Associated Press
The MLB roundup …
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. ó Johnny Damon hit a two-run homer with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Tampa Bay Rays a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night.
Carl Pavano pitched eight shutout innings for the Twins, but was denied the victory when closer Joe Nathan gave up a two-run double to Matt Joyce in the ninth.
Minnesota regained the lead in the 10th on Danny Valenciaís RBI single off Kyle Farnsworth (0-1).
Sam Fuld singled with one out in Tampa Bay 10th off Matt Capps (1-1) and Damon followed with his third homer of the season, a drive into the first row of the right-field seats. A season-low crowd of 10,042 cheered Damon all around the bases.
Delmon Young and Drew Butera drove in sixth-inning runs for the Twins, seemingly supplying all the offensive support Pavano needed.
Pavano struck out seven and walked two. He held the Rays hitless until Joyce singled with one out in the fifth.
Yankees 6, Orioles 5, 10 innings
NEW YORK ó Nick Swisher hit a sacrifice fly in the 10th inning and the New York Yankees rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Baltimore Orioles and sweep the rain-shortened series.
After Joba Chamberlain used his big body to save a run in the eighth by blocking the plate and keeping the Yankees within 5-4, Jorge Posada led off the bottom of the ninth with a tying homer on the first pitch from closer Kevin Gregg.
Michael Gonzalez (0-1) walked Mark Teixeira and gave up a double to Alex Rodriguez to start the 10th. After Robinson Cano lined out, Swisher hit a fly and Teixeira easily beat right fielder Nick Markakisí throw home. Swisher earned the Yankeesí first pie in the face of the season for a game-winner.
Royals 5, Mariners 1, 71/2 innings, rain
KANSAS CITY, Mo. ó Bruce Chen pitched eight strong innings and Wilson Betemit and Alex Gordon drove in two runs apiece, leading the Kansas City Royals past the Seattle Mariners in a rain-shortened game.
The game was called in the bottom of the eighth after a delay of 47 minutes.
Chen (2-0) evened his career record at 50-50. He gave up six hits and won his sixth straight decision going back to last season.
Phillies 4, Nationals 0
WASHINGTON ó Back at his best after an unusually brief outing, Cliff Lee struck out 12 in a three-hit shutout Thursday night, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to overcome their own problems at the plate in a 4-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Lee (2-1) walked one and faced 30 batters, three over the minimum. Quite a turnaround from his previous game at Atlanta last Friday, when he allowed six runs and 10 hits in 3 1-3 innings ó his shortest start since Sept. 4, 2009.
1:Rockies 6, Mets 5, first game
Rockies 9, Mets 4, second game
NEW YORK ó Troy Tulowitzki belted his major league-leading seventh homer during the second game of a doubleheader to help Colorado wrap up a four-game series sweep.
Tulowitzki also homered in the opener before the Rockiesí bullpen held on in a wild ninth inning. The sweet-swinging shortstop terrorized New York pitching all series, going deep each game and finishing 10 for 16 with eight RBIs.
Brewers 4, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH ó Randy Wolf had 10 strikeouts and allowed only three hits in 6 2-3 shutout innings to lead Milwaukee to its fourth straight win and seventh in eight games.
Wolf (1-2) allowed only two singles, a double and two walks, and didnít allow a Pittsburgh runner to advance past second base. John Axford allowed a run on two walks, a single and a wild pitch in the ninth to prevent Milwaukeeís second consecutive shutout.
Pittsburgh managed four hits to fall to 1-5 on its opening homestand. The Pirates snapped a streak of 22 scoreless innings when Andrew McCutchen scored in the ninth.
Price Fielder had a run-scoring single in the first ó his NL-leading 15th RBI ó and Yuniesky Betancourt added a sacrifice fly. The Brewers added two in the ninth off Joel Hanrahan.
Paul Maholm (0-2) retired 20 of his final 23 batters. He was charged with two runs on four hits and three walks with six strikeouts in seven innings.
1:Marlins 6, Braves 5
ATLANTA (AP) ó John Buck drove in the go-ahead run with a seventh-inning single to help Florida win its second straight road series.
Buck was 0 for 9 in the series before driving in Gaby Sanchez from second base with the single off Eric OíFlaherty (0-1) to break a 5-5 tie.
The Marlins have won two of three in both Houston and Atlanta for a successful start to their nine-game road trip, which shifts to Philadelphia on Friday.
Sanchez had two hits, including his first homer. Logan Morrison had a two-run double and Hanley Ramirez was on base five times with three hits, including an RBI single, and two walks.
Brian McCann hit a three-run home run and Dan Uggla also homered for Atlanta.
Brian Sanches (2-0) pitched a scoreless sixth to earn the win and Leo Nunez pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
The Associated Press
04/14/11 22:45