TORONTO, 30 August 2005 — Jason Giambi belted two home runs in a day of milestones as the New York Yankees pounded the Kansas City Royals 10-3 to complete a three-game series sweep at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
The win moved New York a half-game clear of the Los Angeles Angels for the top spot in the American League wildcard race with Cleveland one game behind.
Giambi picked up his 1,000th career RBI with his three-run shot in the third inning and then notched his 1,500th career hit with a two-run blast in the fifth.
The New York slugger, who broke out of a 4-for-38 slump, completed his big day at the plate with a two-run single in the sixth to tie a career high with seven RBIs.
His efforts helped the streaking Yankees to their fourth straight win and sixth in seven games.
“Even when I was struggling up there, I felt pretty good,” said Giambi. “I was getting good swings but I just wasn’t getting any hits.” Derek Jeter contributed three hits to the Yankees 15-hit attack and scored a run while Bernie Williams went 2-for-5 with three RBIs.
Alex Rodriguez had a pair of hits and scored three runs while Gary Sheffield also had two hits with two runs scored.
OFFENSIVE FIREWORKS Al Leiter (4-3) backed up the offensive fireworks with a solid six innings of one-run two-hit ball to take credit for the win.
Zack Greinke (3-16) absorbed the loss shelled for seven runs on 10 hits in just 4 2/3 innings. Mike Sweeney had a two-run homer for the Royals.
The Yankees seized control of the contest in the first inning when Williams singled to right scoring Sheffield and Hideki Matsui.
The Royals trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third but, in the bottom half of the inning, Giambi connected on his 22nd homer of the season to push New York out in front 5-1.
Giambi’s second homer of the day in the fifth put the Yankees in command 7-1.
In Toronto, Casey Blake and Aaron Boone both homered and Jake Westbrook delivered 6-1/3 sharp innings as the surging Cleveland Indians beat the Blue Jays 4-1 to stay in the thick of the wildcard chase.
Westbrook (13-13) surrendered just one run on eight hits, struck out three and walked one to earn the decision while Bob Wickman pitched a perfect ninth for his 34th save of the season.
The win was the ninth in 11 games for the Indians who have now won 14 of their last 17 on the road and are 41-27 overall away from home.
ROAD TRIP “We just have to keep winning as many games as we can,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge. “We had a great road trip.
Our play on the road is what has kept us going.” Josh Towers (10-10) was saddled with the loss as Toronto’s post-season hopes continued to fade with their eighth defeat in 10 games.
In Baltimore, Scott Hatteberg, Mark Ellis and Marco Scutaro all homered and Danny Haren tossed seven solid innings as the Oakland Athletics crushed the Orioles 10-3 for their fifth straight win to take over first place in the AL west.
In Boston, David Ortiz homered and drove in three runs and Bill Mueller added a solo shot as the Red Sox dumped the Detroit Tigers 11-3 to stay 1-12 games clear of the charging New York Yankees in the AL east.
In St Petersburg, Aubrey Huff belted a two-run homer and Mark Hendrickson allowed just one run on five hits over 7-2/3 strong innings, guiding the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 2-1 decision over the fading Los Angeles Angels.
In Arlington, Hank Blalock’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the ninth inning lifted the Texas Rangers to a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
In Seattle, Dave Hansen homered and Ichiro Suzuki drove in a pair of runs as Mariners romped to a 9-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
Lee Pours On the Power as Cubs Trounce Marlins
Derrek Lee belted a pair of homers, drove in three runs and scored four to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 14-3 victory over the Florida Marlins in National League action at Wrigley Field on Sunday.
On the day the Cubs retired Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg’s number 23 jersey, Lee underlined his MVP credentials by reaching the 200 career home run plateau and setting a team record for a first baseman in a season with 39.
“No doubt in my mind he (Lee) is the MVP of this league,” said Florida manager Jack McKeon, who watched Lee hit 31 homers in 2003 when he was with the Marlins.
“He is a class individual and goes about his work in a business-like manner. There’s no fanfare with him. He’s steady Eddie all the time.” Jerry Hairston Jr had four RBIs while Henry Blanco contributed three and Ronny Cedeno, Todd Hollandsworth each drove in a pair for the Cubs to back up a strong outing by Carlos Zambrano, who collected his third straight decision with eight solid innings.
Zambrano (11-5) allowed three runs on six hits, striking out six and walking two and helped his own cause at the plate by sparking a seventh inning rally with a leadoff triple. Clinging to a 4-3 lead, the Cubs exploded for eight runs in the seventh, keyed by a three-run double by Blanco to put the game out of reach.
Lee also contributed to the big inning with a run scoring single center.
“It’s nice to have success,” Lee said after the Cubs won for the first time in four games.
“There’s a lot of tradition here. The Cubs have been around a long time. To have the highest home run total is an honor.” Carlos Delgado had a three-run homer for the Marlins, who had their three-game winning streak snapped as they pursue the NL wild card berth.
In Los Angeles, Oscar Robles stroked an eighth-inning single to drive in Jason Repko with the game’s only run as Dodgers blanked the slumping Houston Astros 1-0.
Jeff Weaver (13-8) was brilliant, scattering seven hits over eight scoreless innings, striking out 10 without a walk to take credit for the win.
Weaver turned the mound over to Duaner Sanchez in the ninth, who completed the shutout and notched his fourth save.
The Astros wasted another superb effort from Roger Clemens, who allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings but did not figure in the decision.
In Washington, Abraham Nunez drove in a pair of runs Brad Thompson worked three innings for the win and combined with four other pitches on a four hit shutout as the St Louis Cardinals blanked the Nationals 6-0.
In Pittsburgh, Ken Griffey Jr smacked his 534th career home run to move into a tie for 13th on the all-time, list helping the Cincinnati Reds to 7-2 win over the Pirates.
In Milwaukee, Tim Hudson pitched a complete game and Andruw Jones belted a pair of home runs to give him a major league 41 on the season, powering the Atlanta Braves past the Brewers 5-1.
In San Francisco, Pedro Feliz and J.T. Snow both homered to key a three-run sixth inning, guiding the Giants the New York Mets 4-1.
In San Diego, Ryan Klesko had a pair of hits and drove in three runs as the Padres edged the Colorado Rockies 4-3.
In Phoenix, Shawn Green cracked a grand slam and Troy Glaus had a three-run blast as the Arizona Diamondbacks dumped the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5.
