Jason Giambi still hopes to play for the Yankees this season.
Slowed by a respiratory infection and strained left groin, he increased his workout program Thursday. He’s been at the team’s spring-training complex in Tampa the last two weeks working to get into shape after being diagnosed with a benign tumor last month.
“In the best-case scenario, our goal has been to get back before the end of the season and make a difference in the playoffs,” Giambi said. “We’ll keep on working and go from there.”
Yankees manager Joe Torre isn’t counting on Giambi returning his season. With just over five weeks left in the regular season, time could become the determining factor.
“It’s getting more and more remote in my mind,” Torre said this week.
Raffy’s return
Rafael Palmeiro wanted to end his career in Texas, where he spent 10 seasons and hit his 500th home run last year. Instead, he got pushed aside.
Palmeiro returns to Arlington, Texas, this weekend when the Baltimore Orioles make their only visit to the site of some of his greatest moments.
“I’m not sure what kind of reception I’m going to get,” Palmeiro said. “I hope that it’s a good one, but you can never tell how the fans are going to be.”
Extra innings
Chan Ho Park was activated from the disabled list by the Rangers for the fifth time in three seasons to start Thursday night, his first appearance in more than two months, and right-hander Mickey Callaway was moved to the 60-day DL with a shoulder injury. . . . Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells missed his third straight game with tightness in his right calf.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Baltimore 4 at Oakland 9
W: Zito (10-9)
L: Cabrera (9-7)
Erubiel Durazo hit 3-run HR and Eric Chavez also had HR as Athletics completed 4-game sweep of Orioles, who have lost 10 straight, longest skid since ending 2002 season with 12 losses.
N.Y. Yankees 7 at Toronto 4
W: Nitkowski (1-1)
L: Frasor (4-4)
S: Rivera (44)
Alex Rodriguez had go-ahead single in 9th inning to help Yankees rally past Blue Jays. C.J. Nitkowski got 2 outs in 8th for 1st win with New York, which remained 5 1/2 games ahead of Red Sox.
Detroit 1 at Boston 4
W: Arroyo (7-9)
L: Johnson (8-12)
S: Foulke (24)
Bronson Arroyo allowed 6 hits and 1 unearned run in 7 1/3 innings as surging Red Sox won for 9th time in 10 games and improved to season-best 20 games over .500 at 73-53.
Minnesota 3 at Texas 8
W: Park (3-4)
L: Mulholland (4-7)
Hank Blalock hit HR for 5th time in 6 games and Chan Ho Park allowed 2 runs and 4 hits in 6 innings in return from DL as Rangers equaled win total (71) from last year.
Kansas City 7 at Seattle 3
W: Anderson (3-11)
L: Moyer (6-9)
Ichiro Suzuki became 1st player to reach 200 hits in each of 1st 4 ML seasons when he hit 1st pitch from Jeremy Affeldt over fence in 9th. Abraham Nunez hit 2nd grand slam in 2 weeks.
