Thursday September 13, 2012

BOSTON -- Curtis Granderson hit two home runs, Robinson Cano also homered and the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 5-4 on Wednesday night to remain tied for first place in the AL East.

The Yankees finished the game without shortstop Derek Jeter, who left in the eighth after pulling up lame running out a double-play grounder to end the inning.

A day after Jacoby Ellsbury’s game-ending single dropped New York into a tie with Baltimore atop the division, the Yankees got all their runs on homers to remain there. The Orioles beat Tampa Bay 3-2 on Wednesday night, preserving the tie and dropping the Rays three games back in the division.

David Phelps (4-4) gave up one run on five hits and a walk in 5 2-3 innings, striking out five. Rafael Soriano got four outs for his 37th save, but not before allowing a solo homer to Jarrod Saltalamacchia to lead off the ninth, followed by a fly ball that left fielder Chris Dickerson caught at the base of the Green Monster.

Mauro Gomez grounded out meekly to second base for the second out, then Soriano misplayed Mike Aviles chopper to extend the game. But Ellsbury followed with another chopper and Soriano gloved it, throwing to first for the final out.

Aaron Cook (3-10) allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out two in five-plus innings. Saltalamacchia had a double, a triple, a homer and a walk for Boston, which lost for the 12th time in 14 games.

The

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matchup of longtime division foes lacked much of the intensity that had characterized their rivalry in the past decade, gaining life only at the end after embattled Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was ejected -- along with outfielder Cody Ross and third base coach Jerry Royster -- for arguing a called third strike. The game was officially announced as a sellout, the 787th in a row at Fenway Park, but there were thousands of no-shows and many of those who did attend were Yankees fans.

They saw Granderson lead off the fourth inning with a homer and, after Alex Rodriguez singled, Cano followed with his career-high 30th home run to make it 3-0. Granderson homered again in the seventh inning after Jeter singled to make it 5-1.

In all, the Yankees have hit 34 homers in 14 games against the Red Sox this season.

The Red Sox made it 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh after back-to-back doubles by Saltalamacchia and Daniel Nava left runners on second and third. One run scored on Gomez’s groundout and another came in on Aviles’ pinch-hit RBI double.

Jeter bounced into the inning-ending double play with runners on first and third in the eighth. After failing to beat the relay, he came up limping just after he stepped on the bag.

Manager Joe Girardi and a trainer rushed onto the field as Jeter walked back to the infield. Jeter walked with them to the dugout, slowly, then was replaced at short by Casey McGehee.

Orioles 3, Rays 2

BALTIMORE -- Manny Machado led off the ninth inning with a single and scored the winning run on a single by Nate McLouth, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 Wednesday night to retain a share of first place in the AL East.

The rookie also made a key defensive play in the top of the ninth for the Orioles, who moved 18 games over .500 (80-62) for the first time since the end of the 1997 season. Baltimore started the day tied atop the division with the New York Yankees, played a late game at Boston.

The Orioles will seek to complete a three-game sweep of Tampa Bay on Thursday.

B.J. Upton homered for the Rays, who fell three games behind the Orioles. Tampa Bay stranded 11 and went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.

Machado led off the ninth with a single off Kyle Farnsworth (1-5), took second on a bunt and scored when McLouth hit a liner off the right-field wall. McLouth has assumed the leadoff role in place of Nick Markakis, who broke his left thumb on Saturday.

In the top of the ninth, pinch-runner Rich Thompson was on second with two outs when Evan Longoria topped a pitch from Jim Johnson (2-1) down the third-base line. Machado picked it up and faked a throw to first as Thompson rounded third. Machado flipped the ball to shortstop J.J. Hardy at third base, starting a rundown that ended with Thompson being tagged out by catcher Matt Wieters.

Orioles starter Miguel Gonzalez allowed two runs, six hits and five walks in six innings. He yielded a leadoff home run for the third time this season, but finished by retiring Jose Molina with the bases loaded with score 2-all.

Tampa Bay right-hander Alex Cobb gave up two runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. He’s 5-0 with three no-decisions in his last eight starts.