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Yankees Beat Red Sox to Open 9 1/2-Game Lead

Posted on: Saturday, 24 July 2004, 06:00 CDT

Three months following his weekend of futility at Fenway Park, Alex Rodriguez gave the New York Yankees another win over the fading Red Sox. After Kevin Millar tied the score in the eighth inning with his third solo homer of the night, Rodriguez hit an RBI single in the ninth that gave New York an 8-7 victory. The Yankees boosted their AL East lead up to a season-high 9 1/2 games.

Rodriguez went 3-for-5. Back in April, he was 1-for-17 over four games at Boston.

"It feels like it was five years ago," he said.

After losing six of seven games to the Red Sox, the Yankees have won four straight against their longtime rival. Boston had been 10-0 when Curt Schilling started at home.

"Every loss to me is huge," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. "We're just trying so desperately to get on the right track."

In other AL games it was Texas 8, Oakland 3; Chicago 6, Detroit 4; Cleveland 3, Kansas City 2 in 11 innings; Minnesota 7, Baltimore 3; Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 4; and Anaheim 8, Seattle 2.

New York overcame a 4-1, fifth-inning deficit against Schilling. Keith Foulke (2-3) allowed consecutive drives off the Green Monster in left - Gary Sheffield's double and Rodriguez's single.

"I made a couple of pitches you shouldn't make in this ballpark," Foulke said. "You've got to take the wall out of play."

Mariano Rivera pitched a perfect bottom half for his 35th save in 36 chances. Tom Gordon (3-3) got the win.

Rangers 8, Athletics 3

Kevin Mench hit a three-run homer during a five-run rally in the sixth, and visiting Texas ended Mark Mulder's 11-game winning streak, increasing its AL West lead over the A's to 4 1/2 games.

Kenny Rogers joined Mulder as the majors' only 13-game winners with his 18th straight victory at the Coliseum. Rogers (13-3), who allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2-3 innings, hasn't lost in 35 starts in Oakland since Aug. 7, 1994.

Mulder (13-3) gave up seven runs and 10 hits in six innings, his first loss in 15 starts since April 28.

White Sox 6, Tigers 4

After learning that Magglio Ordonez could miss the rest of the season because of an injured knee, Chicago's Carlos Lee hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs, and Juan Uribe hit a tiebreaking solo homer.

Ordonez, a four-time All-Star, went back on the disabled list Friday and could spend up to eight weeks on crutches. Chicago already is missing two-time AL MVP Frank Thomas, expected to miss eight weeks with a broken bone in his left foot.

Esteban Loaiza (9-5) allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings to win for the first time in four starts since June 27. Shingu Takatsu pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his eighth save.

Nate Robertson (9-5) gave up six runs and eight hits in six innings for visiting Detroit.

Indians 3, Royals 2

Ben Broussard homered off Nate Field (2-2) on a 3-0 count with one out in the 11th, giving Cleveland its eighth win in a major league-high 19 extra-inning games this year.

Rick White (4-4) stranded the go-ahead run at second in the 11th by striking out Ruben Mateo and pinch-hitter Dee Brown.

Twins 7, Orioles 3

Corey Koskie homered and had a season-high four RBIs as visiting Minnesota won its fifth straight and maintained its half-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.

Carlos Silva (9-7) allowed three runs and nine hits in six-plus innings to earn his first win in four starts since June 23. John Maine (0-1) gave up four runs, seven hits and three walks over 3 2-3 innings in his major league debut.

Blue Jays 7, Devil Rays 4

Frank Menechino had three hits, including a solo homer, and Toronto scored six unearned runs in the third at SkyDome, helped by two errors by first baseman Aubrey Huff.

Miguel Batista (9-6) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to win for the seventh time in his last eight decisions at SkyDome. Rookie Jason Frasor got four outs for his 11th save.

Mark Hendrickson (7-8) gave up seven runs - one earned - and 11 hits in seven innings for Tampa Bay, 5-13 since July 3.

Angels 8, Mariners 2

Jose Guillen had three hits, a home run and five RBIs at Seattle.

Bobby Madritsch hit Vladimir Guerrero in the right wrist with a pitch in the seventh, and players streamed on the field. No punches were thrown and there were no ejections.

Guerrero came out of the game for a pinch runner - X-rays didn't show any breaks.

John Lackey (8-9) won for the fourth time in five decisions, allowing two runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings. Jamie Moyer (6-7) lost his fifth straight decision, allowing five runs and nine hits in six innings.

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