two weeks by winning for the sixth time in seven games.
ASTROS 3, ANGELS 1: Wade Miller threw seven strong innings and Eric Bruntlett hit his first home run of the season for host Houston. Miller (7-6) allowed six hits and one unearned run, striking out four and walking four.
MARINERS 5, PIRATES 4: Ichiro Suzuki hit a go-ahead double in a three-run seventh inning as visiting Seattle finally gave Freddy Garcia (4-6) run support in completing a three-game road sweep.
EXPOS 4, WHITE SOX 2: Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer with one out in the ninth inning off Jon Garland (5-4) after Jose Vidro's one-out double.
PHILLIES 8, ROYALS 2: Jim Thome hit a pair of two-run homers - his league-leading 22nd and 23rd - and Jimmy Rollins had an inside-the-park home run for host Philadelphia.
TWINS 4, BREWERS 2: Johan Santana (5-4) struck out a season-high 12 in eight strong innings and drove in a run to lead visiting Minnesota.
