DETROIT, 3 July 2005 — Placido Polanco homered and had a career-high five RBIs as Magglio Ordonez and Chris Shelton chipped in with a two-run blast apiece as the Detroit Tigers mauled the New York Yankees 10-2 at Comerica Park on Friday.
Jeremy Bonderman (10-5) was a workhorse on the mound for the Tigers, pitching a complete game eight-hitter, striking out five and walking a pair.
It was another shaky outing for Yankees ace Randy Johnson (7-6), who was saddled with the loss after being shelled for seven runs on nine hits in just five innings of work.
The Tigers spotted the Yankees a 1-0 first-inning lead then struck for seven runs over the next five innings to take control.
Polanco tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the first, then scored three times in the second, keyed by Shelton’s two-run blast to deep centre.
Ordonez, who had been sidelined since early April with a hernia, made an impressive return with a fifth inning homer that pushed the Tigers 7-1 in front.
Hideki Matsui had a solo home run, his 11th of the season, for the Yankees who lost for the sixth time in eight games.
In Boston, Reed Johnson clubbed a pinch-hit grand slam and drove in six runs as the Toronto Blue Jays crushed the Red Sox 15-2 for their third straight win. The 15 runs were the most scored by the Blue Jays this season and Ted Lilly (6-8) benefited from the support, taking credit for the win after allowing one run on seven hits in six innings of work. Matt Clement (9-2) was saddled with the loss after being rocked for eight runs in just 5 2/3 innings.
In Baltimore, C.C. Sabathia provided 7 2/3 sharp innings and the Cleveland Indians converted a sixth-inning burst into a 3-1 win over the Orioles. Sabathia (6-4) took a three-hitter into the eighth inning, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven and walking five, before turning the game over to Bob Howry.
In Kansas City, Paul Byrd pitched a two-hit shutout and Vladimir Guerrero had a pair of RBIs as the Los Angeles Angels blanked the Royals 5-0. Byrd (8-5) was dominant, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning and allowing just one runner to reach second base.
The right-hander struck out five and walked one to register his first complete game of the season and 12th of his career. The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Bengie Molina’s RBI single then added two more in each of the sixth and seventh. Runelvys Hernandez (5-9) was tagged with the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings.
In Minneapolis, Jacque Jones belted an eighth inning bases-loaded triple that powered the Minnesota Twins past the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 7-4. Reliever Jesse Crain (8-0) gave up a two-run homer to Jorge Cantu in the seventh but held on to pick up the win with Joe Nathan coming on to work a scoreless ninth for his 21st save. Dewon Brazelton took the loss after giving up four runs in the eighth.
In Seattle, Lance Nix and David Dellucci homered and Chan Ho Park tossed seven strong innings to lead the Texas Rangers to a 6-2 decision over the Mariners. Park (8-2) gave up just two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking three to take credit for the win.
In Oakland, Rich Harden pitched 5 2/3 solid innings and Scott Hatteberg drove in a pair of runs and scored twice as the Athletics romped to an 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, stretching their winning run to a season-high eight games.
