TORONTO, 16 July 2005 — Alex Rodriguez belted a ninth inning two-run homer lifting the New York Yankees to an 8-6 win over the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at Fenway Park, spoiling Curt Schilling’s return to mound.
Picking up where they left off before the All-Star break, the surging Yankees won for the eighth time in nine contests, moving to within 1-1/2 games of their bitter rivals for top spot in the American League East Division standings.
Making his first appearance since undergoing ankle surgery, Schilling entered the game in the ninth inning to a standing ovation and the score tied 6-6.
But the Red Sox World Series hero struggled to shake off the rust in his first outing since April 23.
Gary Sheffield greeted him with a double off the Green Monster followed by Rodriguez with his 24th homer of the season to saddle Schilling (1-3) with the loss.
The Red Sox jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead but the Yankees answered with a pair of home runs in the second from Jason Giambi, with his sixth in seven games, and Bernie Williams.
In Seattle, Rafael Palmeiro had a single to inch closer to the 3,000th milestone helping the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Jay Gibbons belted a two-run homer, Sal Fasano added a solo shot and Daniel Cabrera tossed eight solid innings as the Orioles opened the second half of the season with an impressive victory.
But the spotlight was firmly focused on Palmeiro and his bid to join Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray as the only players in major league history with 3,000 hits and 500 homers.
Palmeiro began the night needing just two hits and moved to the brink of joining one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs with fourth inning single.
In Oakland, Rich Harden came within five outs of no-hitter but settled for a complete game shutout leading the Athletics to a 6-0 win over the Texas Rangers.
Harden (6-4) carried his perfect game into the eighth inning before giving up a one out single to Alfonso Soriano.
In Toronto, Casey Fossum and Danys Baez combined on a six-hit shutout as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays pulled out of a six-game road losing skid, blanking the Blue Jays 3-0.
Fossum (4-7) scattered four hits and did not walk a batter over 7-2/3 innings before turning the mound over to Baez, who came on to get the final four outs and his 14th save as the Devil Rays registered their first shutout this season.
Damon Hollins cracked a ninth inning homer and Jorge Cantu had two RBIs.
Ted Lilly (7-9) gave the Blue Jays seven strong innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out eight but got no support and took the loss.
In Detroit, Matt Stairs had a grand slam and two-run homer, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 12-9 win over the Tigers.
Zack Greinke (2-11) surrendered two runs on five hits and struck out three over 5-1/3 innings of work to earn his first win since May and stop a personal five game losing skid. Mike MacDougal came on in the ninth to get the final three outs to collect his 12th save.
Jeremy Bonderman was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs on eight hits in six innings.
With the Royals clinging to a 6-5 lead, Stairs put the game out of reach with his ninth career grand slam highlighting a six-run eighth inning.
In Minneapolis, Maicer Izturis, Adam Kennedy and Steve Finley each drove in as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a four-game losing skid, edging the Minnesota Twins 3-2.
Jarrood Washburn (6-4) pitched 5-2/3 innings to earn the win, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking one.
Francisco Rodriguez tossed a perfect ninth to seal the win and collect his 18th save.
Kyle Lohse (7-8) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in six innings as the Twins squandered a 2-0 fourth inning lead.
In Cleveland, Jose Contreras and three relievers combined on a four-hit shutout guiding the White Sox to a 1-0 win over the Indians.
Contreras (5-5) was brilliant scattering three hits, striking out seven and walking three over seven sparkling innings to take credit for a well deserved win.
Cliff Politte, Damaso Marte and Dustin Hermanson, with his 22nd save, completed the shutout helping the White Sox end a three game losing streak.
The Indians wasted a solid outing from starter Kevin Millwood (3-8) who allowed just the one run on six hits over eight sharp innings.
Frank Thomas delivered the game’s only run with a double to deep left in the first inning bringing across Tadahito Iguchi.
