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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 3, 2009

Cabrera hits for cycle in 8-5 win


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

New York Yankees' Melky Cabrera hit a triple against the Chicago White Sox during the ninth inning. He also had a three-run home run, double and RBI single.

NAM Y. HUH | Associated Press

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CHICAGO — No one on the bench wanted Melky Cabrera to stop. He wasn't about to, anyway, when he saw the ball shoot out into right field.

He sprinted around second and slid into third just ahead of the relay to complete a rare cycle. And in a flash, his teammates went wild on the bench.

"Definitely a day to remember," Alex Rodriguez said.

Cabrera's cycle was the 15th time a Yankees player has accomplished the feat and he's the first Yankee to do it in 14 years, leading New York to an 8-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox yesterday afternoon.

Cabrera hit a three-run homer in the second to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead, doubled in the fourth and chased Mark Buehrle (11-5) with an RBI single in the fifth. He then tripled to right leading off the ninth against Scott Linebrink, driving the ball over Jermaine Dye's head and drawing a loud roar from a crowd that had showered Buehrle with cheers before his first start at home since his perfect game.

This time, the fans saw something rare happen at the plate.

When he looked into the dugout after the triple, Cabrera said, "I felt very happy." He saw a raucous bench, a group that wanted him to go for the triple even if he couldn't make it.

"Everybody was running with him," Derek Jeter said.

The cycle was the first by a Yankee since Tony Fernandez did it against Oakland on Sept. 3, 1995.

CC Sabathia (11-7) gave up five runs and 10 hits in seven innings for the Yankees. Mariano Rivera got four outs for his 30th save in 31 chances.

ANGELS 13, TWINS 4:

Kendry Morales homered twice and had a career-high six RBIs, helping Los Angeles sweep the three-game series at Minnesota. Jered Weaver (11-3) struck out a career-high 11 in 6 1/3 innings for Los Angeles (63-40), which has the best record in the American League and has won 13 of its last 15.

RED SOX 18, ORIOLES 10:

Newcomer Victor Martinez tied a career high with five hits, Josh Reddick and Rocco Baldelli homered, and Boston reached season highs in runs and hits in sweeping three games at Baltimore. The Red Sox's 23-hit attack included three apiece from Mike Lowell, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia. Martinez finished with four RBIs and Manny Delcarmen (4-2) got the win.

ROYALS 4, RAYS 1:

John Buck ended James Shields' bid for a no-hitter with a leadoff single in the eighth inning and Mitch Maier drove in three runs as Kansas City avoided a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay. Brian Bannister (7-7) gave up five hits and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings for the Royals.

INDIANS 11, TIGERS 1:

Carl Pavano (9-8) allowed one run in eight innings, and Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore each hit a two-run homer off Armando Galarraga (5-10) as host Cleveland won two of three from Detroit. Cleveland totaled 13 hits and won for the seventh time in 10 games.

BLUE JAYS 7, ATHLETICS 2:

Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer and Toronto scored five runs in the first off Vin Mazzaro (2-8) as Toronto won two of three at Oakland. Ricky Romero (10-4) gave up two runs in seven innings for Toronto.

RANGERS 4, MARINERS 2:

Jarrod Saltalamachia broke a tie with a two-run homer in the seventh as host Texas won three of four from Seattle. Scott Feldman (10-4) gave up two runs and five hits with four strikeouts and two walks for Texas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ASTROS 2, CARDINALS 0:

Bud Norris (1-0) allowed two hits in seven innings in his first major league start as Houston avoided a three-game sweep at St. Louis. Norris was working on a no-hitter before pitcher Adam Wainwright led off the sixth with a single to center.

ROCKIES 6, REDS 4, 11 INNINGS:

Dexter Fowler's two-out RBI triple in the 11th inning helped Colorado beat host Cincinnati and complete a three-game sweep. Colorado earned its first win in five extra-inning games this season, all on the road.

NATIONALS 5, PIRATES 3:

Josh Willingham hit a two-run homer as part of a three-run seventh inning and Washington avoided a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh. Ryan Zimmerman had two hits and two runs, Alberto Gonzalez had two RBIs and Mike MacDougal earned his seventh save in eight opportunities for the Nationals.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, METS 2:

Jon Garland pitched his first complete game in more than a year and Chad Tracy hit a two-run double as Arizona won two of three at New York. Garland (6-10) gave up seven hits in his 10th career complete game and first since July 6, 2008, with the Los Angeles Angels against Toronto.

GIANTS 7, PHILLIES 3:

Freddy Sanchez had two hits and two RBIs in his first game with San Francisco, and Barry Zito (7-10) allowed three runs in six innings as host San Francisco won three of four from Philadelphia. Sanchez, who was acquired from Pittsburgh two days before the trade deadline last week, singled in his first at-bat then added a two-run double in the sixth when San Francisco scored three times to break the game open.

BREWERS 6, PADRES 1:

Felipe Lopez hit a three-run double that highlighted a five-run seventh inning as Milwaukee avoided a three-game sweep at San Diego. Craig Counsell and Frank Catalanotto also drove in runs in the seventh, breaking a 1-all tie against four San Diego pitchers.

MARLINS 3, CUBS 2:

Cody Ross hit his second home run of the game in the ninth inning as host Florida won two of three from Chicago. Down 2-1 entering the ninth against former Florida closer Kevin Gregg (4-3), Dan Uggla tied it with his 19th homer. One pitch later, Ross followed suit, getting his 17th of the year.

LOS ANGELES 9, BRAVES 1:

Matt Kemp homered and matched a career high with five RBIs as Los Angeles won two of three at Atlanta. Chad Billingsley (11-6) threw five scoreless innings before leaving with a cramp in his right hamstring. He gave up only two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.