Red Sox Beat Yankees Again

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees are quick to say their slump isn't Joe Torre's fault. The best way for them to secure their manager's job, however, would be to start winning _ now. <br/><br/>The

Monday, April 30th 2007, 7:28 am

By: News On 6

Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees are quick to say their slump isn't Joe Torre's fault. The best way for them to secure their manager's job, however, would be to start winning _ now.

The last-place Yankees ended an awful April with a listless performance Sunday in a 7-4 loss to the visiting Boston Red Sox, raising more questions about Torre's status.

Demanding owner George Steinbrenner stayed silent afterward, but Jeter delivered a stirring defense of his manager, saying criticism of Torre was unwarranted.

``It's unfair,'' Jeter said. ``There's no way he's responsible for us performing. He's not hitting for us. He's not pitching for us. He puts the best players out there on the field, gives us an opportunity to win. We're just not doing the job. That's unfair, and it should stop.

``He's doing a great job this year,'' the Yankees' captain added. ``We just haven't done the job on the field.''

Steinbrenner is said to be angry with the team's 9-14 start, which left the Yankees last in the AL East. He considered firing Torre after last year's first-round playoff loss to Detroit and could be thinking about making a change now, with New York heading on the road after losing eight of nine.

The Yankees are off Monday before opening a three-game series in Texas on Tuesday night.

``We've hit a rough spot and when you hit a rough spot, especially here, it's rougher and louder,'' general manager Brian Cashman said. ``I take full responsibility for this start, just because that's my job. This is the team I put together. And so if people are looking for blame, I say blame me.''

In other AL games, it was: Detroit 4, Minnesota 3; Cleveland 6, Baltimore 1; Toronto 7, Texas 3; Los Angeles 5, Chicago 2; Seattle 5, Kansas City 1; and Tampa Bay 5, Oakland 3.

David Ortiz, Alex Cora and Manny Ramirez homered for the Red Sox, who are 5-1 against New York this season. Boston has a four-game division lead and is 6 1/2 ahead of the Yankees, baseball's $195 million bust.

Following a 10-15 start two years ago, Steinbrenner issued a statement saying: ``It's in Joe Torre's and Brian Cashman's hands.'' On Sunday, he was mute, at least publicly.

``I just spoke to George, and he's not going to have any comment today to anyone,'' spokesman Howard Rubenstein said after the game.

He wouldn't say whether Steinbrenner will speak Monday.

``I'm not going to go there,'' Rubenstein said.

Torre, whose steady demeanor rarely changes, sat in his office following the loss and said he wasn't concerned whether losing five of six to Boston (16-8) would cost him the job he has held since November 1995.

``That's out of my control. I do what I can do. If that's what happens, that's what happens,'' he said. ``It's certainly not the thing I'm thinking about when I'm sitting on the bench.''

Because of injuries, New York hasn't pitched Chien-Ming Wang, Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina in the same turn through the rotation. Johnny Damon (4-for-32), Bobby Abreu (2-for-30), Hideki Matsui (3-for-17) and Robinson Cano (1-for-18) are slumping.

Julian Tavarez (1-2) and four relievers held New York to seven hits. Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his eighth save in eight chances.

Making his second start since recovering from a hamstring injury, Wang (0-2) couldn't hold a 3-2 lead. He allowed four runs and six hits in six innings.

Tigers 4, Twins 3

At Detroit, Brandon Inge hit a leadoff homer in the ninth off Jesse Crain (1-2). Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames also homered for the Tigers. Minnesota ace Johan Santana gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings. Torii Hunter homered for the Twins.

Angels 5, White Sox 2

At Chicago, Maicer Izturis and Vladimir Guerrero hit consecutive homers, and Kelvim Escobar (2-1) allowed four hits over 7 2-3 innings to beat Mark Buehrle (2-1). Francisco Rodriguez got four outs for his eighth save. Chicago's Darin Erstad hit a two-run homer against his former team.

Indians 6, Orioles 1

At Cleveland, Fausto Carmona (2-1) pitched into the ninth inning and Casey Blake homered for the Indians. The victory came less than 24 hours after Cleveland officially protested a 7-4 loss that ended its six-game winning streak because Baltimore was given a run three innings after it had been waved off by the umpires.

Jaret Wright (0-3) came off the disabled list for the Orioles and gave up three runs in three innings against his former team.

Blue Jays 7, Rangers 3

At Toronto, Alex Rios homered and Tomo Ohka (2-2) allowed one run in seven innings to win his second consecutive start. Ian Kinsler hit his ninth homer, tying a Texas record for April. Ivan Rodriguez (2000), Alex Rodriguez (2002) and Carl Everett (2003) also did it.

Mariners 5, Royals 1

At Seattle, Cha Seung Baek took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning, and Willie Bloomquist's two-out, two-run double in the seventh broke a 1-1 tie.

Devil Rays 5, Athletics 3

At Oakland, Calif., Rocco Baldelli and Elijah Dukes hit consecutive homers, and B.J. Upton put Tampa Bay ahead with a three-run homer in the fourth. Scott Kazmir (2-1) pitched seven sharp innings and Al Reyes earned his ninth save. The A's acquired outfielder Ryan Langerhans from Atlanta for a player to be named or cash.