Yankees come out swinging

Giambi's grand slam sparks rout of Texas

Rangers left fielder Brandon Boggs went to great lengths but failed to catch up to Bobby Abreu's seventh-inning double for the Yankees. (Kathy Willens/Associated Press)

Jason Giambi hit a grand slam and drove in a season-best six runs, Alex Rodriguez added a three-run shot, and New York pounded the Texas Rangers, 18-7, last night at Yankee Stadium to avoid a series sweep.

Rodriguez scored four times, the last coming on his line-drive homer to right during the Yankees' season-high nine-run seventh inning. It was Rodriguez's 535th homer, moving him past Jimmie Foxx for 14th on the career list and within one of Yankees Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle.

Milton Bradley and Chris Davis hit two-run homers for the Rangers, who are 0-7 this season after taking the first two games of a three-game series. Josh Hamilton also drove in a pair of runs.

Edwar Ramirez (2-0) got the win in relief for the Yankees, whose bullpen pitched four scoreless innings after the Rangers chased former teammate Sidney Ponson.

Derek Jeter's run-scoring single in the eighth gave every Yankees starter a hit. Seven Yankees drove in runs, including youngster Brett Gardner with his first career hit.

Giambi sparked New York's sputtering offense with one big swing in the third.

Johnny Damon was aboard with a one-out single when second baseman Ian Kinsler botched a grounder by Jeter. A-Rod walked to load the bases, and Giambi drove a 2-and-1 pitch from Luis Mendoza into the upper deck in right for a 5-3 lead.

It was Giambi's 18th homer of the year and 13th career grand slam.

Cubs 6, Giants 5 - Mike Fontenot hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and Chicago continued its offensive resurgence at San Francisco.

Jim Edmonds also homered for the Cubs, who have scored 16 runs in the first three games of this four-game series after being held to nine runs while getting swept by the White Sox over the weekend.

White Sox 6, Indians 5 - A.J. Pierzynski led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the game and host Chicago beat Cleveland for its seventh straight win.

Masa Kobayashi (4-4) pitched a perfect ninth before Pierzynski drove the first pitch of the 10th out to left-center for his seventh homer.

C.C. Sabathia allowed five runs and seven hits in eight innings for Cleveland, which has lost five straight.

Twins 7, Tigers 0 - Nick Blackburn combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, and Joe Mauer's two-out, two-run single sparked a five-run third inning that led surging Minnesota over visiting Detroit.

Minnesota took two of three from the Tigers and has won 13 of its last 15 games. Detroit, which had won 18 of 22 coming into the series, was shut out for the 10th time, the most in the major leagues.

Mariners 4, Blue Jays 2 - Miguel Cairo, making just his second start at second base, drove in three runs with two doubles to lead host Seattle.

Dodgers 4, Astros 1 - Hiroki Kuroda (4-6) threw seven shutout innings after coming off the disabled list, and Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles to lead visiting Los Angeles over Houston.

Phillies 7, Braves 3 - Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Pat Burrell added his 21st, and Philadelphia improved to 5-0 this season in Atlanta.

Cardinals 8, Mets 7 - Troy Glaus's second homer of the game with two outs in the ninth won it for host St. Louis, an inning after pinch hitter Chris Duncan's two-run shot tied it.

Orioles 5, Royals 2 - Daniel Cabrera pitched a seven-hitter to earn his first victory since May 20, and Aubrey Huff homered to lead host Baltimore past Kansas City.

Rockies 8, Padres 1 - Garrett Atkins homered and drove in four runs, and Troy Tulowitzki and Yorvit Torrealba also homered to lift host Colorado.

Pirates 9, Reds 5 - Xavier Nady homered twice and drove in four runs, leading Pittsburgh over Cincinnati and helping the Pirates win back-to-back road games for only the second time this season.

Brewers 4, Diamondbacks 3 - Mike Cameron singled home Russell Branyan with one out in the top of the ninth to get visiting Milwaukee past Arizona.

Marlins 4, Nationals 2 - Alfredo Amezaga hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning when play resumed after a 1 1/2-hour delay, lifting host Florida.