BALTIMORE, 29 June 2005 — Bernie Williams delivered the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly as the Yankees responded to another threat from owner George Steinbrenner with a 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Monday.
For the second consecutive game, New York rallied from a three-run deficit to claim victory but it is unlikely to appease Steinbrenner, who issued a statement before the game expressing his unhappiness with his high-priced team’s performance.
Trailing 4-1, the Yankees struck for three-runs with two out in the sixth triggered by Ruben Sierra’s RBI single to right, scoring Hideki Matsui.
With the score tied 4-4 in the eighth, Williams lofted a high fly ball to center, bringing in Jorge Posada who had singled to lead off the inning.
Tanyon Sturtze (2-1), who came on in relief of starter Carl Pavano, worked one inning for the win while Mariano Rivera sealed the win with his 17th save. Larry Bigbie had a solo home run for the Orioles, who slumped to a season-high sixth straight defeat.
In Boston, Travis Hafner and Grady Sizemore homered and Kevin Millwood scattered three hits over six scoreless inning as the Cleveland Indians snapped the Red Sox season-high seven-game winning streak with a 7-0 shutout.
Millwood (3-5) was dominant in shutting down the Red Sox, allowing just one base-runner past second.
In Minneapolis, Joe Mays tossed eight strong innings and Jacque Jones drove in a run and scored another as the Minnesota Twins eased past the Kansas City Royals 3-1. Mays (4-3) allowed just one run on six hits, striking out three without a walk to pick up his first win since mid-May.
In Arlington, Vladimir Guerrero homered and had two doubles and Bartolo Colon tossed eight solid innings as the Los Angeles Angels crushed the Texas Rangers 13-3, to stretch their season-high winning streak to seven games.
Colon (10-4) allowed three-runs on eight hits and struck out five without a walk to collect his eighth straight win over the Rangers.
In Tampa Bay, Aubrey Huff belted a three-run homer and Jonny Gomes cracked a solo shot, powering the Devil Rays to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Hideo Nomo (5-6) tossed seven solid innings to earn the win.
Franco Grand Slam Powers Braves Past Marlins
In Florida, Julio Franco belted a grand slam home run and Horacio Ramirez pitched seven sharp innings as the Atlanta Braves took a rain-shortened 7-2 decision from the Florida Marlins in National League action in Miami on Monday.
Ramirez (7-4) took credit for the win allowing just one run on five hits striking out two, and walking three.
Jim Brower came on in relief to get one out in the eighth before the game was called because of rain. Marlins starter Brian Moehler (2-6) took the loss surrendering three runs on three hits over seven innings.
Atlanta took a 1-0 first inning lead on Marcus Giles sacrifice fly and never trailed, Franco sealing the win with his eighth career grand slam in the final inning played.
At 46, Franco became the oldest player in major league history to hit a grand slam.
Adam LaRoche and Johnny Estrada each had an RBI for the Braves, who notched their ninth win in 11 games. Miguel Cabrera, with his 15th of the season, homered for the Marlins.
In Houston, Jason Lane smacked a three-run homer, Lance Berkman added a two-run blast and Raul Chavez had a solo shot to power the Astros to an 11-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Wandy Rodriguez (3-3) worked 6 1/3 sharp innings to earn the win, surrendering two runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking three. Jamey Wright (4-8) was tagged with the loss, shelled for eight runs on 15 hits in seven innings of work.
In Los Angeles, Jeff Kent belted a two-run homer and J.D. Drew and Mike Edwards had RBI doubles, leading the Dodgers past the San Diego Padres 5-4. Rookie D.J. Houlton (4-1) pitched seven solid innings to take credit for the win, giving up four runs — three earned — on five hits while striking out five and walking one. Tim Stauffer (1-4) was saddled with the loss, giving up five runs on nine hits with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings. The Padres took a 4-0 lead before the Dodgers struck for five unanswered runs.
