MLB roundup: Rivera makes history
Published 12:00 am Monday, June 29, 2009
Associated Press
NEW YORK ó Mariano Rivera earned his 500th save, becoming the second reliever to reach the milestone, and the New York Yankees beat the punchless Mets 4-2 for a Subway Series sweep Sunday.
Chien-Ming Wang won for the first time in more than a year and Rivera got four outs.
In a fun twist on a night that belonged to him, Rivera even contributed offensively by drawing a bases-loaded walk from Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth for his first career RBI. It was the third regular-season plate appearance for the 39-year-old closer ó and second in five days.
Mark Teixeira hit a two-run double off Livan Hernandez in a three-run first, when the Yankees had two of their four hits.
The injury-depleted Mets managed five hits.
Tigers 4, Astros 3
HOUSTON ó Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer off Jose Valverde with two outs in the ninth inning.
Placido Polanco and Miguel Cabrera flied out before Valverde walked Marcus Thames. Inge then homered.
Royals 3, Pirates 2
PITTSBURGH ó Zack Greinke didn’t allow a run until making his final pitch before a rain delay in the seventh inning, and the Kansas City Royals kept the Pirates from sweeping an interleague series for the first time since 2001.
Greinke lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.95.
Rays 5, Marlins 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó David Price allowed one run over 61/3 innings and the Rays completed a three-game sweep.
Tropicana Field is the only park in the majors where at least one homer has been hit in every game (39).
Reds 8, Indians 1
CLEVELAND ó Brandon Phillips celebrated his 28th birthday by breaking out of a 1-for-16 slump with three hits, three runs and three RBIs.
Phillies 5, Blue Jays 4
TORONTO ó Chase Utley hit a two-run triple, and Jamie Moyer won back-to-back starts for the first time in more than two months.
White Sox 6, Cubs 0
CHICAGO ó John Danks pitched seven shutout innings, Chris Getz stole home against Carlos Zambrano and the Chicago White Sox got another run on a bases-loaded infield fly rule to beat the Cubs.
As Jermaine Dye hit a towering pop that fell behind shortstop Ryan Theriot into short left field, umpires called the infield fly rule. Dye was called out, but DeWayne Wise raced home when the ball fell in ó Theriot was given an error on the play.
Twins 6, Cardinals 2
ST. LOUIS ó Francisco Liriano pitched seven strong innings, and Justin Morneau hit a three-run home run
Mark DeRosa, acquired from the Indians, batted cleanup and had three groundouts and a walk for St. Louis.
Nationals 5, Orioles 3
BALTIMORE ó John Lannan took a four-hitter into the eighth inning, and Adam Dunn hit a 442-foot home run.
Rockies 3, Athletics 1
OAKLAND, Calif. ó Aaron Cook took a shutout into the ninth inning and won his fifth consecutive start.
Chris Iannetta, Carlos Gonzalez and Seth Smith each drove in a run for the Rockies.
Mariners 4, Dodgers 2
LOS ANGELES ó Jose Lopez had three hits, including a two-run double, and Adrian Beltre singled home a run in his last game before undergoing shoulder surgery.
Padres 2, Rangers 0
ARLINGTON, Texas ó Chad Gaudin allowed one hit over eight innings and Scott Hairston snapped an 0-for-17 slide with a homer as San Diego won its first series in a month.
Angels 12, Diamondbacks 8PHOENIX ó Gary Matthews Jr. stole home and hit a three-run double.NATIONAL LEAGUE
Giants 7, Brewers 0MILWAUKEE ó Ryan Sadowski scattered four hits over six scoreless innings in his major league debut, and Matt Downs hit his first major league homer.