Associated Press
Associated Press
BOSTON — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi found little to get excited about after Mark Teixeira’s solo homer in the sixth inning.
After all, the Yankees still trailed by eight runs.
“You’re down 9-0 and Tex hits what looks like an innocent home run. Then we come back with back-to-back seven-run innings,” Girardi said after New York rallied to beat Boston 15-9. “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of that.”
Nick Swisher hit a grand slam in the seventh to help the Yankees erase a 9-0 deficit, then he added a two-run double in the eighth to give them the lead. The comeback matched the franchise’s largest deficit overcome in a win, done five times.
Teixeira had six RBIs, homering from both sides of the plate for the 13th time in his career.
“That was pretty cool,” Teixeira said. “I’ve played a lot of games, and that may be the most fun regular-season game I’ve ever been a part of.”
A day after Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz gave up five homers and the Yankees spoiled Fenway Park’s 100th anniversary party, Boston chased New York starter Freddy Garcia after 1 2-3 innings and opened a nine-run lead through five.
But Teixeira homered twice, the second a three-run shot in the seven-run seventh that cut the deficit to 9-8. Swisher, who also had six RBIs, hit a two-run double off the center field wall in the eighth to make it 10-9.
The Yankees added five more as Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine used three pitchers — including closer Alfredo Aceves (0-1), who allowed five runs and failed to record an out — to get out of the inning.
Rafael Soriano (2-0) pitched one inning of scoreless relief.
“I don’t like to lose. I don’t know anybody who does,” Boston shortstop Mike Aviles said. “This wasn’t fun at all. I don’t want to see it if it gets any worse.”
It was Boston’s second straight loss to the rival Yankees, each of them heart-breaking in its own way. Friday’s 6-2 loss cast a pall over the feel-good 100th anniversary celebration, but the sequel on Saturday exposed the bullpen and had the hometown fans booing Valentine just 14 games into his Red Sox career.
Valentine tipped his capped to the fans as they booed him when he walked back from making a pitching change in the eighth.
“I’ve been booed in a couple of countries; a few different stadiums. I don’t want to be booed,” said Valentine, who was asked if he had any regrets about leaving broadcasting to take the Red Sox job. “If they said it was only going to be for the good days, I probably wouldn’t have come. The challenges are great.”
Felix Doubront held New York scoreless on three hits until Teixeira hit a solo homer with two outs in the sixth. By that time, Boston led 9-0 thanks in part to a two-run homer by Cody Ross and RBI doubles from Adrian Gonzalez and David Ortiz.
Ortiz had four hits and a walk, and Aviles drove in a pair of runs for Boston, which has now won just 11 of 41 games dating back to Sept. 1, 2011.
“I think we’ve hit bottom,” Valentine said. “If this isn’t bottom, we need to find some new ends of the earth.”
The Yankees improved to 9-3 since they were swept in the season-opening series by the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Red Sox scored two in the first on back-to-back RBI doubles from Ortiz and Gonzalez, added three in the second to chase Garcia and then made it 7-0 in the third. Ross homered in the fifth to give Boston a 9-0 lead.
Teixeira hit a solo homer in the sixth, then the Yankees made it a one run game with Swisher’s grand slam and a three-run shot by Teixeira.
Swisher put the Yankees up 10-9 with a drive off the center field wall. There was still nobody out in the inning when Teixeira added a two-run double; Russell Martin added a two-run, two-out double and Derek Jeter was given an RBI single that made it 15-9 when shortstop Aviles slipped and fell on his rear end as he went to throw to first.
RAYS 4, TWINS 1
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — James Shields carried a three-hitter into the ninth inning, B.J. Upton had a key two-run single and the Rays beat the Twins.
Shields (3-0) allowed one run and five hits over eight-plus innings while winning his third consecutive start after getting a no-decision on opening day against the New York Yankees.
Upton’s two-out hit off Carl Pavano (1-2) gave the Rays a 3-0 lead in the sixth. Another run scored on the play when center fielder Denard Span was charged with a throwing error attempting to cut down Matt Joyce at third.
RANGERS 10, TIGERS 4, Game 1
TIGERS 3, RANGERS 2, Game 2
DETROIT — Justin Verlander pitched six innings without allowing an earned run, and the Detroit Tigers salvaged a split of their doubleheader with Texas, beating the Rangers 3-2 in the nightcap Saturday.
Texas routed the Tigers 10-4 in the first game for its eighth consecutive victory, but Verlander (2-1) held off the powerful Rangers, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out eight. The Rangers managed an unearned run in the fourth, but Detroit answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning against Neftali Feliz (1-1).
Octavio Dotel pitched the seventh for Detroit, Joaquin Benoit allowed a run in the eighth and Jose Valverde walked two in the ninth but struck out Josh Hamilton to end it, picking up his fourth save.
BLUE JAYS 9, ROYALS 5
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Colby Rasmus hit two home runs to help make Drew Hutchison a winner in his major league debut and the Blue Jays handed the Royals their ninth straight loss.
Edwin Encarnacion also homered and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays.
Hutchison, who had never pitched above Double-A, left after 99 pitches and 5 1-3 innings, allowing five runs and eight hits, including two homers. Hutchison became the eighth youngest starting pitcher in Blue Jays history at 21 years, 243 days.
The Royals losing skid is their longest since losing 10 in a row July 10-24, 2009.
ANGELS 6, ORIOLES 3
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Jered Weaver pitched his first complete game of the season, Bobby Abreu highlighted a five-run fifth inning with a tiebreaking two-run single and the Angels beat the Orioles.
Weaver (3-0) allowed five hits, struck out five and walked none while going the distance for the ninth time in 181 career starts on 114 pitches. Since the beginning of the 2010 season, the All-Star right-hander is 12-0 with a 1.84 ERA in 15 starts before May 1. The last time he lost a game in April was his second start of 2009.
Jake Arrieta (1-1) gave up five runs and six hits in 4 1-3 innings. The right-hander was coming off a no-decision at Toronto in which he tied a career high with 114 pitches over 6 2-3 innings.
INDIANS 5, ATHLETICS 1
OAKLAND, Calif. — Jason Kipnis drove in three runs and scored twice, Jeanmar Gomez pitched into the sixth inning for his first win of the season and the Indians extended their best road trip in more than 20 years with a victory over the Athletics.
Jason Donald had two hits and also scored twice while Travis Hafner and Jack Hannahan added two hits apiece for the surging Indians. Cleveland is assured it will win its first three series on the road for the first time since 1988. Cleveland also improved to 7-1 on its current nine-game swing.
Cliff Pennington doubled and scored the only run for the A’s. It’s the sixth time in 16 games Oakland has been held to one run or fewer.
Dodgers’ Kemp homers again
HOUSTON — Matt Kemp set a franchise record for home runs through 15 games with his ninth of the season to back up a solid outing by Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers got a 5-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Kemp’s two-run shot to center field in the sixth inning off Kyle Weiland (0-3) scored Dee Gordon, extending the lead to 3-0 and giving him a home run in three straight games. It also extended his major league-leading RBI total to 22 and his hitting streak to 10 games.
James Loney gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a two-out homer to the second deck in right field.
Kershaw (1-0), the NL Cy Young winner, struck out nine and allowed three hits in seven scoreless innings for his first win this season after no decisions in his first three games this year.
METS 5, GIANTS 4
NEW YORK — Ruben Tejada scored the winning run on a throwing error by catcher Buster Posey and the Mets beat the Giants after blowing a three-run lead moments earlier in one of the wackiest ninth innings imaginable.
Mike Pelfrey tossed eight terrific innings, and it appeared the Mets were headed to a fairly simple victory. They were leading 4-2 with two outs in the top of the ninth when Jon Rauch came out of the bullpen and got pinch-hitter Brandon Belt to hit a high popup to shallow center.
Tejada had trouble with it immediately, though, fighting to get under the ball behind shortstop as it swirled around in the wind. Rookie center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis came rushing in and overran the ball, which dropped behind him for a two-run double.
BREWERS 9, ROCKIES 4
MILWAUKEE — Ryan Braun broke out of a slump with a solo homer and two RBIs, helping the Brewers beat the Rockies.
Braun, who will be honored by the Brewers on Sunday for winning the National League’s Most Valuable Player award last season, hit his second homer of the season and an RBI triple while ending an 0-for-16 slide.
Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer and Jose Veras (2-0) pitched a perfect seventh inning to get the victory.
Troy Tulowitzki and Todd Helton homered for the Rockies.
NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 2, 10 innings
WASHINGTON — Ian Desmond hit a home run and had the game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning to lift the Nationals to a win against the Marlins.
Wilson Ramos singled to lead off the 10th inning, took third on a throwing error and scored on Desmond’s fly as the Nationals improved to 12-4, continuing their best start since moving to Washington from Montreal in 2005.
Florida’s Logan Morrison hit a two-run homer off Brad Lidge in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game at 2.
Morrison’s homer kept Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg from his third win of the season. Strasburg allowed four hits, walked one and struck out six over six scoreless innings in his fourth start of the season.
Jayson Werth also homered for the Nationals. Tom Gorzelanny (1-0) pitched the 10th inning for the win.
CUBS 6, REDS 1
CHICAGO — Paul Maholm pitched six solid innings to earn his first win in nine months and the Cubs beat the Reds to stop a six-game slide.
Maholm (1-2) allowed one run and four hits to snap a personal six-game losing streak. The left-hander struck out five and walked three in his first victory since July 10 for Pittsburgh against the Cubs.
Darwin Barney and Steve Clevenger each had three hits for the Cubs, who grabbed control with a four-run second inning. Starlin Castro had a double and a triple.
Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips went a combined 1 for 7 for the Reds, who have lost six of nine. Mike Leake (0-2) allowed 10 hits and five runs in 5 2-3 innings.
BRAVES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 2
PHOENIX — Tommy Hanson pitched seven strong innings, Dan Uggla homered and the streaking Braves beat the Diamondbacks.
Hanson allowed two runs on five hits for the Braves, who have won 10 of 11. Hanson (2-2) struck out seven, walked one and retired the last 13 batters he faced.
Uggla broke a 2-all tie with a one-out towering drive to left, his 12th career homer against the Diamondbacks.
Johnny Venters struck out the side in the eighth and Craig Kimbrel did the same in the ninth for his fourth save.
Arizona starter Joe Saunders (1-1) settled down after Uggla’s home run, retiring 13 of his final 14 batters, but couldn’t prevent the Diamondbacks’ fifth straight loss.
PIRATES 2, CARDINALS 0
PITTSBURGH — A.J. Burnett pitched three-hit ball for seven innings in his injury-delayed Pittsburgh debut and the Pirates beat the Cardinals.
Burnett, who missed the first three weeks of the year while recovering from a fractured right orbital bone sustained during a bunting drill in spring training, walked two and struck out seven while giving up just three hits.
Joel Hanrahan worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth for his second save of the season.
St. Louis starter Jake Westbrook (2-1) gave up a pair of RBI singles to Pedro Alvarez, walking two and striking out six as his ERA moved from 0.64 to 1.31.
PADRES 5, PHILLIES 1
SAN DIEGO — Cory Luebke outpitched Roy Halladay and San Diego beat Philadelphia, snapping the Phillies’ 13-game winning streak at Petco Park.
Luebke (2-1) held the Phillies to two hits in eight innings, struck out five and walked two.
The Padres hadn’t beaten the Phillies in their downtown ballpark since Aug. 16, 2008. The Phillies’ 13-game winning streak at Petco had been the longest active for any visiting club at any particular ballpark, and their longest winning streak at any ballpark in club history.