NEW YORK, 19 May 2003 — Lefty Andy Pettitte was on the losing end for the third straight game as the Texas Rangers rode a three-run second inning to a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees in American League action on Saturday.
Carl Everett’s single off Pettitte (4-4) scored two of the three Texas runs in the second. The Rangers pushed across two more runs two innings later thanks to a fielding error by Hideki Matsui that led to a smattering of boos for the Japanese-born newcomer. Robin Ventura homered with a man aboard off Ismael Valdes (3-2) in the second to account for both Yankee runs.
It was Valdes’ first start since April 19 after a bout with tendinitis. Ugueth Urbina finished up for his 12th save in 13 chances. Pettitte has surrendered 18 runs —11 of them earned — over his last 18 innings.
Angels 6 Red Sox 2
In Boston, the Anaheim Angels scored five times in the final two frames to post a 6-2 victory over the error-prone Red Sox, who had three miscues on the afternoon.
Troy Glaus took reliever Mike Timlin (3-2) deep with a man aboard in the eighth to put Anaheim up 3-2 and the Angels added three more runs in the ninth thanks to a gaffe by Red Sox right-fielder Trot Nixon.
Mariners 6 Tigers 3
In Detroit, the Seattle Mariners handed the lowly Tigers their 31st loss in 40 games, winning 6-3. Bret Boone’s homer with two men aboard off Nate Cornejo (3-3) in the fifth frame plated the winning runs.
Orioles 2 Devil Rays 0
In Baltimore, 1996 Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen notched his first victory in two years as the Orioles blanked the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 2-0 to snap a six-game losing skid. Hentgen (1-0), who sat out most of the past two seasons after elbow surgery, limited the D-Rays to just two hits in seven innings.
Twins 3 White Sox 1
In Minneapolis, Joe Mays (4-3) allowed a single run in six innings and change as the Minnesota Twins downed the Chicago White Sox 3-1. Dustan Mohr’s fourth-inning ground out off Jon Garland (2-4) plated Bobby Kielty with the decisive run.
Indians 4 Athletics 2
In Cleveland, on Omar Vizquel Rubber Duck Night, it was the Indians getting a pair of late runs to edge the Oakland A’s 4-2.
Fittingly, Vizquel delivered the fourth run on a squeeze play, with fans squeezing their giveaway ducks in approval.
Blue Jays 7 Royals 4
In Kansas City, Frank Catalanotto’s bases-loaded triple off Jason Grimsley (1-3) in the eighth inning snapped a 3-3 tie and sent the Toronto Blue Jays on to a 7-4 win over the Royals, losers of four of their past five games.
Cubs Strike Late to Overcome Cardinals
In St. Louis, the Chicago Cubs got a late home run from Mark Bellhorn to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 and extend their lead in the Central Division in National League play on Saturday. Bellhorn took Steve Kline (1-4) deep leading off the ninth inning.The Cubs’ Mark Prior, a loser just once this season, tossed 7 1/3 innings of six-hit ball, but was denied the victory when Albert Pujols connected off him in the eighth to knot the score at 1-1. The win went instead to Mike Remlinger (2-0), who retired two batters in relief of Prior.
Brewers 8 Reds 6
In Milwaukee, Eddie Perez took Scott Williamson (3-2) deep with two aboard in the last of the ninth as the Brewers rallied to down the Cincinnati Reds 8-6.
Journeyman John Vander Wal also plated three runs for the winners with a third inning double. The Reds scored four times on two-run homers off the bats of Adam Dunn and Aaron Boone, both blasts served up by Glendon Rusch.
Expos 6 Rockies 4 (10 innings)
In Denver, Colorado, the surprising Expos edged the Rockies 6-4 in 10 innings, despite the early ejection of Montreal starter Zach Day. Day left the mound in the third inning when umpires ruled he had a foreign substance on his fingers.
Mets 5 Giants 1
In San Francisco, Cliff Floyd’s fifth inning homer with a man aboard plated the winning runs as the Mets thumped the West Division-leading Giants 5-1, giving New York its first regular season win at Pacific Bell Park. The Mets had dropped 12 straight games there. The peripatetic Floyd, who spent time in Florida, Montreal and Boston last season, took the erratic Damian Moss (5-2) deep.
Phillies 9 Astros 4
In Houston, seven different Phillies collected RBIs as Philadelphia routed the Astros 9-4. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins singled to plate two runs, while Jim Thome notched his RBI on a ninth-inning home run.
Recalled Brandon Duckworth (3-1) worked the minimum five innings for the victory, the loss going to Nate Bland (1-1), who was tagged with two runs in less than an inning on the mound.
Pirates 8 Diamondbacks 5
In Phoenix, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored seven times in the fourth and fifth innings on their way to an 8-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, leaving the D-Backs four games under .500. Kevin Young belted a three-run homer in the fourth off Chris Capuano (0-2) to get the Pirates going.
Braves 12 Padres 2
In San Diego, in a battle of the NL’s best and worst teams, it was the high-flying Atlanta Braves thumping the lowly Padres 12-2. Gary Sheffield had the hot bat for the Braves, driving in five runs with a sacrifice fly and a grand slam homer. Vinny Castilla drove in three more with a pair of late homers. Shane Reynolds (3-1) notched the victory with seven innings of five-hit ball.
Dodgers 4 Marlins 1
In Los Angeles, Odalis Perez tossed eight innings of three-hit ball as the Dodgers dumped the Florida Marlins 4-1. Perez (3-2) struck out eight while walking just two. Eric Gagne finished up for his 14th save. Michael Tejera (0-2) took the loss, catcher Paul Lo Duca’s fifth-inning homer his undoing.
