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On the board: Yanks earn first win against Red Sox

Aug 7, 2009 - 8:08 AM By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer

NEW YORK(AP) -- Jorge Posada and the New York Yankees put on a powerful show to finally beat the Boston Red Sox.

Muhammad Ali and a starry crowd watched as the Yankees beat Boston for the first time in nine games this season, with Posada and Melky Cabrera hitting three-run homers in New York's 13-6 victory on Thursday night.

"We are playing a lot better than we started playing at the beginning," Posada said. "We are pitching better and we're doing a lot of things well on the mound and at the plate. Hopefully we can carry on and do what we did today."

Posada, who paid tribute to late Yankees captain Thurman Munson by painting No. 15 on his catcher's mask, had three hits and three RBIs. Johnny Damon and Mark Teixeira also connected for New York, which ended a nine-game skid against Boston dating to last season. It was the Yankees' longest drought in one of baseball's most heated rivalries since they lost 17 straight from Oct. 3, 1911, to July 1, 1912.

John Smoltz gave a performance that put his future with Boston in question.

Smoltz (2-5) was tagged for eight runs and nine hits in 3 1-3 innings, sending his ERA to 8.33 for his eight starts this season. It was his most runs allowed since he gave up eight in a no-decision with Atlanta on May 28, 2006, at Wrigley Field.

"I'm not doing it right now," he said. "I'm a big enough man to stand up here and say I'm not doing it. Time may not be on my side if this continues. I've been here before, but not like this."

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said it was too early to come to any conclusions on Smoltz.

"I thought that he threw the ball well over the first couple of innings, but then they started taking some pretty healthy swings on him," Francona said. "That's an unforgiving lineup in an unforgiving ballpark."

Casey Kotchman hit a two-run homer in his first start for Boston and Dustin Pedroia also went deep. David Ortiz went 0 for 5 and was booed in his first game at Yankee Stadium since he said the players union confirmed his name was on the list of 104 major leaguers who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003.

Despite a career-high seven walks, Joba Chamberlain (8-2) lasted five innings to win his fourth consecutive start. AL East-leading New York increased its lead over Boston to 3 1/2 games.

It was the Yankees' first home game since the Aug. 2 anniversary of Munson's death in a plane crash.

Royals 8, Mariners 2=

At Kansas City, Mo., Bruce Chen won in the major leagues for the first time since 2005 and Billy Butler hit a two-run homer in a five-run first inning for Kansas City.

Chen, who had lost his past 13 decisions, earned his first victory since Oct. 2, 2005, while with Baltimore. Chen (1-6) held the Mariners to two runs, despite giving up 10 hits and a walk in 6 2-3 innings, matching his longest outing this season.

Mariners left-hander Jason Vargas (3-6) lost his fourth straight decision.

Indians 2, Twins 1=

At Cleveland, Trevor Crowe hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning for Cleveland.

Crowe's slicing line drive into the left-center gap off Nick Blackburn (8-6) scored Travis Hafner from second base as Cleveland won for the ninth time in 13 games.

Tony Sipp (2-0) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win.

Tigers 7, Orioles 3=

At Detroit, Brandon Inge hit a two-run homer in a four-run second inning, and Rick Porcello didn't give up a hit until the fifth for the Tigers.

Porcello (10-7) has allowed only three run in his last two starts after allowing 19 runs in his previous four. He went 5 2-3 innings in this one, allowing only four hits.

David Hernandez (3-4) gave up five runs and seven hits, needing 81 pitches to get through three innings.

Angels 9, White Sox 5=

At Chicago, Vladimir Guerrero hit his first home run in more than a month and Bobby Abreu, Jeff Mathis and Erick Aybar also went deep to lead the Angels.

Jayson Nix had a three-run homer for Chicago.

Ervin Santana (4-6) settled down after a rocky start to last six innings for the Angels.

Los Angeles scored five times in the first two innings off John Danks (9-8).

Rangers 6, Athletics 4=

At Oakland, Calif., Michael Young hit his 18th homer of the season, Tommy Hunter pitched seven solid innings and the Rangers avoided their first four-game sweep since April 2008.

Hank Blalock added his 21st homer, and David Murphy and Andruw Jones each drove in a run for the Rangers.

Hunter (4-2) gave up three runs - two earned - and three hits with a pair of walks.

Oakland starter Trevor Cahill (6-11) allowed five runs on eight hits in six innings.