Varitek slams the Yankees

By The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) " Jason Varitek hit a grand slam, Mike Lowell drove in six runs and the Boston Red Sox earned their biggest comeback victory against the Yankees since 1968, beating New York 16-11 Saturday for their ninth straight win.

Boston was trailing 6-0 before its offense got untracked with five runs in the fourth inning. Lowell hit a three-run homer in the seventh to put the Red Sox ahead for good, then added a three-run double in the eighth after the Yankees again walked Friday night's star Jason Bay in front of him.

Hideki Okajima (1-0) got two outs for the win, then Ramon Ramirez got out of the eighth after putting runners on second and third with one out. Dustin Pedroia had three hits and Jacoby Ellsbury hit his first homer of the year for Boston.

Robinson Cano homered twice and drove in five for the Yankees, and Jonathan Albaladejo (1-1) " the fourth of seven New York pitchers " took the loss.

In all, 12 pitchers threw 385 pitches in a 4 hour, 21 minute game and managed to retire the side in order just twice " once for each team.

Athletics 5, Rays 2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) " Jason Giambi hit the first homer of his second stint with Oakland, Nomar Garciaparra hit a three-run double and the Athletics ended a five-game skid.

Dallas Braden (2-2) allowed one run and four hits in 5 2-3 innings to earn the win for Oakland, which had dropped nine of 12 before beating Tampa Bay for its first win in a day game this season.

Travis Buck also homered for Oakland leading off the third.

Brad Ziegler pitched 1 1-3 shutout innings for his fourth save in five opportunities.

Matt Garza (1-2) gave up four runs in the loss. He struck out six in 5 2-3 innings but walked four, three of which scored.

Rangers 6, Orioles 5

BALTIMORE (AP) " Ian Kinsler homered twice and Texas led off the first three innings with home runs against Mark Hendrickson.

Andruw Jones and Chris Davis also connected against Hendrickson (1-3), who lasted only 4 1-3 innings. The Rangers, who have won four of six, lead the majors with 35 homers and have hit two or more 13 times this season.

Scott Feldman (1-0), starting in place of injured right-hander Kris Benson, allowed a run and four hits over five innings in his first start this season. Frank Francisco got the final two outs for his fourth save.

Ty Wigginton homered and drove in two runs for the Orioles.

Texas center fielder Josh Hamilton left after 4 1/2 innings with inflammation near the left side of his rib cage.

Mariners 9, Angels 8

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) " Russell Branyan gave Angels emergency starter Anthony Ortega a rude welcome to the big leagues with a three-run homer in the first inning, leading Seattle to the victory.

Carlos Silva (1-2) won for the first time in his last 15 starts dating to last season, allowing three runs and six hits over five innings. The right-hander, who had lost eight straight decisions since his previous win on June 28, is 2-19 since starting last season 3-0.

The Angels scored five runs in the last three innings to get within one but couldn't complete the rally. David Aardsma yielded Torii Hunter's two-run homer in the ninth before finishing for his third save.

Ortega (0-1) allowed five runs, four earned, and five hits in five innings.

Twins 7, Indians 1

CLEVELAND (AP) " Kevin Slowey pitched eight sharp innings and Jason Kubel hit two solo homers for Minnesota.

Slowey (3-0) carried a five-hit shutout into the ninth but allowed three singles to open the inning before departing with the bases loaded. Luis Ayala struck out Ben Francisco, but Kelly Shoppach singled in a run. Ayala then got Tony Graffanino to bounce into a game-ending double play.

Slowey struck out seven and didn't walk a batter.

Kubel led Minnesota's 15-hit attack by homering in the fifth off Carl Pavano and again in the ninth off Masa Kobayashi.

Pavano (0-3) allowed five runs and 11 hits in five-plus innings.

White Sox 10, Blue Jays 2

CHICAGO (AP) " Alexei Ramirez hit his fifth grand slam and drove in a career-high five RBIs, and Jermaine Dye added a two-run homer for Chicago.

Ramirez capped a six-run fifth inning with a drive to left on a 3-2 pitch from reliever Shawn Camp, giving the White Sox an 8-2 lead. He needed just 152 games to reach five grand slams, second fastest in major league history. Rudy York with the Detroit Tigers did it in 139 games in the 1938 season, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Mark Buehrle (3-0) allowed two runs and six hits in six innings for Chicago.

Brian Burres (0-1) worked 4 1-3 innings for Toronto, yielding six runs and seven hits.

Tigers 9, Royals 1

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) " Gerald Laird and Curtis Granderson hit two-run homers and Magglio Ordonez connected for a solo shot, leading Detroit to the victory.

Laird, who had three hits, went deep with Carlos Guillen aboard in the second. Granderson hit his sixth home run in the third after Adam Everett led off the inning with a single.

Ordonez's homer in the ninth was his first extra-base hit after 17 singles, and he now has 14 home runs and 62 RBIs in 78 games at Kauffman Stadium.

Zach Miner (2-1) went five-plus innings for Detroit, allowing one run and three hits.

Kansas City's Kyle Davies (1-1) gave up seven runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings.