Yankees' Wang Hit Hard By Rangers

Chien-Ming Wang was hit hard in his first start since taking a perfect game into the eighth inning. The Boston Red Sox had an easy time against Roy Halladay. <br/><br/>Brandon McCarthy limited the New

Friday, May 11th 2007, 7:29 am

By: News On 6

Chien-Ming Wang was hit hard in his first start since taking a perfect game into the eighth inning. The Boston Red Sox had an easy time against Roy Halladay.

Brandon McCarthy limited the New York Yankees to one run in 5 1-3 innings and pinch-hitter Victor Diaz hit his first career grand slam, leading the Texas Rangers to a 14-2 victory over Wang and the Yankees. Wang, a 19-game winner last year, gave up seven runs and 11 hits in 6 1-3 innings.

Last Saturday, he began with 7 1-3 perfect innings against Seattle. Against the Rangers, Wang walked the game's first hitter and gave up a run and two hits in the first inning.

``I know you have to live up to yourself, but you certainly shouldn't expect another perfect game,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said.

Tim Wakefield pitched seven sharp innings and Kevin Youkilis had three hits, including a home run, and two RBIs to lead the Red Sox to their seventh win in eight games, 8-0 over Halladay and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Boston also got off to a fast start as Youkilis doubled in the first and later scored on David Ortiz's grounder. The Red Sox then blew the game open with a six-run third, sending 10 men to the plate and stringing together six consecutive hits. Mike Lowell homered for the third straight game _ a three-run shot _ and Youkilis and Manny Ramirez sandwiched RBI singles around a run-scoring double by Ortiz.

``We're just playing good baseball, man,'' Lowell said. ``We're pitching, we're hitting, we're playing defense. We're clicking right now.''

In other AL games Thursday, it was: Detroit 7, Seattle 3; Chicago 3, Minnesota 0; Oakland 17, Kansas City 3; Los Angeles 8, Cleveland 0; and Baltimore 11, Tampa Bay 6.

At Toronto, Halladay (4-2) gave up eight runs, seven earned, and 11 hits in five innings.

``A lot of guys in here are pressing right now, including myself,'' said Halladay, who allowed a season-high nine runs in his previous start. ``These things kind of take on a life of their own. You've just got to focus on your job.''

Wakefield (4-3) gave up three hits, struck out five and walked one, lowering his ERA to an AL-best 1.79.

``He's definitely throwing the ball great,'' catcher Doug Mirabelli said. ``He's going out there every day and giving us a chance to win.''

At New York, Mark Teixeira had four hits, including three doubles, and three RBIs for the Rangers, who scored 10 runs over the seventh and eighth innings against Wang (1-3), Luis Vizcaino and Sean Henn to break open the game.

The key play might have come in Texas' three-run fifth inning, when Gerald Laird outraced Alex Rodriguez in a rundown to score the go-ahead run.

``If they get him out there, they might have stopped our momentum,'' Texas manager Ron Washington said.

With one out and Laird on after a leadoff triple and the score tied 1-1, Brad Wilkerson grounded sharply to third. Rodriguez threw home, trapping Laird in a rundown, and Jorge Posada threw back to third. A-Rod faked a throw and then ran after Laird, choosing not to throw to Wang covering the plate. Laird dived home for a 2-1 lead, clipping A-Rod under the chin with his foot.

Teixeira and Sammy Sosa followed with consecutive RBI singles that made it 4-1.

McCarthy (3-4), who yielded five or more runs in each of his previous three starts, allowed five hits and threw a season-high 104 pitches. The only run he gave up was Melky Cabrera's tying homer in the third.

New York had won its first five games this year against last-place Texas and 18 of 20 since July 2005.

Athletics 17, Royals 3

Dan Johnson and Jack Cust each homered twice, Danny Putnam hit his first major league home run and Eric Chavez also connected for visiting Oakland.

Johnson went 4-for-4 with two walks, driving in four runs and scoring four. Chavez had four RBIs and Shannon Stewart had four hits.

Oakland's Joe Kennedy (1-2) did not allow a hit until Billy Butler's two-out single in the fifth. Luke Hudson (0-1), activated off the disabled list before the game, lasted just two-plus innings for Kansas City.

White Sox 3, Twins 0

Jose Contreras (3-3) pitched a five-hitter for his second career shutout and visiting Chicago won for the fourth time in five games. A.J. Pierzynski, Ryan Sweeney and Pablo Ozuna hit RBI singles for the White Sox.

The Twins' Carlos Silva (2-3) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.

Angels 8, Indians 0

Kelvim Escobar pitched a seven-hitter and Gary Matthews Jr. hit a three-run homer in the third inning for host Los Angeles.

Escobar (4-1) struck out nine and walked none to win his third straight start and help the Angels to their AL-leading 14th home win.

Jeremy Sowers (0-3) gave up six runs and nine hits in five innings for Cleveland.

Tigers 7, Mariners 3

Magglio Ordonez and Brandon Inge homered against struggling Seattle starter Jeff Weaver and host Detroit won for the ninth time in 10 games.

Weaver (0-6), a former Tiger, gave up six runs in five innings and has lost each of his six starts this season.

Justin Verlander (3-1) allowed two runs and nine hits in 5 1-3 innings for Detroit.

Orioles 11, Devil Rays 6

Kevin Millar homered and drove in four runs and Corey Patterson had three hits and three RBIs for host Baltimore, which set a season high for runs and moved into second place in the AL East with its fifth win in seven games.

Daniel Cabrera (3-3) allowed six runs and eight hits in six innings, but improved to 4-0 in eight career starts against Tampa Bay.

Elijah Dukes and B.J. Upton homered for the Devil Rays, and Casey Fossum (2-3) gave up eight runs _ five earned _ and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings.