BOSTON, 21 May 2003 — Raul Mondesi’s bases-loaded triple highlighted a five-run first inning and helped the New York Yankees move back into first place in the American League East with a 7-3 win over the Boston Red Sox on Monday.
The Yankees ended a three-game losing streak and edged one ahead of the Red Sox after the opener of a three-game series between the AL East rivals. David Wells (6-1) went 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on nine hits with four strikeouts, to pick up the win. Three relievers finished up, combining to allow 12 Boston hits.
Derek Jeter had two hits and drove in two runs for the Yankees while Jason Giambi added two RBI. Jorge Posada reached base five times for New York, with two hits and two walks in addition to reaching on an error. Casey Fossum (4-2) took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits over six innings, all the runs coming in the first. The Yankees added a pair of eight-inning runs on reliever Jason Shiell.
Johnny Damon had three hits for the Red Sox while Nomar Garciaparra added two hits and drove in a run. The crowd of 35,099 was the largest at Fenway Park in 13 years.
Indians 10 Tigers 9
In Cleveland, Casey Blake cracked a two-run homer in the eighth inning to lead the Indians past the Detroit Tigers 10-9.
Carlos Pena recorded three home runs for the Tigers, including a grand slam, and drove in seven runs. But it was not enough to lift Detroit to victory in a game that featured 19 runs and 24 hits.
Jody Gerut also homered for Cleveland and drove in four runs while Matt Lawton had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. Milton Bradley had three of the Tribe’s 14 hits. Billy Traber (1-1) grabbed the win despite allowing two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 innings. David Riske had the last five outs for his first save of the season.
Reliever Jamie Walker (1-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. Kevin Witt also homered for Detroit.
Blue Jays 12 White Sox 2
In Chicago, Orlando Hudson drove in four runs as the Toronto Blue Jays won their fourth straight game, 12-2 over the White Sox.
Cory Lidle (7-2) pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits to pick up the win. Frank Catalanotto homered and had three hits while Shannon Stewart and Eric Hinske also seized home runs for Toronto.
Dan Wright (0-2) went just three innings, allowing five runs on six hits. Carlos Lee drove in Chicago’s lone run.
Morris Shutout Leads Cardinals to Victory
In St. Louis, Matt Morris pitched a complete game four-hitter to help the St. Louis Cardinals continue their home dominance over the Chicago Cubs with a 2-0 victory in the National League on Monday.
Morris (5-3) struck out eight and did not walk a batter as the Cardinals took three of the four games in the series between the Central Division rivals. The Cubs are 2-11 at Busch Stadium in the last two seasons and 4-23 there since 2000.
Morris was the reason as he tossed a 122-pitch gem, 83 for strikes, in a game that took just two hours and five minutes.
Fernando Vina’s run-scoring groundout in the third and Albert Pujols’ eighth-inning homer gave Morris all the offense he would need. Edgar Renteria had two of the Cardinals’ seven hits. St Louis is now within two games of the Cubs for first place in the Central. Carlos Zambrano (4-4) gave up only one unearned run over seven innings, allowing five hits with four strikeouts and three walks, to take the loss. Kyle Farnsworth allowed Pujols’s homer.
Brewers 6 Padres 5
In Milwaukee, Geoff Jenkins struck a three-run homer as the Brewers hung on to beat the San Diego Padres 6-5 despite almost blowing a 6-0 lead.
Scott Podsednik and Brady Clark both homered for the Brewers.
Matt Kinney (3-3) went eight innings, allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Mike DeJean claimed the last out for his eighth save of the season.
Randy Keisler (0-1) allowed six runs on six hits over three innings to take the loss. Xavier Nady hit a two-run homer for San Diego.
Diamondbacks 4 Giants 3
In Phoenix, Rod Barajas drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks past the San Francisco Giants 4-3.
Matt Mantei (4-2) recorded the win with one shutout inning of relief. Benito Santiago homered and drove in two runs while JT Snow also homered for the Giants.
Curt Schilling lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Tim Worrell allowed the winning run and took the loss, going 1 2/3 innings. Steve Finley had two hits and drove in a run while Tony Womack had three his for the D-Backs.
