Major League Baseball roundup
Red Sox ride Olerud’s grand slam to victory over Twins BOSTON (AP) – With trade rumors about Manny Ramirez swirling around Fenway Park and the fans booing the outfielder every time he stepped to the plate, the Boston Red Sox proved once again they can win under duress.
John Olerud hit a grand slam and Boston scored three runs after a single by Johnny Damon, as the Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 8-5 Friday night for their third straight win.
Minnesota Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter sprained a tendon in his left ankle trying to scale the outfield wall in the first inning and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. X-rays taken at Fenway Park showed no fracture, and Hunter will remain with the Twins through the weekend then go to Minnesota on Monday for an MRI. The injury could be a huge blow to Minnesota’s postseason hopes.
Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said will be placed on the 15-day disabled list, and that Minnesota is unsure how long Hunter will be out.
“It was pretty scary. We know it’s not good, but we’ll hope for the best,” Gardenhire said.
Ramirez went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and a walk in his first game at Fenway Park since it was reported he asked Red Sox management to trade him. Following the game David Ortiz, one of Ramirez’s closest friends on the team, expressed dismay at the fan’s treatment of the mercurial slugger and said he couldn’t picture the Red Sox without him.
“It’s a crazy situation, but I don’t think what our fans did today to Manny was fair, at all,” Ortiz said.
“His numbers are always there every year, and this town should never feel that way about Manny Ramirez,” Ortiz said. “If Manny’s out of here, it’s going to be hard on everybody. It’s as simple as that. … How are you going to replace a guy like that?”
Bronson Arroyo (9-6), the subject of persistent trade rumors over the past two weeks, held Minnesota scoreless for six innings before allowing Joe Mauer’s solo homer. He allowed three runs and five hits in 7 1-3 innings in one of his best outings of the season.
With the Red Sox leading 4-3 in the eighth, Olerud put the game out of reach with Boston’s club record 10th grand slam of the season. The home run was the 250th of Olerud’s career.
Mike Myers started the ninth for the Red Sox and allowed a one-out, two-run homer to Jacque Jones and an infield single to Justin Morneau before being relieved by Curt Schilling. Schilling retired the final two batters for his fourth save in five opportunities.
The Red Sox made it 3-0 in the fifth on Damon’s single and two Minnesota errors on the play.
Bill Mueller scored from second when Jones’ throw from right was misplayed at the plate by Mauer. Minnesota starter Carlos Silva, who was backing up the plate, then threw wide past Mauer while trying to throw out Tony Graffanino, who had come around from first. Damon then took off for the plate, and was given home after third baseman Luis Rodriguez hit him in the back of the head with the throw. Mauer and Rodriguez were charged with errors and Damon was given an RBI.
“That’s what happens when your team hustles,” Damon said. “We just took advantage of it. (Minnesota) isn’t going to make too many mistakes.”
Mauer brought the Twins within 3-1, leading off the seventh with his eighth homer. Mueller hit his fifth homer of the season in seventh to give Boston a 4-1 lead. Terry Tiffee cut the lead to 4-2 with an RBI triple in the eighth, and Shannon Stewart drove him home with an RBI groundout.
Hunter planted his left foot awkwardly on the wall while trying to rob Ortiz of a hit. Hunter is leading the Twins with 14 homers, 56 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Ortiz wound up with a double.
“I never knew Spider-Man could get hurt, but he usually heals fast,” Hunter said.
Silva (7-5) allowed two earned runs and seven hits over seven innings.
White Sox 7, Orioles 2
BALTIMORE – Chicago’s Paul Konerko and Carl Everett both homered and drove in three runs to back a strong pitching performance by Orlando Hernandez.
During the game, the Orioles traded outfielder Larry Bigbie to Colorado for outfielder Eric Byrnes.
Konerko put the White Sox up 4-1 with a three-run drive off Erik Bedard (5-3) in the third, and Everett made it 6-2 with a two-run shot off Todd Williams in the seventh.
Hernandez (8-3) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings in his first win in three starts since returning from the disabled list.
Miguel Tejada went 4-for-4 with an RBI for the Orioles, who have lost 11 of 13 to fall to .500 (51-51) for the first time since April 10.
Cubs 4, D’backs 3
CHICAGO – Aramis Ramirez had a pinch-hit RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth to lift Chicago past Arizona.
Ramirez’s bouncer eluded Diamondbacks third baseman Troy Glaus and trickled into left field. Jose Macias scored from second for Chicago’s fifth win in seven games.
Roberto Novoa (3-3) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win. Brian Bruney (1-3) blew his fourth save.
Glaus had given the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead in the eighth with a two-run single off Mark Prior. Prior allowed three runs and seven hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out eight and walking two.
Phillies 5, Rockies 3
DENVER – Brett Myers struck out nine to remain unbeaten at Coors Field and Jimmy Rollins had a two-run single in Philadelphia’s four-run second inning.
David Bell had two hits to end a 2-for-18 slump and Myers (9-5) allowed six hits and three runs – two earned – in 6 2-3 innings to give Philadelphia consecutive wins over Colorado after a three-game losing streak.
Myers, one of the few pitchers to have success at Coors Field, improved to 3-0 in as many appearances.
Matt Holliday had three hits, including a two-run homer, for Colorado, which couldn’t overcome rare control problems from Jose Acevedo (2-1) and lost its third straight.
Marlins 4, Nationals 3
MIAMI – Josh Beckett reached 10 wins in a season for the first time, pitching 6 1-3 innings as Florida beat slumping Washington.
Paul Lo Duca doubled home three runs in the first inning for the Marlins, who have won three straight.
The Nationals have lost five straight and 17 of 22. Washington has lost 10 consecutive one-run decisions, including its past four games.
Beckett (10-6) allowed two hits in the first six innings, then tired in the seventh. He struck out eight, walked none and allowed three runs.
Three relievers completed a seven-hitter.
Tony Armas Jr. (5-5) fell to 1-5 on the road, allowing four runs in six innings.
Astros 5, Mets 2
HOUSTON – Morgan Ensberg, Lance Berkman and Craig Biggio homered, and rookie Wandy Rodriguez had his third straight solid start for Houston.
The Astros won for the 12th time in 13 games and 21st time this month, breaking a club record set in 1976.
Biggio hit a solo shot off Mets starter Kris Benson (7-4) in the first, then Berkman added a two-run homer in the third. Ensberg’s two-run homer in the sixth made it 5-2.
Rodriguez (6-4) shut out the Mets over the first five innings. He gave up two runs and four hits in six innings. Brad Lidge struck out two in the ninth for his 25th save.
New York fell to 1-4 on its current road trip.
Giants 7, Brewers 6
MILWAUKEE – Pinch-hitter Ray Durham doubled in the go-ahead runs in San Francisco’s five-run eighth and the Giants won their 11th straight at Miller Park.
Jeff Fassero (2-6) pitched the seventh for the win, his first since May 21. Tyler Walker gave up a solo homer to Brady Clark in the ninth and earned his 18th save.
With the Giants trailing 5-2 in the eighth, Moises Alou walked with one out. Pedro Feliz then hit a two-run homer, his 17th, off Matt Wise (4-3). After a walk and a single Julio Santana took over. One out later, Durham doubled to make it 6-5. Omar Vizquel then doubled home Durham.
Carlos Lee’s 25th homer started Milwaukee’s five-run fourth that ended the team’s streak of 22 2-3 innings without a run.