NEW YORK, 9 July 2006 — Jaret Wright combined with three relievers on a four-hit shutout and Bernie Williams drove in the game’s only run as the New York Yankees blanked the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1-0 in St. Petersburg on Friday.
Wright (5-5) tossed a mid-season masterpiece, scattering four hits over six innings while striking out a season high 10 before turning the game over to an airtight bullpen.
“He was great,” Yankees manager Joe Torre told MLB.com. “The first two batters get base hits, and then he just completely shut things down. “I can’t tell you what a great effort that was.
“That’s probably as good as he’s pitched this year based on the fact that he threw hard, and the fact that his pitch count was pretty good.”
Scott Proctor and Kyle Farnsworth each pitched a perfect inning of relief before Mariano Rivera came on in the ninth to get the final three outs to clinch the decision and his 19th save of the season.
Jae Seo (0-2), who was obtained in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers last week, was also impressive allowing just one run on three hits but received no support and was tagged with the loss.
The game’s only run came in the top of the fourth when Williams drove a single into center field scoring Jason Giambi.
In Cleveland, C.C. Sabathia tossed a three-hit shutout and Travis Hafner became the first player in major league history to hit five grand slams before the All-Star break to power the Indians to a 9-0 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.
Sabathia (7-4) proved masterful, striking out seven on way to his ninth career complete game and second shutout of the season.
The big left-hander, however, had to share the spotlight with Hafner, who blasted a second inning grand slam to key a five-run burst that put the Indians in charge 6-0. Despite his spectacular season, Hafner will not be making the trip to Tuesday’s All-Star game in Pittsburgh but said he did not feel slighted at being left out of the Mid-Summer Classic.
“It’s out of your control,” Hafner told MLB.com when asked about missing out on a place on the American League squad. “I think I’ve worked hard and improved as a player every year.
“I’m still having a great season. I have the greatest job in the world.”
In Chicago, David Ortiz belted his major league leading 30th home run and rookie Jon Lester notched his fourth straight win as the Boston Red Sox rolled to a 7-2 triumph over the White Sox.
Mike Lowell and Coco Crisp added ninth inning solo homers to the Boston cause as the surging Red Sox posted their 16th win in 20 games.
Lester (4-0) turned in a gritty effort on the mound overcoming a shaky start, allowing two runs on six hits in six innings of work to remain unbeaten in his major league career.
Ortiz, who has made a habit of winning games in the late innings with clutch hits, went to work early blasting a first inning two-run homer to give the Red Sox a lead they would never relinquish.
The Boston slugger becomes the first Red Sox to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break, bettering the 29 set by Carl Yastrzemski in 1969.
