Nationals able to solve deficit

It's hard to think of a more demoralizing scenario. The Washington Nationals, losers of five straight, were down seven runs to the New York Yankees, whose fans had turned RFK Stadium into a home-away-from-home.

``We didn't hang our heads," Daryle Ward said. ``The guys were still alive in the dugout. We starting putting a few hits together, and next thing you know it's like the floodgates opened up for us."

The Nationals rallied with four runs in the fifth, two in the seventh, and three in the eighth -- with even Mariano Rivera helpless to stop the momentum. Ward lumbered around the bases with the go-ahead run on Jose Guillen's first triple of the year, and Washington ended its skid yesterday with an 11-9 victory.

The score was 9-2 after the Yankees' seven-run fifth, which included home runs by Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, along with Johnny Damon's second grand slam of the season. The crowd of 45,085, the largest in Washington since baseball returned to the nation's capital last year, was rocking RFK with cheers for the visitors.

The turning point followed immediately. Yankees starter Shawn Chacon failed to last even one inning when given a seven-run lead. He was removed after 4 1/3 innings, having allowed six hits, three walks, and six runs.

In the seventh, Ward hit an upper-deck homer off T.J. Beam, who was making his major league debut. Robert Fick's two-out single off Scott Proctor scored Guillen and made it a one-run game.

But the game wasn't decided until the eighth, when Rivera (4-4) entered with one out and Alfonso Soriano on first. Soriano stole second and third, coming home on a wayward throw to third by catcher Posada.

Ward then walked. Guillen followed with a triple to right-center, and Ward legged his way home well ahead of the throw. Ryan Zimmerman then singled home Guillen.

The win went to Jon Rauch (2-1), who pitched the eighth, and Chad Cordero worked the ninth for his 13th save.

Orioles 4, Mets 2 -- Kris Benson celebrated his return to Shea Stadium with his first career homer and pitched eight effective innings to pace Baltimore.

Benson (8-5), who allowed only six hits, connected for a solo shot against Mets starter Pedro Martínez (6-3) in the third. Martínez also allowed two runs in the fifth, when Brian Roberts doubled home a run, took third on an errant pickoff throw to second by Martínez, and scored on a single by Brandon Fahey.

White Sox 8, Reds 6 -- A throwing error in the top of the ninth by Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips let in two runs and helped Chicago rally to victory and preserve Jose Contreras's 15-game regular-season unbeaten streak.

Angels 3, Padres 2 -- At Anaheim, Calif., Dallas McPherson hit an inside-the-park homer in the sixth to drive in the go-ahead runs and Ervin Santana (7-3) held San Diego in check over his six innings.

Tigers 9, Cubs 3 -- Carlos Guillen had a two-run homer among his three RBIs and Justin Verlander (8-4) held host Chicago to one run over 5 2/3 innings as Detroit won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Devil Rays 7, Phillies 2 -- Rocco Baldelli and Carl Crawford homered and Scott Kazmir (8-4) worked five solid innings as visiting Tampa Bay sent Philadelphia to its sixth straight loss.

Marlins 8, Blue Jays 2 -- Brian Moehler (5-5) pitched seven strong innings and delivered an RBI single as host Florida notched its seventh win in a row.

Astros 7, Royals 2 -- Taylor Buchholz (4-6) allowed two hits in six innings and Lance Berkman had four RBIs in a home victory for Houston.

Brewers 3, Indians 2 -- Geoff Jenkins's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth off Cleveland closer Bob Wickman (1-2) lifted Milwaukee.

Rangers 8, Diamondbacks 4 -- Gary Matthews hit a two-run homer and Kevin Mench drove in three runs for host Texas.

Mariners 8, Giants 1 -- Richie Sexson and Raul Ibanez both homered and Gil Meche (7-4) tossed his first complete game since 2004 as Seattle rolled at home.

Twins 5, Pirates 3 -- At Pittsburgh, Justin Morneau's tiebreaking homer in the eighth gave Minnesota its sixth consecutive win.

Cardinals 6, Rockies 5 -- Juan Encarnacion homered twice for host St. Louis to support Jeff Suppan (6-4), who pitched into the eighth for his 100th career victory in the day's only non-interleague game.