NEW YORK, 25 April 2004 — Bill Mueller hit a three-run home run as the Boston Red Sox belted four homers to bomb the New York Yankees 11-2 on Friday.
It was the first meeting between the two long-time rivals at Yankee Stadium since the thrilling seventh game of last year’s American League Championship Series, won by the Yankees on Aaron Boone’s 11th inning home run.
It was a much different story on Friday, the Red Sox beating the Yankees for the fourth time in five tries this season after winning three of four games at Fenway Park last weekend.
Kevin Millar and Mark Bellhorn hit consecutive home runs for the Red Sox, while Manny Ramirez added Boston’s fourth home run to lead the rout.
In Detroit, Brandon Inge hit a grand slam home run and a triple during an 11-run sixth inning, powering the Tigers to a 17-3 rout over the Cleveland Indians.
In Baltimore, Brian Roberts had three hits and two RBI, leading the Baltimore Orioles past the Toronto Blue Jays 11-2. Eric DuBose (2-2) pitched seven strong innings for the win, while Jay Gibbons homered.
The Orioles won for the seventh time in eight games with a 15-hit attack, while the Blue Jays slipped to 4-12.
Joe Crede hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning, leading the Chicago White Sox past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 3-2.
Billy Koch (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th inning for the win, as the Devil Rays made several fielding miscues that led to the game-winning run.
In Kansas City, Michael Ryan’s RBI single keyed a three-run ninth inning, leading the Minnesota Twins past Royals 7-5. Corey Koskie drove in three runs for the Twins, who scored six times in the final two innings in their comeback.
In Oakland, Jose Guillen hit a three-run homer as the Anaheim Angels pounded the Oakland Athletics 12-2. Troy Glaus hit a two-run homer, Vladimir Guerrero and Darin Erstad both had three hits and Jarrod Washburn (3-1) pitched five strong innings for the Angels.
David Delucci and Kevin Mench both homered in the Texas Rangers 10-8 win over the Seattle Mariners. Alfonso Soriano had three hits for Texas, while Hank Blalock and Laynce Nix each drove in a pair of runs.
Scott Spiezio and Bret Boone both homered for Seattle.
Maddux Tames Mets for First Win Back at Cubs
Greg Maddux scattered seven hits over seven solid innings against the New York Mets on Friday to post his first win since returning to the Chicago Cubs.
Maddux (1-2) had struggled in his first few starts but allowed just one run while striking out eight and walking one to post the 290th win of his career as the Cubs beat the Mets 3-1 at Wrigley Field.
Maddux’s ERA dropped from 8.62 to 6.35 with his strongest outing since signing with the Cubs in the off-season after 10 years with the Atlanta Braves.
The Cubs had just four hits in the game but a two-run homer by Moises Alou in the first inning turned out to be all the offense that Maddux would need. Todd Walker also homered for the Cubs, a solo shot in the third inning off loser Jae Weong Seo (0-3).
In Pittsburgh, Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the Pirates 6-4. Dunn had four RBI to make a winner of Paul Wilson (3-0), who allowed four runs and nine hits in five innings.
In Montreal, Bobby Abreu had four hits and drove in five runs to lead the Philadelphia Phillies past the Expos 8-6.
Jim Thome homered for the third straight game for the Phillies, while Kevin Millwood (2-2) went six innings for the win.
J.D. Drew and Adam LaRoche drove in two runs as the Atlanta Braves beat the Florida Marlins 6-1. The Braves improved to 4-0 against the Marlins this season, while the rest of the National League is 1-11 against Florida.
Craig Counsell’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning led the Milwaukee Brewers past the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. Brooks Kieschnick (1-0) went 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.
Richie Sexson hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 5-2. Mike Koplove (2-1) pitched two shutout innings for the win. Matt Mantei retired the side in the ninth for his third save.
Mark Loretta hit a two-run homer for the Padres.
In Denver, Mike Lamb had four hits and a career-high six RBI, leading the Houston Astros to a 13-7 win over the Colorado Rockies.
Orlando Palmeiro and Craig Biggio both added two-run home runs for Houston. Brandon Duckworth (1-0) picked up the win.
Royce Clayton and Charles Johnson both homered for Colorado.
In Los Angeles, Milton Bradley drove in the winning run with a 12th inning single, leading the Dodgers past the San Francisco Giants 5-4.
Shawn Green hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers.
Barry Bonds had two hits and drove in a run for the Giants.
