The Associated Press

NEW YORK - It took a record six pitchers to no-hit the New York Yankees, and that wasn't the only bizarre thing about the Houston Astros' big night in the Bronx.

Forced to scramble after ace Roy Oswalt was injured, five relievers finished off the first no-hitter against the Yankees in 45 years.

Completing the Astros' 8-0 victory Wednesday night were: Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner.

"First appearance for most of us in Yankee Stadium," Wagner said. "What better place could there be? This is like the history book."

It was the most pitchers ever to combine on a no-hitter in major league history - four had twice done the trick.

The Yankees had gone 6,980 games - the longest streak in major league history - without being no-hit, since Hoyt Wilhelm's 1-0 victory for Baltimore on Sept. 20, 1958.

The last time New York was held hitless at Yankee Stadium was on Aug. 25, 1952, by Detroit's Virgil Trucks.

With Yankees' fans standing and applauding, Wagner pumped his fist as he stepped on first base to end it. Many the Astros ran onto the field to give high-fives while the Yankees couldn't clear out of the dugout fast enough.

"This is one of the worst games I've ever been involved in," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "It was a total, inexcusable performance."

"I can't find a reason for what happened today," he said. "The whole game stunk."

The closest New York came to a hit was in the fifth inning against Saarloos, when Alfonso Soriano sent a fly ball into short left field. Lance Berkman, who hit a two-run run homer in the third inning, ran in, stuck out his glove and made a tumbling catch.

"It wasn't that close," Berkman said. "It probably looked more spectacular than it really was."

Third baseman Geoff Blum made a barehanded pickup on Juan Rivera in the third inning and threw him out at first.

"One guy usually goes out there and does it," Astros manager Jimy Williams said. "Maybe two, but not six."

By the time the Astros returned to their clubhouse, the Yankees had left a bottle of champagne in front of the locker of all six pitchers.

"That's how the Yankees are, they're pretty classy," Wagner said.

Astros pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, including four by Dotel in the eighth, which tied the major league record for an inning. Soriano reached during the inning when he struck out on a wild pitch.

Wagner struck out Jorge Posada and pinch-hitter Bubba Trammell to start the ninth. He then got Hideki Matsui to ground to first base with one pitch to complete the Astros' 10th no-hitter, the first since Darryl Kile against the New York Mets on Sept. 8, 1993.

Blue Jays 8, Pirates 5

TORONTO - Roy Halladay won his ninth straight start, breaking Roger Clemens' team record, and Carlos Delgado hit his AL-leading 21st homer for Toronto.

Halladay (9-2) allowed one run on eight hits in eight innings. He struck out nine and walked one. The 26-year-old right-hander hasn't lost since April 15 against the Yankees - a span of 12 starts.

Clemens set the Toronto record by winning eight straight starts in 1997.

Pittsburgh's Aramis Ramirez extended his career-high hitting streak to 22 games with a single in the first. Brian Giles homered and drove in four runs, three on a ninth-inning homer.

Orlando Hudson and Chris Woodward homered off Jeff D'Amico (4-7) in the second, the second straight night the Blue Jays have hit back-to-back homers.

Indians 3, Padres 2

CLEVELAND - C.C. Sabathia took a shutout into the eighth inning as Cleveland won for the 10th time in its last 12 home games.

Sabathia (5-3) blanked San Diego on nine hits for 7 2-3 innings before giving up Brian Buchanan's two-out, two-run homer.

David Riske got the final out for Sabathia in the eighth and Danys Baez worked the ninth for his 14th save.

Rookie Jody Gerut homered off Adam Eaton (2-5) and made two nice plays in right field behind Sabathia.

Dodgers 3, Tigers 1

DETROIT - Kevin Brown won his National League-best ninth game and Fred McGriff's go-ahead single moved him into a tie with Joe DiMaggio on the all-time RBI list as the Dodgers beat Detroit.

McGriff knocked in Brian Jordan in the fourth inning to give Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. It was McGriff's 1,537th RBI, tying DiMaggio for 36th place.

That was all the cushion Brown (9-1) needed in breaking a tie with St. Louis' Woody Williams and Colorado's Shawn Chacon for the most wins in the NL. He gave up one run on five hits and three walks while striking out seven over seven innings.

Eric Gagne pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save in as many opportunities. He has saved 31 straight dating back to last season, the longest streak in the majors.

Adam Bernero (1-8) gave up three runs on four hits and three walks over 7 2-3 innings.

Red Sox 13, Cardinals 1

BOSTON - Pedro Martinez pitched three solid innings in his return from the disabled list for Boston, which had a season-high 19 hits.

The Red Sox scored seven runs in the second inning and had at least eight runs for the fifth time in seven games.

Martinez left to a standing ovation after throwing 47 pitches as the Red Sox eased him back into action. He hadn't pitched since May 15 and went on the disabled list May 25 with an inflamed tendon and strained muscle high on his right side.

The Red Sox ace struck out three and allowed two hits and no walks as his ERA dropped from 2.83 to 2.70. He was replaced, as planned, by John Burkett (4-3) to start the fourth.

By that time, the Red Sox powerful lineup had built a 9-0 cushion against Brett Tomko (2-5), who left the game after allowing singles to the first two batters in the third. He gave up nine runs on 10 hits.

Mets 8, Rangers 2

ARLINGTON, Texas - Cliff Floyd homered and drove in five runs to back another solid outing by Mets rookie Jae Weong Seo.

Floyd, who finished 3-for-4, put the Mets ahead to stay with a two-run single in the first. He hit his 13th homer in the seventh, a two-run shot that made it 8-2.

Seo (4-2) struck out six and scattered eight hits, allowing just two runs over seven innings.

Texas starter Victor Santos (0-1) gave up five runs on seven hits over 4 2-3 innings.