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Mora's bunt single helps Orioles rally past Yankees

Sep 29, 2007 - 5:10 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Melvin Mora helped hand a division title to the Boston Red Sox.

Mora's game-winning bunt single in the bottom of the 10th inning helped the Baltimore Orioles rally for a 10-9 victory over the New York Yankees, who surrendered the American League East title for the first time since 1997.

The Yankees had already assured themselves a 13th straight postseason berth by clinching at least the AL wild card on Wednesday.

"Sure you'd love to win the division," New York manager Joe Torre said. "What it took us to get to the postseason, that's the most important thing."

Mora drove in two runs and Jay Payton drilled a game-tying three-run triple in the bottom of the ninth for Baltimore, which ensured it won't finish in last place in the American League East.

The win also handed the AL East title to the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Minnesota Twins, 5-2, earlier on Friday.

With one out and the score tied at 9-9 in the bottom of the 10th inning, Tike Redman drilled a double off Edwar Ramirez (1-1). After moving to third on a passed ball, Nick Markakis and Miguel Tejada were both intentionally walked. After Kevin Millar struck out, Mora dropped a bunt down the third base line to score Redman with the winner.

"Nobody expected the bunt," Mora said. "We needed just one run, we didn't need a grand slam."

Chad Bradford (4-7) earned the win despite a shaky top of the 10th

After Derek Jeter led off the inning with a double and moved to third on a groundout, manager Dave Trembley ordered Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui walked to load the bases.

"Fellas, we got one shot at this," said Trembley, who gathered his infield at the mound before Rodriguez stepped into the batters box. "I know you want to face A-Rod, but we're not going to do it."

The Orioles had defied the odds in the ninth by tying the game off future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.

The Yankees were leading 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth, but Rivera loaded the bases before Payton cleared them with a drive into right-center field.

Rivera was succinct when asked about his ninth-inning collapse.

"Location - that means a lot," Rivera said.

Rodriguez, the leading candidate for the MVP on the junior circuit, tried to do his part to will New York to victory. His four RBI give him 155 this season - the most for a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio drove in 155 in 1939.

"Alex makes you shake your head," Torre said. "It just doesn't look like he's swinging very hard, and there it is, the ball jumps off his bat."

His 54th homer highlighted a four-run third for New York.

"I'm very blessed to be able to play at a high level for a long time," Rodriguez said. "I feel fortunate to have that many RBIs."

The Yankees scored three more in the fifth on an RBI double by Rodriguez and run-scoring singles by Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano for a 7-2 lead.

All seven runs were charged to Jon Leicester, who also gave up eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.

However, Baltimore scored four runs off Mike Mussina in the fifth on run-scoring singles by Tejeda and Mora and RBI doubles by Aubrey Huff and Ramon Hernandez. The four runs narrowed the New York lead to 7-6.

Mussina labored through five innings, allowing six runs and 11 hits while walking one and striking out two.

"It was a frustrating night," Mussina said. "I wasn't thinking. I wasn't thinking enough."

Mussina, who had temporarily lost his place in the starting rotation, had won his previous three starts.

The 17-year veteran is looking forward to the postseason, even if he may not be a starter.

"We climbed back from obscurity," Mussina added. "We were written off. We were finished according to everybody and now we're in the playoffs."

Damon gave the Yankees an 8-6 lead on a leadoff home run in the sixth - his 12th of the season - and scored New York's ninth run in the eighth on a double by Abreu and an RBI single by Rodriguez.

Yankee relievers Ross Ohlendorf, Kyle Farnsworth, and Luis Vizcaino had each pitched a scoreless inning before Rivera's blown save in the ninth.