Monday, May 06, 2002
AL roundup
Mariners enjoy sweeping Yankees
The Associated Press
The Seattle Mariners understand that sweeping the Yankees in May isn't the same as doing it in October.
“This is the regular season. The postseason is different,” Mariners reliever Jeff Nelson said after a 10-6 victory Sunday that completed a three-win weekend at Yankee Stadium.
Ruben Sierra homered and drove in four runs and Joel Pineiro held down the Yankees for six innings. The Mariners have won 11 of 12 at Yankee Stadium in the regular season, but Seattle has lost to New York in the last two AL championship series.
“We beat them up pretty good in the regular season last year and they got us back in the postseason,” second baseman Bret Boone said. “We're not putting too much into this. To get to where we want to be, which is the World Series, we will have to beat these guys.”
In other games, it was: Boston 2, Tampa Bay 0; Oakland 3, Chicago 2; Cleveland 9, Texas 2; Detroit 7, Minnesota 6; Anaheim 8, Toronto 2; and Baltimore 3, Kansas City 2.
Bernie Williams homered twice for the Yankees, who were swept for the first time this season. They fell 4 1/2 games behind Boston in the AL East — their largest deficit since September 1997.
“We've got to start winning some games obviously,” he said.
Pineiro (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits in six innings as Seattle improved to 14-2 on the road. David Wells (4-1) gave up six runs and nine hits in six innings.
Red Sox 2, Devil Rays 0
Frank Castillo (2-2) allowed three hits in eight innings and Jose Offerman hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly off Steve Kent after Trot Nixon doubled off Ryan Rupe (3-3) in the eighth. Nomar Garciaparra added a solo homer off Esteban Yan in the ninth.
Boston, which leads the AL East, has won five straight and has a 20-7 record, the best in the major leagues. Tampa Bay has lost 10 in a row, its longest skid since Sept. 9-20, 2000, and one short of the team record.
Ugueth Urbina got three outs for his 11th save, finishing a four-hitter. Visiting Boston has pitched four shutouts in its last nine games and leads the major leagues with six shutouts.
Athletics 3, White Sox 2
Barry Zito (2-2) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings, and David Justice homered as visiting Oakland avoided getting swept. Randy Velarde and Scott Hatteberg also drove in runs off Dan Wright (3-3).
Frank Thomas homered for the White Sox, who took two of three after losing three. Chicago outscored Oakland 18-6 in this series after being outscored 32-5 at the Coliseum last weekend.
Jim Mecir pitched two innings, combining for hitless relief with Billy Koch, who got his seventh save.
Indians 9, Rangers 2
Omar Vizquel went 5-for-5 with two RBIs and C.C. Sabathia (3-3) won for the first time in four starts, allowing two runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings at Jacobs Field. Cleveland had a season-high 16 hits and won for just the fourth time in 19 games.
Matt Lawton homered as the streaky Indians won two straight for the first time since April 12-13 and scored their most runs since April 10, when they were in the midst of opening the season 11-1.
Kenny Rogers (3-1) allowed six runs and 10 hits in a season-low four innings.
Tigers 7, Twins 6
Jeff Weaver (2-4) gave up four runs on six hits in six-plus innings to beat the Twins for the just the third time in 10 career starts and end Minnesota's 10-game home winning streak.
Robert Fick and Wendell Magee each hit two-run homers as part of a five-run fifth inning that gave Detroit a 7-1 lead.
Juan Acevedo got five outs for his second save. Kyle Lohse (2-2) gave up six runs in 4 1-3 innings.
Angels 8, Blue Jays 2
Ramon Ortiz (3-3) came within one out of his first career shutout before Jose Cruz Jr. and Carlos Delgado hit consecutive home runs at Toronto.
Ortiz (3-3) finished with a five-hitter and tied a career high by striking out 10 as Anaheim won for the ninth time in 10 games.
Luke Prokopec (1-4) allowed four runs, five hits and three walks in 1 2-3 innings — the shortest start of his career. Toronto has lost 10 of 11.
Orioles 3, Royals 2
Jeff Conine homered off Chris George (0-3) and Mike Bordick added an RBI single in a three-run sixth as Baltimore completed a four-game sweep, dropping visiting Kansas City to 0-6 since John Mizerock replaced Tony Muser.
The Orioles, who trailed 2-0 before rallying in the sixth, finished 7-0 against the Royals this season, outscoring them 55-16.
Calvin Maduro (2-3) allowed two runs — one earned — and seven hits in 6 1-3 innings, and Jorge Julio worked the ninth for his sixth save. Baltimore (16-15) is over .500 for the first time it was 1-0.
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