Jul 11, 2005
Jason Giambi hit his fifth homer in six games and the two-run blast helped the New York Yankees dump the Cleveland Indians 9-4 in American League play at Yankee Stadium on Monday.
In the final day of action before Tuesday's All-Star Game, Gary Sheffield added a three-run homer for the Yankees, who moved a season-high six games over .500 and to within 2 1/2 games of the first place Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Ruben Sierra added a two-run bases-loaded single for New York while Hideki Matsui had three hits, scored three runs and drove in another.
Randy Johnson (9-6) allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings for the win, striking out eight and walking one.
Mariano Rivera pitched two shutout innings for his 20th save.
Jake Westbrook (6-11) allowed six runs -- five earned -- on six hits with four strikeouts and five walks to take the loss.
Travis Hafner drove in three runs with a pair of hits for the Indians, while Grady Sizemore had three hits and scored twice.
After the All-Star break, the Yankees face the Red Sox in the opener of a four-game series at Fenway Park on Thursday.
In other games, Rodrigo Lopez pitched eight solid innings as the Orioles beat the Red Sox 4-1 in Baltimore.
Lopez (8-5) allowed one run on three hits and struck out six. B.J. Ryan pitched one inning for his 19th save while Jay Gibbons and Rafael Palmeiro homered for the Orioles.
Palmeiro now has 2,998 career hits.
Tim Wakefield (8-7) pitched seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits and struck out four to take the loss.
Trot Nixon homered for the Red Sox.
In Arlington, Mark Teixeira and Mark DeRosa homered as the Texas Rangers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-8.
Kameron Loe (3-1) pitched one inning for the win.
Jason Frasor (1-4) got one out, allowing three runs on two hits and walking one to take the loss.
Vernon Wells had two hits and drove in three runs for the Blue Jays.
In Kansas City, Nick Punto scored on a fielding error by Mark Teahan in the 12th inning as the Minnesota Twins beat the Royals 3-2.
J.C. Romero (2-2) pitched one inning and struck out one for the win. Jesse Crain pitched one inning for his first save and Justin Morneau had three hits for the Twins.
Mike Wood (3-3) pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking two and striking out three to take the loss. Mike Sweeney hit two home runs for the Royals.
In St Petersburg, Dmitri Young hit a two-run homer as the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9-4.
Mike Maroth (7-9) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits, walking one and striking out five for the win.
Mark Hendrickson (3-6) pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and striking out one to take the loss.
Jorge Cantu homered for the Devil Rays.
In Chicago, Nick Swisher doubled in the winning run in the top of the 11th to lead the Oakland Athletics to a 9-8 victory over the White Sox.
Houston Street (3-1) pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and striking out three for the win.
Dan Johnson, Mark Kotsay and Nick Swisher homered for Oakland.
Luis Vizcaino (3-3) pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits and walking one to take the loss.
Carl Everett and Paul Konerko homered for the White Sox.
In Anaheim, Miguel Olivio hit a two-run homer as the Seattle Mariners beat the Angels 7-4.
Gil Meche (9-6) pitched six innings, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on six hits, walking one and striking out four for the win.
Eddie Guardado pitched one inning for his 21st save. Richie Sexson homered for the Mariners.
Ervin Santana (3-4) pitched three innings, allowing five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out two to take the loss. Vladimir Guerrero homered for the Angels.
The New York Yankees rebounded from a tough loss on Saturday to win Sunday's game 9-4 against the Cleveland Indians thanks to some timely hitting.

Randy Johnson (9-6) allowed three runs on nine hits, six of which were leadoff hits. His performance bested Tribe starter Jake Westbrook (6-11), who pitched well to start the game but then surrendered two runs in the 4th inning and three in the 5th as the Yankees' hitters constructed a lead.

Recently acquired reliever Wayne Franklin threatened to lose the lead in the 7th inning, but was saved by Tanyon Sturtze, who came on to get the final out of the inning. Gary Sheffield then responded in the bottom of the inning with a three-run homer hit deep into the right-center field bleachers, stretching the Yankee lead to 9-4.

Mariano Rivera closed out the game with a two-inning appearance, recording his 20th save. He enters the All-Star break preparing for Tuesday's game, along with Sheffield and Alex Rodriguez. The Yankees currently trail the AL East leader Boston Red Sox by 2.5 games, but face tough road series against the BoSox, Rangers, and Angels when play resumes on Thursday.