MLB roundup: Rivera regroups just in time

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jul 6, 2008 | by Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Mariano Rivera was on the ropes, and the Boston Red Sox were poised to earn a memorable comeback victory.

That's when the New York Yankees closer found his classic form again.

Rivera pitched himself in and out of trouble Saturday, escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the ninth inning and preserving a 2-1 victory.

"You can't have doubts," Rivera said. "You have to make pitches. If you have doubts, a lot of things can happen."

After Mike Mussina pitched six shutout innings, Rivera took over in the ninth with a 2-0 lead. Boston scored a run and was poised for more, but Rivera struck out Coco Crisp, got Jason Varitek on a popup and fanned Julio Lugo for his 23rd save.

"We gave ourselves a great chance with really good at-bats in the ninth and then Mariano went to work and really carved us up for three batters," Boston manager Terry Francona said. "He gave himself no wiggle room and he didn't need it."

The Red Sox were on the brink of capturing the first three of the four-game series and fourth in a row in the season series when Rivera escaped.

"It was a big game for us," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner, two of New York's three healthy outfielders, each drove in a run and made a nice play in the field. Cabrera had an RBI single in the second and Gardner's sacrifice fly made it 2-0 in the sixth.

Justin Masterson (4-3) hit three batters, threw a wild pitch and walked two, but managed to hold the Yankees in check in his six innings. The rookie right-hander allowed six hits in his first appearance against New York.

Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games for Boston, which almost dealt the Yankees a heartbreaking loss.

"When you get bases loaded and nobody out, most of the time we're still playing," Francona said.

Mussina (11-6) allowed four hits and walked one in his first win over the Red Sox since June 5, 2006. He was 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in his previous six games against Boston.

RAYS 3, ROYALS 0: At St. Petersburg, Fla., Andy Sonnanstine (10- 3) pitched seven strong innings, Ben Zobrist homered again and Tampa Bay won its sixth straight. Zobrist homered for the third game in a row and the Rays increased their AL East lead to a season-high four games over second-place Boston. Tampa Bay has won 10 of 11. Sonnanstine (10-3) won his fourth consecutive decision. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out two.

J.P Howell pitched the eighth inning and Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his third save.

Akinori Iwamura put the Rays ahead 2-0 with a two-out, two-run double in the second off Zack Greinke (7-5). Royals center fielder Joey Gathright made a dive and just missed catching the ball.

WHITE SOX 6, ATHLETICS 1: At Chicago, Gavin Floyd pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings to get his 10th victory and Nick Swisher, Brian Anderson and Alexei Ramirez homered in Chicago's win over Oakland. Oakland had captured the first two games of the four-game series to cool off the White Sox, who'd won seven straight before the A's came to town. Floyd (10-4), who was 8-10 in his career entering this season, allowed only three singles.

Greg Smith (5-7), who pitched a complete game four-hitter in his previous start against the Angels, went five-plus innings, allowing five hits and four runs while tying a career high with six walks.

TWINS 9, INDIANS 6: At Minneapolis, Joe Mauer homered, walked three times and scored three runs to help Kevin Slowey and streaking Minnesota rally past Cleveland. Craig Monroe and Alexi Casilla hit two-run doubles for the Twins rebounded from the Indians' five-run second inning by scoring five times in the sixth. Slowey (6-6) settled down, striking out six and allowing five hits in six innings.Grady Sizemore's three-run homer, his league-leading 22nd, was the lone highlight for last-place Cleveland, which lost its seventh straight amid speculation that ace C.C. Sabathia will be dealt before the trade deadline on July 31. Tom Mastny (0-2) relieved starter Aaron Laffey in the sixth and gave up four runs while retiring just one batter.

RANGERS 5, ORIOLES 3: At Baltimore, Ian Kinsler homered, German Duran and Michael Young had three hits apiece, and Texas used a sharp pitching performance by substitute starter Scott Feldman to beat Baltimore. Moved up in the rotation after Eric Hurley was scratched with a hamstring injury, Feldman (3-3) gave up three runs and five hits in six innings. The right-hander allowed three runs and three hits in the first, then blanked the Orioles on two hits until his departure. Kinsler, who came into the game with an AL- leading .325 batting average, went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 17 games. His two-run homer off Lance Cormier (1-3) in the sixth put the Rangers ahead 4-3.

Nick Markakis had two hits and two RBIs for the Orioles, who fell to 5-28 when scoring three runs or fewer.

BLUE JAYS 7, ANGELS 5: At Anaheim, Calif., Vernon Wells hit a two- run homer, Alex Rios went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and three stolen bases, and Toronto beat error-plagued Los Angeles. Roy Halladay (10- 6) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings, struck out seven and recorded only three of his outs on flyballs to the outfield. The 2003 AL Cy Young Award winner allowed only one runner past first base after giving up a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero in the fourth.