TORONTO, 26 August 2005 — Vernon Wells belted a three-run homer to highlight a nine-run fifth inning, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 9-5 pounding of the New York Yankees in American League action at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.
The loss dropped the Yankees back into a tie with the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians in the AL wild card race, while the Blue Jays broke out of five-game tailspin to get back into playoff contention.
“We want to win the division and we’re shooting for Boston, but we also know how tough it’s been to get where we are right now,” New York manager Joe Torre told MLB.com.
“Whatever perk we get from this thing, we’ll have earned it. “It’s not like we’re going to rest guys because these games aren’t important. New York are 3 12 games behind Boston in the AL East division and have 37 games remaining.
Yankees starter Mike Mussina had looked in complete command entering the fifth inning, having given up just one hit in the first inning.
With one out, the Blue Jays launched into their biggest inning since a 10-run burst against the Detroit Tigers in May 1999, sending 13 men to the plate and scoring nine runs, including eight off Mussina before chasing him from the game. Russ Adams drove in a pair of runs and scored, while Frank Catalanotto and Eric Hinske each contributed an RBI and scored a run to the Blue Jay cause.
In St Petersburg, Seth McClung pitched seven strong innings, Aubrey Huff hammered a two-run homer and Travis Lee drove in four runs as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays routed the red hot Cleveland Indians 13-3.
In Detroit, Kirk Saarloos tossed seven shutout frames, while Mark Kotsay, Eric Chavez, Mark Ellis and Bobby Crosby all homered as Oakland Athletics dumped the Tigers 9-2.
In Baltimore, Bartolo Colon was superb, allowing one run over 8 2/3 innings as the Los Angeles Angels eased past the Orioles 3-1.
In Arlington, Juan Dominquez collected his first win of the season and Kevin Mench homered and scored twice as the Texas Rangers cruised past the Seattle Mariners 8-1.
In Minneapolis, Mark Buehrle yielded just one run in eight innings of work and Carl Everett belted a two-run homer as the rebounding Chicago White Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 for their second win in three games.
In Kansas City, David DeJesus slammed a two-run homer to tie the game and scored the winning run on Chip Ambres’s 11th inning bases loaded sacrifice fly as the Kansas City Royals edged the Boston Red Sox 4-3 to end a nine-game home losing streak.
La Russa Reaches Milestone
With Cardinals Win
Chris Carpenter notched his major league best 18th win, Albert Pujols belted his 34th homer and coach Tony La Russa reached a milestone in an 8-3 win for the St Louis Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
On a day of landmarks there were as many fireworks before the contest at PNC Park as during it, when a brawl threatened to erupt during pre-game batting practice.
Players and coaches from both teams began yelling at each other but that quickly escalated into shoving and pushing, at which point Pittsburgh police security staff came onto the field to restore order.
Things certainly turned out fine for La Russa as the National League Central Division leaders eased to a comfortable win, tying him with Sparky Anderson for third place on the major league’s all-time win list with 2,194.
It was also another good day for Carpenter (18-4), as he allowed three runs on four hits while striking out four and walking two to register his 10th straight decision.
In Washington, Jose Guillen homered, Vinny Castilla drove in two runs and Chad Cordero notched his major league leading 40th save, helping the Nationals to a 5-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
In San Francisco, Bobby Abreu had a pair of RBIs while Kenny Lofton and David Bell each had three hits and a scored a run as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Giants 7-4 to move 1 12 games clear of the Houston Astros in the NL wildcard chase.
In San Diego, Miguel Olivo had three RBIs and Brian Giles drove two runs helping the Padres to a 7-4 win over the Astros.
In Los Angeles, Aaron Miles and Matt Holliday each drove in a run as the Colorado Rockies slipped past the Dodgers 2-1.
In Milwaukee, Rickie Weeks batted in run and scored another helping as Brewers trimmed the Florida Marlins 6-4.
In Phoenix, Mike Jacobs and David Wright each belted a pair of homers and Jose Reyes added a three-run shot as the New York Mets powered their way to an 18-4 demolition of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
