NEW YORK, 21 September 2004 — Mike Mussina pitched seven strong innings and the New York Yankees pounded four home runs to beat Pedro Martinez and the Boston Red Sox 11-1 in American League play at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
The Yankees second lopsided win over their AL East rivals in as many days put New York 4 1/2 games in front of the division. The teams play a three-game series at Fenway park next weekend.
Boston still has a comfortable lead in the AL wild card race and is 25-7 in its last 32 games despite losing the last two games of this series by a combined score of 25-5.
Mussina (12-9) allowed one run and seven hits over seven innings with eight strikeouts in an impressive start. He got plenty of offensive support as Gary Sheffield, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada all homered off Martinez as Alex Rodriguez later added another home run to lead the Yankees to the easy win. Jeter had three hits and scored twice for the Yankees while John Olerud added two hits and an RBI to the New York attack. Martinez (16-7) allowed eight runs in just five-plus innings, matching his season-worst performance. Johnny Damon drove in Boston’s lone run with a fifth inning single.
In other games, Johan Santana won his 11th straight start and 12th straight decision as the Minnesota Twins closed in on the AL Central title with a 5-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
Santana (19-6) went eight shutout innings, striking out a career best 14 with no walks and allowing seven hits. Michael Restovich, Luis Rivas and Henry Blanco all homered for the Twins, who was can win the division with a win at Chicago yesterday. Bruce Chen (1-1) went seven innings, allowing five runs on six hits with seven strikeouts to take the loss.
In Cleveland, Ben Broussard hit a three-run homer as the Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3. Kyle Denney (1-1) allowed one run on six hits over five innings to earn his first major league win.
Travis Hafner had three hits and drove in a run for the Tribe. Denny Bautista (0-3) went four-plus innings and gave up six runs on eight hits. Matt Stairs homered for the Royals.
In Toronto, Vernon Wells homered to key a five-run third inning as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-7. Guillermo Quiroz drove in two runs for Toronto.
Vinny Chulk (1-3) went 1 1/3 innings for his first major league win and Justin Speier got three outs for his seventh save. Aubrey Huff and Tino Martinez both homered for the Devil Rays. Scott Kazmir (2-2) allowed seven runs on six hits over two-plus innings and took the loss.
Paul Konerko and Carlos Lee both homered to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 6-1 win over the Detroit Tigers. Freddy Garcia (12-11) allowed one run on six hits over 7 1/3 innings with eight strikeouts and three walks to get the win. Jeremy Bonderman (10-12) allowed four runs on six hits over six innings to take the loss.
In Anaheim, rookie Chris Young pitched six shutout innings as the Texas Rangers held out for a 1-0 win over the Angels. Young (2-2) went six plus innings, allowing just five hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Three relievers combined for hitless relief and Kevin Mench drove in the only run with a single.
Jarrod Washburn (11-8) allowed just one unearned run in eight innings but was the loser as the Angels fell three games behind the Oakland Athletics in the AL West.
Mark Redman pitched 6 2/3 strong innings to lead the Athletics to a 2-1 win over the Seattle Mariners. Redman (11-12) allowed one run on eight hits before three relievers finished up, including Octavio Dotel, who pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.
Erubiel Durazo and Eric Chavez drove in the runs. Ichiro Suzuki did not record a hit, leaving him at 236, still 21 away from George Sisler’s all-time record. Bobby Madritsch (5-3) allowed two runs on eight hits over seven innings and took the loss.
Alou Strikes Winning Blow for Cubs Over Reds
Moises Alou hit a tie-breaking two-run double in the top of the ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 5-1 road win over the Cincinnati Reds in National League play on Sunday. Michael Barrett later added another two-run double to complete a four-run ninth inning to rally the Cubs to the important win as they battle for the NL wild card with San Francisco and Houston.
Chicago trailed 1-0 heading to the eighth but Ben Grieve’s sacrifice fly tied the score and set the stage for the big ninth inning, giving the Cubs their sixth win in the last seven games.
Jon Leicester (5-0) pitched a perfect eighth for the win and LaTroy Hawkins worked the ninth for his 23rd save. Barrett had three hits for the Cubs, while Aramis Ramirez added a pair of hits to Chicago’s eight-hit attack.
Paul Wilson went eight innings for the Reds, allowing just one run on five hits, before Danny Graves (1-6) came on in the ninth and was charged with four runs — one earned — on three hits in one inning to take the loss. Adam Dunn drove in the lone run for Cincinnati.
In other games, Jeff Conine drove in all three runs and had a two-run homer as the Florida Marlins beat the Atlanta Braves 3-0. Ismael Valdez (13-8) allowed just two hits over six shutout innings for the win, striking out three and walking four.
Guillermo Mota pitched two scoreless innings before Armando Benitez pitched the ninth for his 43rd save. Russ Ortiz (14-9) allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings to take the loss, as the Braves still hold an 8 1/2 game lead in the NL East.
Humberto Cota homered for the game’s only run as the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a five-game losing streak by beating the New York Mets 1-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.
Ryan Vogelsong (6-12) allowed just two singles while striking out three and walking three. Jose Mesa got the last three outs for his 40th save. Aaron Heilman (1-2) allowed one run on two hits in seven innings and took the loss.
In the nightcap, Jason Bay hit a two-run homer to help the Pirates to a 6-1 victory. Ty Wigginton had two RBI for the Pirates. Dave Williams (2-1) allowed three hits over six shutout innings for the win, striking out seven. Kris Benson (12-12) allowed six run and six hits in six innings.
In Philadelphia, Placido Polanco and Jimmy Rollins both had three hits, leading the Phillies to a 7-2 win over the Montreal Expos. Mike Lieberthal homered for Philadelphia.
Gavin Floyd (2-0) allowed one run on four hits with five walks in three innings for the win in relief and Kevin Millwood pitched two innings in his return for the disabled list. Scott Downs (3-6) allowed five runs on eight hits in four innings to take the loss.
Scott Hairston drove in two runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks edged the St Louis Cardinals 3-2. Mike Gosling (1-0) went 5 2/3 innings for his first major league victory, allowing two runs on seven hits.
Greg Aquino pitched a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. Larry Walker hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals. Jeff Suppan (15-8) allowed three runs on three hits over four innings and took the loss.
In San Francisco, J.T. Snow drove in all four runs as the Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 4-2. Barry Bonds appeared only as a pinch-hitter, drawing an intentional walk. Dustin Hermanson (6-6) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief after starter Kirk Rueter pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits.
Terrence Long hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the Padres. Scott Linebrink (7-3) allowed two runs on a hit in 1/3 inning to take the loss.
Shawn Green hit a two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning, rallying the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Colorado Rockies 7-6. The Dodgers came back from five runs down to win.
Yhency Brazoban (2-0) pitched one inning for the win and Eric Gagne finished for his 42nd save, while Milton Bradley also homered for L.A. Shawn Chacon (1-9) took the loss. Jeromy Burnitz homered for Colorado.
In Houston, Roger Clemens pitched eight shutout innings to lead the Houston Astros to a 1-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. Clemens (18-4) allowed just two hits while striking out 10 and walking two in another dominant performance as he makes a claim for the Cy Young Award.
Brad Lidge struck out the side in the ninth for his 25th save and Houston’s lone run scored when Clemens grounded into a double play in the third inning. Doug Davis (11-12) allowed one run on four hits over seven innings and took the loss.
