NEW YORK, 16 August 2004 — John Olerud sunk his former team by recording a two-run single in the eighth inning to drive in the go-ahead runs which earned the New York Yankees a 6-4 win over the host Seattle Mariners in the American League Saturday.
Olerud, released by the Mariners earlier this season after hitting .245 with 22 RBI in 78 games, is now hitting .333 as a Yankee with 11 RBI in nine outings.
Paul Quantrill (6-2) picked up the victory in relief after recently-acquired Esteban Loaiza blew an early 3-0 lead. Loaiza went 5 1/3 innings and is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA since joining New York from the Chicago White Sox.
In Toronto, Josh Towers pitched 6 2/3 strong innings to beat his former team as the Blue Jays overcame the Baltimore Orioles 7-2. Towers (8-4) gave up two runs on six hits to improve to 16-5 as a Blue Jay. Carlos Delgado had three hits.
In Oakland, Mark Kotsay homered to lead off a five-run sixth inning as the Athletics swept past the Kansas City Royals 6-1. Damian Miller collected three hits, including a three-run double, to help the A’s end a three-game losing streak.
In Cleveland, Travis Hafner, Casey Blake and Victor Martinez homered as the Indians moved within one game of first place in the Central Division with a 7-1 hammering of the Minnesota Twins. The Indians scored four runs in the first inning as they won their sixth straight game and 10th out of 11.
In Boston, David Ortiz stroked two homers as the Red Sox edged the Chicago White Sox 4-3. Manny Ramirez also homered for the Red Sox to tie Ortiz for the American League lead with 30 on the season.
In Texas, Kevin Mench and Gary Matthews Jr homered to carry the Rangers to a 6-5 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Brian Jordan drove in two runs for Texas.
In Anaheim, Chone Figgins homered and drove in four runs as the Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 11-8. David Eckstein, Jose Guillen and Robb Quinlan also homered for Anaheim.
Jones Homers Twice as
Braves Down Cards
Chipper Jones cracked two homers and Julio Franco’s two-run double in the seventh inning drove in the winning runs as the streaking Atlanta Braves downed the St. Louis Cardinals 9-7 in the National League on Saturday.
The hosts Braves improved to 21-7 since the All-Star break and opened up an eight-game lead on the Philadelphia Phillies in the East Division. St. Louis lost for only the third time in 11 outings. The Cards had taken the opener of the three-game series, and a possible playoff match-up, Friday.
In Philadelphia, Yorvit Torrealba’s eighth-inning homer lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 7-6 triumph over the Phillies. Cody Ransom, Dustan Mohr and Marquis Grissom also homered for the Giants.
In Chicago, Kerry Wood homered and surrendered four hits over eight shutout innings as the Cubs blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0. Wood (7-5) struck out seven batters and walked three while also notching his seventh career home run.
In Milwaukee, Jeff Conine stroked a grand slam homer and Dontrelle Willis pitched seven strong innings to power the Florida Marlins to an 11-1 hammering of the Brewers. Willis (9-8) allowed one run on seven hits with three strikeouts.
In Pittsburgh, Oliver Perez tossed a two-hitter over six innings as the Pirates crushed the Colorado Rockies 6-1. Perez (8-6) allowed one run while striking out six batters and walking seven.
In Cincinnati, Willy Mo Pena homered twice and drove in four runs to help the Reds brush aside the San Diego Padres 11-5. Darren Bragg and Adam Dunn, with his 36th of the season, also homered for the Reds while D’Angelo Jimenez had three hits and three RBI.
In New York, Cliff Floyd homered and drove in three runs as the Mets edged the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3. Al Leiter (9-4) went 6 2/3 innings for the victory, allowing three runs on nine hits.
In Montreal, Nick Johnson’s seventh-inning grand slam guided the Expos to an 8-3 triumph over the Houston Astros.
