ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -Hideki Matsui came through after another shaky performance by the New York Yankees’ bullpen.
Matsui followed Jerry Hairston’s tying homer off Luis Vizcaino with a go-ahead double in eighth inning to lead the Yankees over the Texas Rangers 4-3 Thursday in the opener of a day-night doubleheader.
Andy Pettitte handed over a 3-2 lead to the bullpen after allowing two runs and five hits in six innings with five strikeouts. But Vizcaino (2-1), who has a 5.63 ERA, gave up a homer to his second batter, the eighth blown save chance for New York’s bullpen.
Derek Jeter reached against Joaquin Benoit (0-1) leading off the eighth on an infield single that extended his hitting streak to 19 games. Bobby Abreu, in a 3-for-40 slide, struck out and Jeter advanced on a wild pitch.
After Alex Rodriguez grounded out, Texas intentionally walked Jason Giambi to pitch to Matsui, who doubled deep to right-center. Giambi hesitated twice on the basepaths and was thrown out at the plate.
Mariano Rivera pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save in four chances, giving the Yankees (11-14) consecutive wins after a stretch of eight losses in nine games that caused owner George Steinbrenner to consider firing manager Joe Torre.
Royals 5, Angels 2
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Gil Meche allowed two hits in seven innings, retiring 17 straight batters after Vladimir Guerrero’s two-run homer in the first and leading Kansas City.
Meche (3-1), whose 2.23 ERA is third in the AL behind Oakland’s Dan Haren (1.60) and the Angels’ John Lackey (2.19), struck out six and walked one. Meche walked Reggie Willits in a 10-pitch at-bat right ahead of Guerrero’s ninth home run.
Jered Weaver (1-3) matched his career high with nine strikeouts but gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings. Weaver, who has a 5.12 ERA, lost to Kansas City for the first time in three decisions.
Brandon Duckworth and rookie Joakim Soria finished the three-hitter, with Soria pitching the ninth for his fifth save in five chances. The victory gave Kansas City a split of the four-game series.
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