Baltimore – The Boston Red Sox had blown a two-run lead, and now they were in the ninth inning of a tie game facing all-star closer B.J. Ryan.
“A lot of teams lose that game,” Boston manager Terry Francona said. “We’re not a lot of teams.”
Edgar Renteria drove in two runs with a broken-bat single in the ninth, and the Red Sox regained a share of first place in the East by defeating the Baltimore Orioles 4-3 on Saturday.
The victory, coupled with New York’s 7-4 loss to Toronto, left the Red Sox and the Yankees tied for the division lead with eight games left.
After Trot Nixon and Tony Graffanino hit one-out singles off Ryan (1-4), Johnny Damon drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Renteria, who blooped a single to left that broke a 2-2 tie.
“A great win,” Boston’s Kevin Millar said. “It took everything we had to get to B.J. Ryan.”
Ryan entered with a 2.32 ERA and 34 saves, but on this night he was no match for the highest-scoring team in the major leagues.
“We beat one of the best,” Francona said. “Guys that haven’t hit him before hit him today.”
Melvin Mora homered for the Orioles, who have lost seven straight.
Blue Jays 7, Yankees 4
New York – Bruised by a line drive again, Jaret Wright was ineffective and Toronto ended New York’s five-game winning streak.
Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano made costly errors for the Yankees, who lost for only the second time in 13 games.
Shea Hillenbrand and Eric Hinske each drove in two runs for Toronto, which won for the fifth time in 13 tries. Wright (5-4) was chased with none out in the second inning, his shortest start since August 2004 with Atlanta.
Scott Downs (4-3) held New York in check for 5 2/3 innings to earn the win. Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in three runs for the Yankees.
Athletics 7, Rangers 6
Oakland, Calif. – Jason Kendall hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and Oakland rallied from a three-run deficit for a much-needed win.
After Jay Payton led off the eighth with a double down the left-field line, Dan Johnson followed with a tying RBI double off the wall in right. Hiram Bocachica entered as a pinch runner, John Wasdin (2-2) intentionally walked Mark Ellis and Kendall’s drive got past shortstop Michael Young, allowing Bocachica to score.
Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer and a two-run double for Texas. He connected for the second straight day, sending his career-best 43rd homer in the first inning. The home run was the 257th of the year for the Rangers, matching the 1996 Baltimore Orioles for the second-best total in major-league history, seven behind the 1997 Seattle Mariners.
Barry Zito allowed baserunners in every inning but the fourth and was done after six innings. Justin Duchscherer (7-4) pitched the eighth with a sore back, and Huston Street finished for his 22nd save in 26 chances.
White Sox 8, Twins 1
Chicago – Freddy Garcia allowed four hits in eight innings, and Jermaine Dye hit a three-run homer for the second straight night.
The Central-leading White Sox have won back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 6-7, the end of a seven-game winning streak.
Garcia (13-8) won for just the second time in 10 starts, striking out two and walking two.
Tigers 7, Mariners 1
Detroit – Jason Grilli pitched seven strong innings in his first Detroit start, and the Tigers hit four home runs to snap an eight-game losing streak.
