NEW YORK, 21 May 2004 — Jason Giambi belted a two-run homer to spark the New York Yankees to a 4-2 victory over the American League-leading Anaheim Angels Wednesday.
Anaheim (26-14) grabbed an early advantage on Vladimir Guerrero’s run-scoring single in the first but Giambi tagged loser John Lackey (3-5) two innings later to claim his ninth homer of the season.
After the hosts Angels rallied to tie on Adam Kennedy’s single, Derek Jeter drew a bases loaded walk to put New York ahead to stay.
Alex Rodriguez doubled off Ben Weber in the eighth to give the Yankees breathing room. Jon Lieber (3-1) scattered seven hits over 7 2/3 innings for the win. Mariano Rivera finished up for his American League-best 15th save of the season.
In Toronto, pinch hitter Matthew LeCroy homered with the bases full in Minnesota’s final at-bats to lift the Twins to a 6-5 triumph over the Blue Jays. LeCroy’s blast to deep center, off closer Terry Adams (3-3), scored Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer and Henry Blanco.
In Cleveland, designated hitter Frank Thomas drove in five runs and Paul Konerko plated four more as the Chicago White Sox destroyed the Indians 15-3.
In St. Petersburg, Manny Ramirez thumped a two-run homer and Johnny Damon added a solo blast as the Boston Red Sox downed the floundering Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-1.
In Arlington, ex-Ranger Juan Gonzalez’s three-run, seventh-inning homer plated the deciding runs as the Kansas City Royals defeated Texas 5-3 despite being out-hit 7-4.
In Oakland, Bobby Kielty twice took loser Mike Maroth (4-2) deep to carry the Athletics to a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
In Seattle, AL batting leader Melvin Mora (.383) drove in the game’s first run and Erik Bedard (1-1) grabbed his first major league win as the Baltimore Orioles defeated the Mariners 5-2 to hand them their ninth loss in 10 games.
Alou Turns Tables on Dad in Cubs Win
Moises Alou homered with one out in the 10th inning to give the host Chicago Cubs a 4-3 win over the San Francisco Giants in the National League Wednesday.
The Cubs were without slugger Sammy Sosa, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list earlier in the day with sprained ligaments in his back. The Giants also had Barry Bonds sidelined because of a bad back. Sosa’s replacement, minor leaguer Jason Dubois, sacrificed in the seventh inning to knot the score at 3-3 and set the stage for Alou’s heroics.
In Pittsburgh, Phil Nevin singled and twice grounded into fielder’s choices to plate three runs as the San Diego Padres snapped the Pirates’ four-game winning streak to take the first game of their doubleheader 6-3.
In Game Two, the Padres pushed across four first-inning runs on their way to a 7-3 triumph, which clinched their first road doubleheader sweep since 1990.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Bill Hall’s bases-loaded triple plated three of Milwaukee’s four fourth-inning runs as the Brewers won 6-3 to snap the Montreal Expos’ four-game winning streak.
In Atlanta, Luis Gonzalez homered twice, his second the game-winning blast in the 11th inning, as the Arizona Diamondbacks outlasted the Braves 6-4.
In Miami, Lance Berkman homered to deep center to put Houston on the board and Morgan Ensberg drove in three more runs as the Astros crushed the Florida Marlins 10-2.
In Philadelphia, the Phillies used a five-run third inning to defeat slumping Los Angeles 9-4, handing the Dodgers their sixth straight loss.
In New York, Scott Rolen’s eighth-inning double plated Edgar Renteria with the only run as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Mets 1-0.
In Cincinnati, D’Angelo Jimenez’s bases-loaded, 10th-inning single gave the Reds a 4-3 victory over the Rockies, Colorado’s fourth extra-inning loss this season.
