Zambrano Leads Devil Rays Past Giants

Monday, June 7th 2004, 6:03 am

By: News On 6

Victor Zambrano took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 to win their first interleague series in nearly two years. ``The pitcher evidently wasn't aware, and neither was the catcher. They were concentrating on the ballgame,'' Tampa Bay manager Lou Piniella said. ``That's what you're supposed to do.''

Damon Minor, filling in for Barry Bonds as the Giants' designated hitter because the six-time NL MVP was attending a funeral, led off the seventh with a single to right.

``Until I gave up the hit, I didn't know,'' Zambrano said.

Zambrano (6-4) gave up another hit and a walk before being removed with one out. Trever Miller relieved and struck out Michael Tucker, then Jesus Colome got Neifi Perez to foul out to end the threat.

The 28-year-old right-hander walked six and struck out six in 6 1-3 innings to improve to 8-1 lifetime in interleague play. His ERA dropped from 5.60 to 5.15 this season.

Zambrano leads the majors in walks and hit batters and looked like he was headed for a typical outing when he walked the leadoff man in the first inning. Tucker raced to third on Tino Martinez's fielding error and scored on Marquis Grissom's sacrifice fly for a 1-0 Giants lead.

In other interleague games, it was: Detroit 7, Atlanta 4; New York Yankees 10, Colorado 4; Montreal 8, Kansas City 0, 1st game; Montreal 7, Kansas City 2, 2nd game; Texas 9, Pittsburgh 7, 1st game; Texas 10, Pittsburgh 4, 2nd game; Boston 9, San Diego 3; Los Angeles 6, Toronto 1; Florida 4, Cleveland 1; Arizona 3, Baltimore 0; Minnesota 3, New York Mets 2, 15 innings; and Anaheim 5, Milwaukee 4. Philadelphia's game at the Chicago White Sox was rained out.

In the only NL game, it was the Chicago Cubs 12, St. Louis 3.

Bonds missed the game to attend a funeral for the mother of a childhood friend in California. He's expected to rejoin the Giants in Baltimore for the start of a weekend series Friday night.

``We missed the big guy,'' Alou said. ``Especially when this team said they were going to pitch to him. There were many situations there.''

The Devil Rays tied it in the second on Jose Cruz Jr.'s RBI double off Kirk Rueter (2-6). Rocco Baldelli, who didn't start the first two games of the series while recovering from a bout with food poisoning, hit a three-run homer in the fifth to break the tie.

By taking two of three against the Giants, the Devil Rays won an interleague series for the first time since June 28-30, 2002, when they took two of three from the Florida Marlins. The Giants dropped to 5-6 on a 14-game road trip _ the team's longest since 1989.

Yankees 10, Rockies 4

At New York, John Flaherty hit a grand slam and Jose Contreras (3-2) got through seven shaky innings to lead the Yankees past Colorado.

Flaherty singled home the go-ahead run off Jason Jennings (5-6) and followed up with his third career slam in New York's 13th straight interleague win.

Tigers 7, Braves 4

At Detroit, held hitless by Russ Ortiz until the sixth inning, the Tigers rallied behind Carlos Pena's two-run double and Dmitri Young's go-ahead RBI single.

Mike Maroth (5-3) pitched seven innings for the win.

Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer for the Braves.

Antonio Alfonseca (5-2) gave up four hits and walked two while getting just two outs.

Expos 8, Royals 0, 1st game

Expos 7, Royals 2, 2nd game

At Kansas City, Mo., Tony Batista homered twice and Sun-Woo Kim (3-2) pitched 4 1-3 perfect innings in relief of an injured Tomo Ohka, leading Montreal to doubleheader sweep.

Zach Day (5-6) pitched a six-hitter in the opener for his second career shutout.

Ohka broke his hand when he was hit in the forearm by Carlos Beltran's line drive in the third inning. He will probably be out three months.

Jimmy Gobble (3-4) took the loss.

In the opener, Brad Wilkerson homered and drove in three runs for the Expos. Dennys Reyes (2-1) allowed 11 hits and five runs in 6 2-3 innings.

Red Sox 9, Padres 3

At Boston, Nomar Garciaparra's two-run double highlighted a five-run fifth inning, and Curt Schilling (8-3) pitched the Red Sox past San Diego.

Manny Ramirez hit a long two-run homer and Pokey Reese had a solo shot for Boston.

Ismael Valdez (5-3) allowed six runs in four-plus innings.

Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 1

At Toronto, Kazuhisa Ishii (8-3) pitched eight sharp innings, Adrian Beltre and Juan Encarnacion hit consecutive homers and Los Angeles ended a three-game skid.

Beltre and Encarnacion homered off Josh Towers (1-2) in the third, giving Los Angeles a 6-0 lead.

Marlins 4, Indians 1

At Cleveland, Carl Pavano (6-2) gave up one run and four hits in 8 2-3 innings and Alex Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for Florida.

Armando Benitez got the final out for his 14th consecutive save and 24th in 25 chances this season.

Jason Davis (1-4) allowed three runs and nine hits in seven innings.

Rangers 9, Pirates 7, 1st game

Rangers 10, Pirates 4, 2nd game

At Arlington, Texas, Kenny Rogers improved to 9-2, Brad Fullmer hit a grand slam and Texas completed a doubleheader sweep over struggling Pittsburgh, loser of nine of 10.

In the opener, Michael Young, Gary Matthews Jr. and Herbert Perry homered, and Texas took advantage of two Pittsburgh errors in the seventh inning to win.

Mark Teixeira hit a three-run shot in the third inning of the nightcap for the Rangers. Josh Fogg (3-5) gave up eight runs and nine hits in four innings.

In the opener, Frank Francisco (1-0) pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for his first major league win. Pittsburgh reliever Brian Meadows (2-2) gave up three unearned runs in one-third of an inning.

Angels 5, Brewers 4

At Anaheim, Calif., Jeff DaVanon had a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning to cap the Angels' comeback from a four-run deficit.

Jeff Bennett (1-4) walked the first two batters of the eighth before Mike Adams relieved and gave up a tying single to Jose Guillen.

Kevin Gregg (3-0) allowed two hits in two scoreless innings to get the win.

Angels center fielder Garret Anderson went 1-for-4 in his return from the disabled list.

Twins 3, Mets 2, 15 innings

At Minneapolis, Michael Ryan's one-out single in the 15th inning off Ricky Bottalico (2-1) gave Minnesota a three-game sweep.

Twins pinch-hitter Jose Offerman hit a tying double in the ninth off closer Braden Looper.

Grant Balfour (1-0), the fifth Minnesota reliever, pitched 1 2-3 scoreless innings for the victory.