White Sox, Yankees Go Offensive

The New York Yankees continue to score in bunches _ even in losing efforts _ while A-Rod still is in search of his elusive 500th homer. <br/><br/>The White Sox and Yankees scored eight runs each in the

Friday, August 3rd 2007, 8:03 am

By: News On 6

The New York Yankees continue to score in bunches _ even in losing efforts _ while A-Rod still is in search of his elusive 500th homer.

The White Sox and Yankees scored eight runs each in the highest-scoring second inning in major league history on Thursday. Jermaine Dye homered twice and doubled twice, including the go-ahead drive that led Chicago to a 13-9 victory at Yankee Stadium.

New York had 33 runs and 39 hits in the series _ 15 of them home runs. But none came from Alex Rodriguez, who will resume his quest to become the youngest player to reach 500 homers on Friday against Kansas City _ the team that allowed No. 499 on July 25.

``I didn't try to do too much,'' Rodriguez said. ``Back to work tomorrow.''

After losing the first two games of the series 16-3 and 8-1, the White Sox took an 8-0 lead in the second inning against Roger Clemens, who left after five outs in his shortest outing since June 14, 2000, when he got just three outs against Boston.

Jon Garland didn't do any better, giving up eight runs in his half as the second inning dragged on for exactly 1 hour and 90 pitches.

``It's a funny thing because of who is on the mound,'' White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. ``You have a Hall of Famer and a guy who regularly wins like 17 games every year, and if you came to the ballpark today, you wouldn't expect to see that.''

In other AL games, it was Boston 7, Baltimore 4; the Los Angeles Angels 6, Oakland 4; and Cleveland 5, Texas 0.

The Minnesota Twins postponed their game against the Kansas City Royals because of a freeway bridge collapse near the Metrodome on Wednesday. The game will be made up on Aug. 31 as part of a day-night doubleheader.

The 16 combined runs by the White Sox and Yankees were a record for a second inning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and two more than the previous mark. It matched the fifth-highest total in any inning.

``One of a kind, that's for sure,'' Rodriguez said. ``That was a long inning.''

Dye homered off Jeff Karstens (0-2) for a 10-8 lead in the fourth and hit a solo shot to center field in the eighth off Kyle Farnsworth. Paul Konerko also homered and had three hits for Chicago, which ended a three-game losing streak.

Clemens was booed off the mound after allowing eight runs and nine hits in 1 2-3 innings _ the nine hits in the second marked the most off him in any inning of his career. Garland gave up eight runs and nine hits in 1 1-3 innings. Five relievers allowed just six hits the rest of the way, and only Ryan Bukvich allowed a run, Bobby Abreu's solo shot leading off the sixth.

Only three of Chicago's runs off Clemens were earned after the first of Robinson Cano's two errors. The second baseman mishandled Jerry Owens' grounder, and the next four batters all got hits before manager Joe Torre replaced Clemens.

``When you can't stop the activity that's going on, it's disappointing,'' Clemens said. ``Robby plays his tail off. ... If you make a good pitch, you're going to get out of it.''

New York came back quickly, getting five straight hits off Garland, including Wilson Betemit's three-run homer and Rodriguez's RBI single.

After that, Garland was removed for Boone Logan (2-0), who allowed a tying, two-run double to Posada, but got a grounder from Cano that ended the second inning.

Red Sox 7, Orioles 4

At Boston, Doug Mirabelli went 3-for-3 with a homer, and recovered from a baserunning gaffe to drive in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning for the Red Sox.

Mirabelli joined Erik Hinske in back-to-back homers in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. The Orioles tied it in the fifth off Tim Wakefield (13-9).

But Mirabelli singled off Rob Bell (3-2) to score Coco Crisp and spark a four-run seventh for Boston. Alex Cora followed with an RBI single, and Dustin Pedroia added a two-run double.

Indians 5, Rangers 0

At Cleveland, Jake Westbrook won for the first time since April 27, ending the longest winless stretch of his career while stopping the Indians' four-game losing skid.

Westbrook (2-6) allowed five hits in six innings, and Rafael Perez and Edward Mujica finished the combined seven-hitter.

Grady Sizemore celebrated his 25th birthday by driving in two runs against Kason Gabbard (4-1), and Victor Martinez also homered for the Indians.

Angels 6, Athletics 4

At Oakland, Calif., Vladimir Guerrero homered in consecutive at-bats to make a winner of Joe Saunders (5-0), who gave up two runs pitching into the seventh for his seventh straight win.

Guerrero ended the longest power dry spell of his career, which lasted 125 at-bats, with two homers off Chad Gaudin (8-7). His last home run was on June 23, against Pittsburgh, but he won the Home Run Derby on July 9 as part of the All-Star game festivities.