Yankees weather Chicago
Struggling Alex Rodriguez got the Yankees going with a bunt single and New York held on to beat the White Sox, 11-8, last night in Chicago after scoring seven first-inning runs.
The Yankees got back to .500 with their biggest first inning in nine years as they routed Mark Buehrle (1-1) in a game delayed twice by rain -- 12 minutes at the start and 72 minutes after the second inning.
Jorge Posada drove in four runs and had three hits, including a two-run single in the first and a solo homer in the eighth. Miguel Cairo capped the first-inning outburst with a three-run double.
Rodriguez went 3 for 6 and hiked his average from .160 to .196 with his second multihit game this season, his previous one coming April 14 vs. Tampa Bay.
Paul Quantrill (2-0) pitched two innings of relief for the win, and Mariano Rivera worked the ninth for his fourth save.
In the first inning, Derek Jeter reached on an infield hit to first when he beat Buehrle to the bag, Bernie Williams singled to right and Rodriguez surprised the White Sox with a bunt to third.
He was credited with a single as Joe Crede's throw went past first base, allowing Jeter to score. From there, the Yankees didn't look like a team with a .217 batting average entering the game.
Gary Sheffield walked with one out and Posada followed with a two-run single. After Buehrle hit Hideki Matsui with a pitch, Rueben Sierra had an RBI single off second baseman Willie Harris' glove, loading the bases.
Cairo then cleared the bases with a double into the left-fielder corner with Sierra scoring by knocking the ball away from catcher Sandy Alomar.
Orioles 9, Devil Rays 1 -- Sidney Ponson pitched a four-hitter and Rafael Palmeiro drove in three runs, spurring host Baltimore to its fifth straight victory.
Melvin Mora homered, and Miguel Tejada and Javy Lopez both had three hits and an RBI for the surprising Orioles, who maintained their perch atop the AL East, a half-game ahead of the Red Sox.
Ponson (2-0) struck out two and walked one in pitching the first complete game by an Oriole this season.
The righthander allowed only two runners past second base and reduced his ERA from 5.51 to 3.91.
Mariners 2, A's 1 -- Raul Ibanez homered to tie the game in the seventh and then connected again in the ninth, lifting host Seattle over Oakland. After starting the season 2-8, the Mariners have won four straight, the last two by 2-1 scores.
On Monday, Oakland's Justin Duchscherer balked home Quinton McCracken with one out in the 14th inning.
Ibanez hit a 2-2 pitch off Jim Mercir (0-1) to right to end the game. It was his first career multi-homer game.
Rangers 6, Angels 3 -- Brad Fullmer homered and drove in two runs in his first game in Anaheim since leaving as a free agent in the offseason, pacing Texas to victory.
Royals 15, Indians 5 -- Matt Stairs hit a grand slam and matched a career-high with six RBIs as Kansas City ended a six-game road losing streak with a rout of Cleveland.
Twins 6, Tigers 4 -- Lew Ford, Michael Ryan and Nick Punto each drove in two runs, powering Minnesota past visiting Detroit for its sixth straight victory.
