NEW YORK – Edinson Volquez pitched seven sharp innings in Cincinnati’s first game at Yankee Stadium in 32 years, and the Reds beat Mike Mussina and New York 4-2 Friday night to end a five-game skid.
Jolbert Cabrera had four hits before departing with a dislocated finger and Joey Votto homered for Cincinnati, which snapped New York’s seven-game winning streak. Ken Griffey Jr. added an RBI single in his first game in the Bronx since 1999.
Angels 7, Phillies 1
PHILADELPHIA – Ervin Santana struck out nine in seven impressive innings, Vladimir Guerrero hit a two-run homer and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-1 Friday night.
Santana (9-3) allowed two hits and one unearned run. He overpowered the NL’s second-highest scoring offense with a blazing fastball that reached 98 mph several times and a nasty slider. Just like when he played for the Montreal Expos, Guerrero picked on Phillies pitching. He had three hits and three RBIs, and Howie Kendrick was 4-for-5.
Astros 4, Rays 3
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Roy Oswalt rebounded from a poor outing, Carlos Lee had a two-run double and the Houston Astros snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night.
Oswalt (6-7) gave up two runs and seven hits in 7 2-3 innings with two walks and five strikeouts. The right-hander was coming off an outing last Sunday in which he allowed seven runs over 5 2-3 innings in a 13-0 loss to the New York Yankees.
Twins 7, D-backs 2
MINNEAPOLIS – Scott Baker won for the first time in more than two months, Craig Monroe homered and the Minnesota Twins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-2 on Friday night.
The Big Unit hasn’t won since May 18 and remains stuck at 288 career wins, tied with Tommy John for 24th all time. After an impressive May, Johnson is spinning his wheels in June and has lost four straight starts for the first time since dropping five in a row from June 20-July 10, 1999.
Mariners 10, Braves 2
ATLANTA – Jim Riggleman set the pace for his first game as Seattle’s manager by scheduling batting practice three hours earlier than normal. The extra swings must have helped.
Jose Lopez drove in four runs with three hits, including a three-run double in the eighth, and the Mariners enjoyed one of their best offensive games of the year in beating the Atlanta Braves 10-2 on Friday night.
Pirates 1, Blue Jays 0
PITTSBURGH – Shortstop John McDonald misplayed Jason Michaels’ hard-hit grounder with the bases loaded and none out for a game-ending error in the 12th inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates ruined Cito Gaston’s return as the Toronto Blue Jays’ manager with a 1-0 victory Friday night.
Doug Mientkiewicz doubled for his third hit to start the 12th against Jesse Carlson (1-1), Toronto’s fifth pitcher, and Jack Wilson singled off the plate on a ball that traveled about 45 feet down the third-base line. Jason Frasor replaced Carlson to walk Raul Chavez before pinch-hitter Michaels ended it with his grounder.
Mets 7, Rockies 2
DENVER – Carlos Delgado hit a two-run homer as part of a five-run second and John Maine composed himself after a shaky first, lifting the New York Mets to a 7-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. Interim manager Jerry Manuel won for the second straight game, his first winning streak since taking over for the fired Willie Randolph. He’s now 2-1 at the helm of the Mets. Trot Nixon hit his first homer in a Mets uniform, a solo shot in the third, after being acquired from Arizona.
Diamondbacks on June 13. He also had a sliding catch in the fourth on Willy Taveras’ two-out sinking liner, taking away two runs.
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