Tampa Bay's Kazmir sends Yankees into last place

From Call wire services

May 16, 2008

Scott Kazmir sparkled in his first start since agreeing to a $28.5-million contract extension, and the surprising Tampa Bay Rays dropped the New York Yankees into last place with a 5-2 victory Thursday at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Kazmir (2-1) allowed three singles in six scoreless innings, and Akinori Iwamura and Shawn Riggans homered off Ian Kennedy for the AL East-leading Rays.

Tampa Bay (24-17), which started play in 1998, has been alone atop the division standings for three consecutive days for the first time. The Rays won three of four from New York and have captured six of seven series in building the best record in the AL.

The Yankees have lost six of nine and got another a poor pitching performance from Kennedy (0-3), who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre for his sixth start of the season.

New York (20-22) was shut out until seventh-inning RBI singles by Derek Jeter and Melky Cabrera off Gary Glover. The struggling Yankees scored six runs in the series, only two off Rays starters.

Kazmir walked three and struck out three in his third start since spending April on the disabled list with a left elbow strain.

Indians 4, Athletics 2: At Cleveland, an unearned run against Aaron Laffey ended the scoreless streak by Indians' starters at 441/3 innings but didn't interrupt their string of dominant outings.

Laffey pitched Cleveland to a victory over Oakland, completing a three-game sweep and giving the surging Indians eight victories in 10 games.

Royals 8, Tigers 4: At Kansas City, Jose Guillen homered and drove in three runs, Gil Meche pitched seven solid innings and the Royals completed another three-game sweep of the Tigers.

Kansas City won its season-best fourth in a row and improved to 6-0 this season against skidding Detroit, which has lost four in a row and 10 of 12 while falling into last place in the AL Central.

Blue Jays 3, Twins 2, 11 innings: At Minneapolis, pinch-hitter Joe Inglett sliced a two-out, bases-loaded single through the infield in the 11th inning, lifting Toronto over Minnesota for a three-game sweep.

The Twins twice had runners thrown out at the plate to end innings, and stranded 11 baserunners overall.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Nationals 1, Mets 0: At New York, Willie Harris' diving catch in the ninth inning saved Washington, and the slick-fielding Nationals beat the Mets behind Jason Bergmann's fantastic pitching performance.

Washington won an unlikely duel between Bergmann and Mike Pelfrey, who carried a no-hit bid into the seventh. Harris' bunt set up Felipe Lopez's sacrifice fly in the eighth, helping the Nationals take three of four at Shea Stadium.

The Mets put a runner on third with one out in the ninth, but first baseman Aaron Boone snared Carlos Delgado's low liner and threw across the diamond to double off Carlos Beltran.

Cubs 4, Padres 0: At Chicago, Ryan Dempster struck out a career-high 12 and hit an RBI single against Greg Maddux during a four-run fifth inning, leading the Cubs over punchless San Diego.

Jim Edmonds singled in his debut with the Cubs, who won three of four from the team with the worst record in the major leagues (15-27). NL Central-leading Chicago has won six of seven overall.

Dodgers 7, Brewers 2: At Milwaukee, Andruw Jones, Jeff Kent and Gary Bennett homered during a six-run seventh inning, leading Chad Billingsley and Los Angeles over the Brewers.

After Jones and Kent hit solo shots, Bennett capped the burst with a three-run homer.

Bennett, a backup who hit an RBI double in the ninth, wasn't even supposed to play, but got the start when third baseman Blake DeWitt's lower back started hurting just before the game.

Pirates 11, Cardinals 5: At St. Louis, pinch-hitter Jason Bay's three-run homer off Jason Isringhausen snapped an eighth-inning tie and capped Pittsburgh's rally from an early four-run deficit in a victory over the Cardinals.

Nate McLouth added his 11th homer for the Pirates, who outscored the sagging Cardinals 10-0 the last five innings to take two of three in the series.

Astros 8, Giants 7: At San Francisco, Lance Berkman splashed his major league-leading 15th home run into McCovey Cove, breaking a ninth-inning tie and helping Houston rally past the Giants

Berkman also hit a two-run single and is riding a 14-game hitting streak. He went 7-for-15 (.467) with three homers and seven RBIs during the series.

Diamondbacks 8, Rockies 5: At Phoenix , backed by Stephen Drew's career-high four hits, Arizona's Brandon Webb became the major leagues' first nine-game winner.

Webb (9-0) went 71/3 innings, striking out eight and giving up six hits and three runs.