Sports

AL: Sheffield blasts past Sox

Associated Press
Published May 28, 2005

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NEW YORK - Gary Sheffield flashed some mesmerizing power, beating Boston with a rare home run into Yankee Stadium's leftfield upper deck.

Sheffield's three-run drive off Alan Embree capped a five-run sixth inning, and New York opened the latest installment of this rivalry with a 6-3 win Friday night.

"A big game," said Sheffield, whose tiebreaking drive wound up in the first row of the rarely reached leftfield upper deck.

Randy Johnson won despite another perplexing start, and rookie Robinson Cano began the big rally with a two-run homer off a wild Tim Wakefield.

Johnson struck out three and allowed hits to his final five batters, but Boston managed only one run in the sixth inning, with Cano and Tony Womack throwing out runners at the plate.

"It changed the complexion of the ballgame," Johnson said.

Mariano Rivera, who had blown his first two save attempts of the year against Boston, got two outs for his 12th save in 14 chances. He failed in his first two opportunities of the season against the Red Sox, both on the opening homestand, but has been perfect since.

New York, foundering at 11-19 three weeks ago, has won 16 of 18 since then, including nine straight at home to move into second place in the East, 31/2 games behind Baltimore.

Boston, meanwhile, has struggled, losing four straight and falling five games back of the Orioles.

Wakefield walked seven, his highest total in eight years, and the Red Sox, who outhit the Yankees 11-7, went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position in the first five innings. Wakefield, who had been 3-0 with a 1.34 ERA in his last six regular-season starts against New York, gave up four runs and four hits in five-plus innings.

"We just didn't get that knockout punch," Kevin Millar said.

RANGERS 6, WHITE SOX 2: Alfonso Soriano homered twice, rookie Chris Young pitched eight strong innings and host Texas won its season-high seventh straight.

Michael Young and Mark Teixeira also connected to give the Rangers 21 homers during their winning streak, the longest active run in the majors.

Texas entered the three-game series coming off three-game sweeps of last-place teams Houston and Kansas City, and the White Sox presented a more formidable test with the best record in the majors.

"We probably caught them at the right time," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "It's nice to get off to a good start against a good club."

Young allowed one run and six hits, struck out five and didn't issue a walk to beat rookie Brandon McCarthy. Young took a shutout into the seventh, but Paul Konerko's leadoff homer ended the bid.

TIGERS 4, ORIOLES 3: Dmitri Young and Craig Monroe homered as visiting Detroit ended a four-game skid.

Detroit's Nate Robertson allowed three runs, six hits and a walk in 72/3, and the bullpen held on. Robertson has a 1.97 ERA in five starts this month.

After Robertson left, Todd Farnsworth gave up two-out run-scoring singles to Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada in the eighth. But with the tying run on second base, Sammy Sosa grounded into a fielder's choice.

Ugueth Urbina gave up a leadoff double in the ninth to Rafael Palmeiro, then walked Geronimo Gil and Brian Roberts to load the bases with two outs before striking out Jeff Fiorentino to earn his sixth save.

TWINS 7, BLUE JAYS 2: Johan Santana and Matt Guerrier combined on a five-hitter, and Shannon Stewart and Juan Castro homered for visiting Minnesota.

Toronto starter Josh Towers allowed a club-record 14 hits and gave up seven runs, five earned, in six innings. The Twins tied their season high with 16 hits.

Staked to a 7-1 lead in the third, Santana allowed two runs and four hits, struck out eight and walked two in seven innings. The 2004 Cy Young Award winner had allowed a season-high seven runs in a 10-3 loss to Toronto on May 17.

Guerrier allowed one hit in two innings as Minnesota ended Toronto's three-game win streak.

INDIANS 4, ATHLETICS 1: Cliff Lee outpitched Barry Zito, overcame two rain delays and combined with four relievers on a four-hitter for Cleveland.

Lee allowed two singles in six shutout innings for his fourth win in five starts. The left-hander overcame a horrible start in which he allowed the A's to load the bases in the first before wiggling out of the jam.

Ronnie Belliard hit a two-run homer and Grady Sizemore went 2-for-4 with two steals and an RBI for Cleveland.

ANGELS 9, ROYALS 8 (10): Dallas McPherson hit a home run in the bottom of the 10th as the Angels came back from a five run deficit in the bottom of the ninth. The Royals made two errors in the inning as three runs scored on Angel Berroa's fielding error.

[Last modified May 28, 2005, 01:23:40]