NEW YORK – Last-minute replacement Todd Zeile homered, delivered a bizarre single and made a tumbling catch as the New York Yankees broke a three-game losing streak, defeating the Anaheim Angels 10-4 Thursday night.
Arturo Moreno, whose $184 million purchase of the Angels was approved earlier in the day, had barely settled into his box seat next to the Anaheim dugout when slumping Yankees star Alfonso Soriano hit a leadoff home run.
It didn’t get any better for Moreno, either, in the highest-scoring game against the World Series champion Angels this season.
Derek Jeter doubled twice, Bernie Williams hit a pair of RBI singles and Raul Mondesi scored two runs as the Yankees took a 10-1 lead after four innings.
Zeile played in place of Nick Johnson, pulled because of a sore right hand, had two hits, scored two runs and drove in two.
Royals 9, Twins 5
MINNEAPOLIS – Slumping Joe Randa keyed a four-run 14th inning with a leadoff double to lead the Kansas City Royals over the Minnesota Twins 9-5.
Carlos Beltran hit a two-run homer in the first inning for the Royals, who split the four-game series and lead Minnesota by 21/2 games in the AL Central.
Devil Rays 9, Blue Jays 5
TORONTO – Toby Hall’s two-run double and Rocco Baldelli’s two-run single highlighted a six-run second inning that sent the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 9-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Baldelli went 2-for-5, raising his average to .352. The 21-year-old rookie center fielder entered the day tied for the most hits in the majors with 55.
Athletics 11, Tigers 2
DETROIT – Eric Byrnes hit a three-run triple in Oakland’s six-run first and Barry Zito pitched six strong innings to lead the Athletics over the Detroit Tigers 11-2.
The A’s won their eighth straight series and 11th of 13. Oakland (25-15) has its best record after 40 games since 1990.
Detroit is a major league-worst 9-29.
, had won six of its nine previous games.
Zito (6-3) gave up two runs – one earned – four hits and one walk. The defending American League Cy Young Award winner struck out five and retired his last nine batters.
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