White Sox continue dominance of Central
Associated PressPublished July 18, 2005
CLEVELAND - Jon Garland became the league's first 14-game winner as the White Sox completed their first four-game sweep in Cleveland since Aug.27-29, 1963, with a 4-0 win Sunday.
Chicago improved to 30-5 against the Central. For the series, Garland, Jose Contreras, Freddy Garcia and Mark Buehrle combined for a 1.00 ERA, allowing three runs in 27 innings.
"I never thought we'd sweep," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I (came in) hoping we'd win the series."
Cleveland hit .120 (3-for-25) with runners in scoring position in the series, has lost a season-high five in a row and has trailed in 35 of 36 innings since the break. They have not led since the fourth against the Yankees on July10, a span of 41 innings.
"You can't put your head down and cry," manager Eric Wedge said. "We have 21/2 months and 70 games left, and we can't back off."
Scott Podsednik opened the game with a double, took third on a fly out to center and scored on a groundout by Frank Thomas. Jermaine Dye hit a one-out single in the second and scored on A.J. Pierzynski's homer to make it 3-0.
Tadahito Iguchi made it 4-0 in the third by hitting an 0-and-2 pitch over the leftfield fence.
Royals brawl then win
DETROIT - Runelvys Hernandez allowed two hits before being ejected for triggering a bench-clearing brawl in Kansas City's 5-0 win over Detroit.
David DeJesus led off the game with a single and scored on Mike Sweeney's one-out homer. Emil Brown followed with a single to center that Nook Logan misplayed for a two-base error. Terrence Long's single scored him, and Mark Teahen's homer in the fourth made it 4-0.
Hernandez, who hit two of his first three batters, almost hit Carlos Guillen in the sixth then hit him in the helmet on the next pitch. The two yelled at each other, and the dugouts and bullpens cleared.
The scuffle appeared over with no punches thrown. But more pushing and shoving began, and Tigers reliever Kyle Farnsworth charged Royals reliever Jeremy Affeldt, picked him up and slammed him.
"What he did is not acceptable," Tigers catcher Ivan Rodriguez said. "A pitcher cannot throw at a player's head."
"I didn't try to hit nobody," Hernandez said. "I feel sorry about that."
YANKEES 5, RED SOX 3: One day after being acquired from Florida, Al Leiter pitched three-hit ball into the seventh for visiting New York, which took three of four.Leiter, who entered 3-7 with a 6.64 ERA, struck out eight, walked three and allowed one run in 61/3 innings in his first AL win since 1995. Leiter went 16 years and 82 days since his last Yankees start, April26, 1989.
Down 5-1, Manny Ramirez's homer off Tom Gordon to lead off the ninth and Jason Varitek's single off Mariano Rivera cut it to 5-3.
Bill Mueller's single loaded the bases with no outs. But Alex Cora hit a grounder to Alex Rodriguez at third. He threw home to start a double play, and Johnny Damon grounded out to second.
MARINERS 8, ORIOLES 2: Host Seattle had one hit through five innings against Sidney Ponson before scoring five in the sixth.After Ichiro Suzuki's sacrifice fly tied it at 1, Ponson hit Randy Winn with an 0-and-2 pitch. Raul Ibanez walked, and Richie Sexson's single scored Winn. Adrian Beltre was intentionally walked, and Jeremy Reed struck out. But Mike Morse blooped a single to make it 4-1. Jose Lopez then doubled to score Beltre.
A'S 5, RANGERS 4 (14): Bobby Kielty's leadoff homer won it for host Oakland, which has won five of six and took three of four. Down 4-3, Dan Johnson led off the ninth for Oakland with a double off Mark Teixeira's glove at first. An out later, pinch-hitter Adam Melhuse doubled into the rightfield corner to tie it. Melhuse, a seldom-used backup catcher, is 4-for-9 with two RBIs as a pinch-hitter this season. ANGELS 2, TWINS 1: John Lackey tied a career high with 10 strikeouts to win for the first time in four starts for visiting Los Angeles. Minnesota's Joe Mays retired his first five hitters but walked Maicer Izturis before allowing Jeff DaVanon's homer.