NEW YORK, 20 May 2003 — John Thomson tossed a complete-game three-hitter and struck out nine as the Texas Rangers beat the struggling New York Yankees 5-1 on Sunday.
The Rangers swept the three-game series against the Yankees with the win, the first time Texas has swept a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees have lost six of seven games and are 9-13 following an 18-3 start.
New York also saw their lead in the AL East vanish as the Boston Red Sox pulled even with the Yankees by winning at home against Anaheim.
Thomson (3-4) allowed just three doubles, two to Alfonso Soriano and one to Hideki Matsui, to win for the first time since April 29. He allowed just a first inning run on Derek Jeter’s RBI groundout while walking five. Juan Gonzalez clubbed a two-run homer for the Rangers, while Rafael Palmeiro and Carl Everett both had two hits and drove in a run.
Mariners 6 Tigers 2
In Detroit, Greg Colbrunn, Carlos Guillen and Brett Boone smacked home runs in the Seattle Mariners’ 6-2 win over the Tigers.
Joel Pineiro (4-3) held the Tigers to two runs and four hits while striking out seven in eight innings. Mike Maroth (0-9) allowed six runs and eight hits in five innings to become the first Detroit starter to lose nine straight to start the season in 50 years.
Athletics 8 Indians 5
In Cleveland, Mark Ellis had an RBI single that sparked a five-run ninth inning that gave the Oakland Athletics an 8-5 come-from-behind win over the Indians.
Ellis had three hits and scored two runs in the game.
Devil Rays 9 Orioles 8
In Baltimore, Aubrey Huff doubled home the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth inning to help the Tampa Bay Devil Rays edge the Orioles 9-8. Julio Lugo homered and Travis Lee had four hits, scored two runs and drove in three for the Devil Rays.
Twins 3 White Sox 2
In Minnesota, Dustan Mohr was two for three and scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to help the Twins to a 3-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
LaTroy Hawkins (3-0) allowed one hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief before Eddie Guardado struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 10th save.
Blue Jays 4 Royals 3
In Kansas City, Josh Phelps blasted a three-run homer in the sixth inning to power the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Tanyon Sturtze (4-4) struck out three batters and gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings in his first relief appearance in more than two years. Cliff Politte closed the game with his sixth save.
Red Sox 5 Angels 3
In Boston, Manny Ramirez slugged a solo homer in the third inning to help the Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the Anaheim Angels.
Nomar Garciaparra extended his hitting streak to 19 games with two hits.
