NEW YORK, 1 June 2004 — Aubrey Huff homered twice and drove in three runs as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays edged the New York Yankees 7-6 in American League play in St. Petersburg on Sunday.
The loss knocked the Yankees out of first place in the AL East, as they fell half a game behind the Boston Red Sox, who won at home against Seattle. It also ended New York's six-game winning streak.
Brook Fordyce hit a solo home run in the eighth inning for the Devil Rays and that turned out to be the margin of victory as Tampa Bay almost squandered a six-run lead.
Victor Zambrano (5-4) beat the Yankees for the third time this season, allowing just three hits over 6 1/3 shutout innings. He struck out seven and walked three.
But the Devil Rays bullpen almost gave it away, allowing six runs on eight hits after Zambrano left the game in the seventh.
Danys Baez allowed two runs on four hits over 1 2/3 innings but still got credit for his eighth save. Fordyce and Huff both had three hits for the Mariners, while Robert Fick added a pair of hits and drove in a run.
Jon Lieber (4-2) was the loser, giving up runs on 11 hits over five innings.
Tony Clark drove in three runs and had two hits for New York, which was playing the seventh game of a 12-game road trip.
In other games, Jerry Hairston had four hits, including a two-run single in a six-run ninth inning, lifting the Baltimore Orioles past the Detroit Tigers 7-3. Larry Bigbie also drove in two runs for the Orioles, while Brian Roberts had two hits, scored twice and drove in another run. Buddy Groom (2-0) needed just one out in relief to get the win.
In Boston, David McCarty hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning, leading the Red Sox past the Seattle Mariners 9-7 and into first place in the AL East.
Manny Ramirez drove in a pair of runs for the Red Sox while Kevin Youkilis had three hits and scored three runs for Boston.
Anastacio Martinez (2-0) tossed two shutout innings of relief for the win after Curt Schilling pitched a perfect game through 5 2/3 innings.
Kenny Rogers won his fourth straight game, allowing six hits over 5 2/3 innings, as the Texas Rangers ended Toronto's five-game winning streak with a 4-2 win over the Blue Jays. Rogers (8-2) allowed one unearned run and won despite issuing seven walks.
Francisco Cordero pitched two innings for his 16th save and Brad Fullmer homered for the Rangers.
In Cleveland, Matt Lawton scored on a wild pitch by Arthur Rhodes with two out in the ninth inning, giving the Indians their third straight dramatic win over the Oakland Athletics, 4-3. Omar Vizquel, Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner all had two hits and drove in a run for the Indians.
Rick White (2-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the win after the Tribe scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to win it.
Corey Koskie drove in three runs, giving the Minnesota Twins an 8-3 win over the Kansas City Royals. Alex Prieto hit his first major league home run for the Twins and Lew Ford also homered. Kyle Lohse (2-4) allowed three runs on nine hits in five-plus innings for the win.
Jimmy Gobble (2-3) allowed six runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings. Benito Santiago homered for the Royals.
In Chicago, Willie Harris had four hits as the White Sox pounded the Anaheim Angels 11-2.
Jose Valentin homered and Russ Gload had three RBI for Chicago. Scott Schoeneweis (5-2) allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings for the win. John Lackey (3-6) went just three innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits. Vladimir Guerrero homered for Anaheim and Raul Mondesi went 0-for-2 on his debut.
