BALTIMORE, 3 June 2005 — Geronimo Gil clubbed a three-run shot while Miguel Tejada and Sammy Sosa belted back-to-back homers to power the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-3 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
Sosa’s home run was his first since April 24 but was his 579th of his major league career, moving him four behind Mark McGwire in sixth place on the all-time list.
In the third, Tejada with his 14th and Sosa with his fifth homer of the season increased the advantage to 5-0. With the early cushion Sidney Ponson (6-3) was able to collect his first win in four starts, allowing three runs — all unearned — on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
In Kansas City, D.J. Carrasco tossed six scoreless innings and Emil Brown homered and had two RBIs powering the Royals to a 3-1 win over the slumping New York Yankees, giving new manager Buddy Bell back-to-back victories.
Carrasco (1-1) scattered four hits, struck out two and walked two to earn his first win as a starter and sent the Yankees to their fourth straight defeat. Mike MacDougal worked the ninth to earn his fourth save.
In Detroit, Dmitri Young homered and Brandon Inge had a two-run single to key a five-run seventh inning as the Tigers snapped the Texas Rangers’ nine game win streak with a 6-4 victory.Craig Monroe, Chris Shelton and Tony Giarratano all drove in runs for the Tigers, who won four of their last five.
In Chicago, Dallas McPherson had a homer, three RBIs and scored three runs helping the Los Angeles Angels to a 10-7 win over the White Sox. Bengie Molina, Orlando Cabrera and Adam Kennedy also contributed a pair of hits and two RBIs each to the Los Angeles cause.
In Minneapolis, Torii Hunter went five-for-five with a grand slam driving across all six Minnesota runs, leading the Twins to 6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Trailing 2-0, Hunter’s third inning grand slam to deep left centre put the Twins in front to stay.
In Seattle, Gil Meche and combined with four relievers on a six hit shutout as the Mariners blanked the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. Meche (5-3) picked up the win scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings before turning the mound over the bullpen.
In Oakland, Mark Ellis smacked a two-run homer, Eric Byrnes had two-run triple and Barry Zito snapped a six start winless streak as the Athletics romped to 11-2 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, completing a three-game sweep.
Zambrano Pitches Mets to Win Over Diamondbacks
In New York, Victor Zambrano delivered eight scoreless innings as the New York Mets beat Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 on Wednesday in National League play at Shea Stadium.
Mike Piazza doubled in the winning run in the eighth inning. Zambrano (3-5) finished with one run on five hits after taking a shutout into the ninth.
In Pittsburgh, Rob Mackowiak belted a grand slam and drove in five runs powering the Pirates to a 9-1 demolition of the Florida Marlins, who lost for the seventh time in eight games.
Josh Fogg (4-3) worked six solid innings to take credit for the win, giving up one run on five hits while striking out two and walking two.
In Houston, Lance Berkman had a solo homerun and Roy Oswalt tossed seven solid innings lifting the Astros to a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Oswalt (6-6) yielded just one run on four hits, struck out four and walked one to improve his career record against Cincinnati to 14-0.
In Washington, Wilson Betemit had game tying two-run homer and Marcus Giles singled in the winning run to cap a three-run eighth inning as the Atlanta Braves rallied to beat the Nationals 5-4. John Smoltz (4-4) took credit for the win yielding four runs on six hits with three strikeouts in seven innings of work.
In Philadelphia, pinch-hitter Chase Utley belted a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning lifting the Phillies to 10-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants for their fifth win in six games.
Jimmy Rollins went 4-for-6 with two RBIs while Bobby Abreu and Mike Lieberthal each contributed three hits to a season high 19 pounded out by Phillies batters.
In Denver, Mark Grudzielanek had four hits and drove in a pair of runs as the St Louis Cardinals eased past the Colorado Rockies 8-6. Scott Seabol had three hits and two RBIs while Albert Pujols and David Eckstein each contributed a pair of hits to the St Louis effort.
In Los Angeles, Derrek Lee had five hits including a three-run homer helping the Chicago Cubs to a 9-5 victory over the Dodgers for the sixth straight win.
Lee finished a productive night going 5-for-5 driving in four runs while Neifi Perez also had a three-run homer for the Cubs.
In San Diego, Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee both homered and Doug Davis delivered eight solid innings helping the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-2 win over the Padres. Davis (7-5) gave up just one run on six hits, struck out seven and walked three to post his third straight win.
