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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, May 19, 2008

Mets clobber Yankees

Photo gallery: Major League Baseball

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Luis Castillo, left, and Jose Reyes celebrate after an 11-2 victory over the New York Yankees, giving the Mets a two-game sweep.

KATHY WILLENS | Associated Press

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NEW YORK — Jose Reyes and the New York Mets are feeling much better about themselves. All it took was two big wins at Yankee Stadium.

Oliver Perez shut down the slumping Yankees, Reyes homered for the second consecutive game and the Mets cruised to an 11-2 rout yesterday for a two-game sweep of their crosstown rivals.

"Starting to roll a little bit," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Hopefully, we're ready to take off."

Ryan Church also homered and Moises Alou drove in three runs for the Mets, who beat Chien-Ming Wang (6-2) and won a series at Yankee Stadium for only the second time since interleague play began in 1997. They took two of three in 2005.

This one was a two-game sweep after Johan Santana beat the Yankees 7-4 Saturday. Friday night's scheduled opener was rained out and is likely to be made up when the teams meet again June 27 to 29, possibly with a two-ballpark doubleheader.

When the Mets showed up Friday, they had just lost three of four at home to last-place Washington, and Randolph was under fire. So they cleared the air in a closed-door meeting following remarks by closer Billy Wagner that some perceived as critical of his teammates.

"The positive energy that comes from winning here," David Wright said, "I think that can give you a lot of momentum."

Perez (4-3) pitched three-hit ball for a season-high 7 2/3 innings, handing the Yankees their fifth loss in six games. The so-called Bronx Bombers, missing injured sluggers Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, have scored only 12 runs during that stretch while falling to a season-worst 20-24.

The margin yesterday could have been bigger, too, if not for a blown call that cost Carlos Delgado a three-run homer. Perez won his second consecutive outing following a three-game skid, and the Yankees dropped to 4-10 against left-handed starters.

"We all have to do better. It starts with me. Put it on me," manager Joe Girardi said. "I'm the leader. I've got to find something."

Rodriguez is expected to return tomorrow against Baltimore.

Reds 6, Indians 4: Adam Dunn homered for the fourth straight game, and Joey Votto finished off Cliff Lee (6-1) with the first pinch-hit homer of his career, leading host Cincinnati to a three-game sweep of Cleveland. The left-hander gave up 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in only 5 2/3 innings, more runs than he had allowed in his seven previous starts combined.

Astros 5, Rangers 4: Brandon Backe (3-5) pitched into the seventh inning and Miguel Tejada had three hits as visiting Houston beat Texas. Backe retired the first nine batters of the game and didn't give up a run until allowing consecutive homers to Milton Bradley and David Murphy in the seventh.

Diamondbacks 4, Tigers 0: Randy Johnson (4-1) pitched seven scoreless innings for his 288th career victory, and host Arizona improved to a major league-best 28-16. The 44-year-old Johnson went a season-long seven innings to win his fourth straight decision, allowing six hits and a walk and striking out five.

Red Sox 11, Brewers 7: David Ortiz homered twice and drove in four runs to lead host Boston over Milwaukee. Kevin Youkilis hit a two-run homer and Dustin Pedroia also homered for Boston, hitting a solo shot ahead of Ortiz's first of the game.

Rockies 6, Twins 2: Jeff Francis (1-4) struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings to win for the first time this season and Todd Helton homered and drove in three runs to lead host Colorado over Minnesota.

Royals 9, Marlins 3: Jose Guillen homered and drove in four runs and Zack Greinke (5-1) gave up three runs in six innings to lead visiting Kansas City over Florida.

Braves 5, Athletics 2: Yunel Escobar had three hits, including a go-ahead, two-run single, and Omar Infante added a two-run triple in the eighth inning to lead host Atlanta over Oakland.

Cardinals 5, Rays 4: Skip Schumaker doubled with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning over a drawn-in outfield, driving in the winning run and capping St. Louis' rally from a three-run deficit.

Mariners 3, Padres 2: Jose Lopez lined a two-out, two-run double in the eighth to lead host Seattle over San Diego. Heath Bell (0-3) took the loss.

White Sox 13, Giants 8: Nick Swisher hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the eighth as a pinch-hitter, lifting visiting Chicago to its fifth straight win.

Blue Jays 6, Phillies 5: Lyle Overbay's three-run pinch-hit homer and Shannon Stewart's two-run double helped visiting Toronto beat Philadelphia in a game that was delayed twice by rain.

Nationals 2, Orioles 1: Rookie John Lannan (4-4) took a three-hitter into the eighth inning and Cristian Guzman homered as visiting Washington beat Baltimore. Lannan (4-4) allowed one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings.

Angels 10, Dodgers 2: Mike Napoli homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs to power the host Angels over the Dodgers. The Angels took two of three in the "Freeway Series."

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Cubs 4, Pirates 3: Reed Johnson hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly and Chicago batters walked seven times against Phil Dumatrait (1-2) in the win over visiting Pittsburgh.

ELSEWHERE

Padres: San Diego ace Jake Peavy will miss his scheduled start today against St. Louis with soreness in his pitching elbow. The reigning Cy Young winner will visit with Padres' team physicians this morning, trying to determine the root of the discomfort Peavy has experienced in his elbow.

Rangers: Hank Blalock will move to first base for Texas when he returns from the disabled list. Blalock, a third baseman who has been out since April 26 with a torn left hamstring, volunteered to make the switch Friday and the move was announced before yesterday's game against Houston. Blalock has played 686 career games at third base and none at first. The Rangers are sending Blalock to extended spring training in Arizona today.

Mariners: Slumping catcher Jeff Clement was optioned back to Triple-A Tacoma by Seattle Mariners after yesterday's game. In 15 games with Seattle, Clement hit just .167, with two RBIs, and went hitless in nine of the 15 games.