Despite a 5-2 loss to the Yankees, Tigers 20-year-old rookie Cameron Maybin hit his first major-league homer off Roger Clemens. Maybin’s shot in the fifth inning gave the Tigers a brief lead. Coincidentally, Clemens also allowed Sammy Sosa’s first homer back in 1989.
Marlon Byrd spoiled the big party at the Metrodome, hitting a two-run homer and driving in four runs as the Rangers defeated the Twins 5-0 on the night when Minnesota honored its 1987 World Series championship team with a pregame ceremony.
Micah Owings pitched a four-hitter over seven innings and was also the Diamondbacks’ hitting star, going 4-for-5 with two homers and six RBIs. He had a solo homer, a two-run homer, a two-run double and an RBI single in a 12-3 victory over the Braves.
THREE DOWN
The Mets’ Damion Easley suffered a nasty left ankle injury in the sixth inning of a 7-4 win over the Nationals. Easley was attempting to take second base on a wild pitch and stopped short of the bag when he turned the ankle. It was diagnosed as a grade-three sprain.
Angels pitcher Jered Weaver had breezed through four innings, allowing just two hits against the Red Sox, but the fifth inning was a disaster. Weaver retired just one batter in the fifth, allowing six runs on six hits, including David Ortiz’s grand slam, in the Red Sox’s 10-5 victory.
The Phillies moved into a first-place tie in the NL wild-card race Friday but couldn’t keep their momentum Saturday as veteran lefty Jamie Moyer gave up eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits in four innings of an 11-6 loss to the Pirates.
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Compiled by Mike Pankow
