A semblance of order and familiarity has been restored to the American League East. For the second straight day, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees posted victories and picked up ground on the Tampa Bay Rays.
It's still unusual to see perennial cellar-dwelling Tampa Bay atop the powerhouses who share their division, but the race tightened a bit on Wednesday when the Yankees edged the Rays 2-1 in 10 innings in New York and Boston moved within two games of the lead with an 18-5 home win over the Minnesota Twins.
Both the Yankees and Red Sox trimmed a game off their deficits on Tuesday, too, when New York started its two-game series sweep of the Rays.
"They know we're still around. They know that," Yankees closer Mariano Rivera said after New York closed to six games behind the Rays, who still own the best record in the majors (55-35).
In other AL games, it was: Tigers 8, Indians 6; Blue Jays 9, Orioles 8; Rangers 5, Angels 4; White Sox 7, Royals 6, and Mariners 6, Athletics 4.
In the National League, it was: Marlins 5, Padres 2; Astros 6, Pirates 4; Phillies 4, Cardinals 2; Mets 5, Giants 0; Rockies 8, Brewers 3; Cubs 5, Reds 1; Dodgers 2, Braves 1; and Nationals 5, Diamondbacks 0 .
Sidney Ponson limited Tampa Bay to one run in six innings, and Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth and Rivera (4-3) combined for hitless relief.
Bobby Abreu fouled off four straight fastballs from Grant Balfour in the 10th, took a ball, and then doubled home Derek Jeter from first by lining a changeup up the gap in right-center.
"This is no time to be in any state of emergency," said Rays starter Edwin Jackson, who allowed a run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Including two wins against the Red Sox during the Fourth of July weekend, the Yankees have four straight victories after losing five of six. New York is 4-1 since manager Joe Girardi chewed out and challenged his players following a 0-7 loss to Boston last Thursday.
"We could have easily slipped away," said first baseman Jason Giambi, who was honored on Wednesday when 20,000 fans were given replicas of his mustache. "It would have turned into a mountain, you know, if we would have got swept by Boston."
Tampa Bay has lost three in a row for the first time since the Rays were swept at Boston from June 3-5. They were 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 2-for-28 (.071) during the skid.
The Red Sox used some good fortune to turn a tight game into a rout of the Twins.
Dustin Pedroia hit a three-run double, and Boston scored seven times in the seventh inning - all the runs coming after a triple play was wiped out - to complete a three-game sweep of Minnesota.
Jacoby Ellsbury had a career-high four hits, and Manny Ramirez, Kevin Youkilis and Sean Casey had three apiece to help Boston set season highs for hits (23) and runs. The Twins loaded the bases in the seventh and failed to score, but they trailed just 5-7 in the bottom half when they appeared to escape a jam on what was initially ruled a triple play.
"I know what the score was, but the game wasn't played like that," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
The Red Sox had runners on second and third when Jason Varitek hit a sinking liner to center and Denard Span slid for the ball, backhanding it and then holding up his glove as if he caught it. The runners took off and, after the umpires belatedly signaled a catch, Span threw to second to double off Casey.
Second baseman Alexi Casilla leisurely threw to third to get Mike Lowell, who had already crossed the plate.
The call was reversed - correctly, replays confirmed.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily July 11, 2008)