NEW YORK, 26 July 2003 — Sidney Ponson scattered six hits over 8 2/3 innings while Roger Clemens lasted just four innings as the Baltimore Orioles beat the New York Yankees 5-3 in American League action on Thursday.
Ponson (14-5) tied Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays for the most victories in the major leagues as the Orioles cruised to a 5-0 lead off Clemens, who had his shortest start in a year.
Ponson allowed three runs with striekouts and three walks. Jorge Julio came on to get the last out for his 23rd save.
Brian Roberts had a career-high four hits for the Orioles and drove in a pair of runs.
Jeff Conine and B.J. Surhoff both homered for the Orioles, while Deivi Cruz also had two hits for the Orioles.
Clemens (9-7) allowed five runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
Robin Ventura had two hits and drove in a run for the Yankees, who head to Boston for a crucial series with the Red Sox.
Hideki Matsui and Raul Mondesi drove in the other New York runs.
Devil Rays 15 Red Sox 9
In Boston, Damian Rolls hit a grand slam homer to highlight a seven-run fifth inning to lead the Tampa Bay Devil Rays past the Red Sox 15-9. Rolls had three hits and five RBI, as did Antonio Perez to pace Tampa Bay’s 21-hit attack.
Twins 6 Royals 2
In Minneapolis, Jacque Jones had three hits and drove in three runs to lead the Minnesota Twins past the Kansas City Royals 6-2. Torii Hunter and Jones both homered for the Twins, while LaTroy Hawkins (7-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win.
Tigers 7 Indians 4
In Cleveland, Craig Monroe hit a two-run homer in a four-run fifth inning as the Detroit Tigers beat the Indians 7-4. Ben Petrick had three hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers, while Dmitri Young added two hits and two RBI.
Nate Cornejo (5-8) allowed three runs on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings while Chris Mears went 1 2/3 shutout innings for his fifth save.
Angels 10 Rangers 6
In Arlington, Kevin Appier beat Texas for the first time in seven years as the Anaheim Angels beat the Rangers 10-6. Appier (7-6) ended a personal 10-game losing streak against Texas by going six innings, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings.
White Sox 4 Blue Jays 3 (13 innings)
In Toronto, Frank Thomas and Magglio Ordonez drove in runs in the top of the 13th inning to lead the Chicago White Sox to a 4-3 win over the Blue Jays. Ordonez had four hits for the White Sox, who won their season-high seventh straight game.
Athletics 3 Mariners 0
In Seattle, Mark Mulder pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Oakland Athletics to a 3-0 win over the Mariners. Mulder (13-7) allowed seven hits while striking out 11 and walking one as the A’s closed to within four games of the first place Mariners in the AL West.
Ortiz Notches 14th Win as Braves Keep Winning
In Atlanta, Russ Ortiz became the National League’s first 14-game winner and Javy Lopez hit a two-run homer to lead the streaking Atlanta Braves past the Florida Marlins 5-2 in National League action on Thursday.
Ortiz (14-4) allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out five and walking two, as the Braves won for the 15th time in 18 games.Ortiz has won seven consecutive starts, matching his career high with the San Francisco Giants in 2000. The Braves are runaway leaders in the NL East.
John Smoltz pitched a scoreless ninth for his 37th save as Atlanta improved its major league best record to 67-34.
Marcus Giles, Gary Sheffield and Chipper Jones drove in the other runs for Atlanta.
Pirates 7 Reds 5 (11 innings)
In Cincinnati, Matt Stairs’s RBI double in the 11th inning drove in the winning run as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Cincinnati Reds 7-5. Stairs and Brian Giles both had two hits and two RBI for the Pirates, who swept the two-game series.
Phillies 14 Cubs 6
In Chicago, Bobby Abreu hit a grand slam home run and a sacrifice fly during a nine-run sixth inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cubs 14-6.
Placido Polanco had four hits and drove in four runs for the Phillies, while Todd Pratt also homered.
Dodgers 1, Rockies 0 (11 innings)
In Los Angeles, Shawn Green’s single in the 11th inning drove in the only run as the Dodgers edged the Colorado Rockies 1-0.
Paul Shuey (4-2) got the last out in the top of the 11th and got the win after starter Kevin Brown pitched eight shutout innings.
Giants 3 Diamondbacks 2
In San Francisco, Barry Bonds celebrated his 39th birthday by hitting a homer in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Giants a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The homer was the 646th of his career and major league leading 33rd of the season, while also giving him the all-time San Francisco franchise lead with 470, topping Willie McCovey. In the top of the ninth inning, Bonds threw out Craig Counsell trying to score at the plate from left field.
Expos 5 Mets 1
In Montreal, Livan Hernandez pitched 7 2/3 solid innings to lead the Expos past the New York Mets 5-1. Hernandez (10-6) allowed one run on seven hits while Rocky Biddle got the last two outs for his 24th save.
Brewers 2 Astros 1
In Milwaukee, Keith Ginter homered in the seventh inning to give the Brewers a 2-1 win over the Houston Astros. Ben Sheets (9-7) went seven innings for the win, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Leo Estella pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.
