TORONTO, 19 April 2005 — Miguel Tejada hit a grand slam home run and Daniel Cabrera pitched six strong innings as the Baltimore Orioles completed a three-game sweep over the New York Yankees with an 8-4 win in American League play Sunday.
The reeling Yankees lost their fourth straight game to drop to 4-8 in their start the season while the Orioles improved to 8-4 and took over first place in the AL East with the victory in Baltimore.
Despite a major league record payroll of more than $200 million, the Yankees have dropped eight of 10 to anger owner George Steinbrenner who issued a statement after the game.
“Enough is enough. I am bitterly disappointed as I’m sure all Yankee fans are by the lack of performance by our team,” Steinbrenner’s statement said.
Tejada’s grand slam came off loser Kevin Brown and earned the Orioles a 6-0 lead in the second inning, giving Cabrera and three relievers all the offence they would need.
Melvin Mora homered, scored three runs and had two hits for the Orioles, while Brian Roberts also added a pair of hits to Baltimore’s 13-hit attack. Tejada wound up three-for-four with three runs scored.
In other AL games Sunday, Edgar Renteria hit a solo homer and Jay Payton added a two-run single to lift the Red Sox to a 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Boston.
Tim Wakefield (2-0) worked six effective innings, allowing one run and four hits before Keith Foulke wrapped up the game with a perfect ninth inning for his second save.
In Arlington, Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Michael Young added a two-run blast in the second to power the Rangers to a 6-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. David Dellucci hit a two-run triple in the first inning that helped stake the Rangers to a six-run lead after two innings.
In Kansas City, Ivan Rodriguez hit a two-run double in the third inning and capped the game with a solo homer in the ninth to help the Detroit Tigers to a 6-1 win over the Royals.
In Cleveland, Ron Belliard homered and then scored the winning run to lift the Indians to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. Travis Hafner was hitless in three at bats, but was hit with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to score Belliard.
In Chicago, Ichiro Suzuki and Raul Ibanez hit first inning home runs that helped the Seattle Mariners to a 5-4 win over the White Sox. Adrian Beltre drilled a two-run single in the fifth inning that brought in the winning run.
Gil Meche (1-0) allowed three runs and five hits in 6-2/3 innings and Eddie Guardado picked up his third save despite giving up a run and two hits in the ninth inning.
In Oakland, Marco Scutaro belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to lead the A’s to a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Huston Street (1-0) struck out three batters in two scoreless innings of work and Octavio Dotel recorded his first save after recording the final five outs.
Vidro Drives In Three as Nationals Stay Top
In Toronto, Jose Vidro drove in three runs as the upstart Washington Nationals won their fifth straight game in National League play Sunday, beating the Arizona Cardinals 7-3 in Washington. The Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks and improved to 8-4 to remain in first place in the NL East in their first season in the nation’s capital after moving from Montreal.
The Expos went just 67-95 last season, but the Nationals remained perfect in their new home (3-0) by scoring six runs in the seventh inning to erase a 3-1 Arizona lead.
Nick Johnson added two hits and two RBI for the Nationals, while Vidro and Jose Guillen each had two hits to pace Washington’s 11-hit attack. T.J. Tucker (1-0), the third of five Washington pitchers, got one out in relief and was credited with the victory.
In other NL games, Miguel Cabrera drove in three runs, including two with a single in the first inning that helped the Florida Marlins to a 5-2 win over the Mets in New York. A.J. Burnett (2-1) gave up two runs and four hits in his second straight complete-game effort for the Marlins. Tom Glavine (0-2) allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits in six innings. Victor Diaz homered in the sixth inning for the Mets.
In Cincinnati, Wily Mo Pena crushed a three-run homer in the fourth inning and then doubled in the winning run in the eighth as the Reds edged the Houston Astros 6-5.
Ryan Wagner (1-1) struck out the side in the eighth inning for the win and Danny Graves converted his fourth save with a scoreless ninth.
Chad Qualls (1-1) allowed one run in two innings of relief and Jason Lane blasted a two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Astros.
In Pittsburgh, Derrek Lee drove in three runs, including a two-run single in the eighth inning, to help the Chicago Cubs double the Pirates 4-2. Michael Wuertz (1-0) worked a scoreless inning of relief and LaTroy Hawkins closed the game with his second save.
In Milwaukee, Scott Rolen slugged a solo homer in the ninth inning to earn the St. Louis Cardinals a 3-2 win over the Brewers. Rolen had an RBI single in the fourth inning and belted a run-scoring double in the sixth.
In Denver, Michael Tucker belted a grand slam in the seventh inning to help the San Francisco Giants rally to an 8-6 win over the Rockies. Matt Herges (1-0) worked 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief to set up Armando Benitez, who gave up a run and two hits before recording his third save.
In Los Angeles, Jeff Weaver tossed a five-hit shutout to back the Dodgers to a 6-0 win over the San Diego Padres. Weaver (2-0) struck out seven batters and walked one and was supported by home runs by Jeff Kent, Milton Bradley and J.D. Drew.
In Philadelphia, Placido Polanco’s bases-loaded single scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Phillies edged the Atlanta Braves 2-1. Ryan Madson (1-1) allowed the first run of the game in relief in the 10th but still picked up the win after Mike Hampton pitched eight innings of three-hit shutout.
