NEW YORK — Cliff Lee, the former Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher from Benton, beat the New York Yankees in their ballpark again, pitching his third consecutive complete game to lead the Seattle Mariners to a 7-4 victory Tuesday night.
Lee (7-3) beat New York twice in last year’s World Series for the Philadelphia Phillies, including Game 1 at Yankee Stadium. He also won the ballpark opener for the Cleveland Indians in April 2009.
“Yeah, I like pitching here,” Lee said. “I’ve always enjoyed pitching here.”
This time, the left-hander gave up his first walk since June 2 - five starts ago, and two home runs to Nick Swisher.
Lee also allowed two runs in the ninth, but worked out of trouble.
He kept his cool earlier in the day, too, when his subway sped through the stop for Yankee Stadium. Lee handled it like a local. He got off and switched to a downtown D train going the other way. No big deal.
“I’m not afraid to take the subway,” Lee said.
He threw 115 pitches and became the first Mariners pitcher with three complete games in a row since Randy Johnson in 1998.
The Mariners, last in the AL West, might try to deal Lee because he can become a free agent after the season.
“I’m a Mariner until they tell me otherwise,” Lee said. “I’m going to continue to help the Mariners win every time I take the mound.”
Lee yielded three earned runs in his 18th career complete game and fifth this season. He allowed eight hits and struck out two.
WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 3 Gavin Floyd ( 3-7) gave up 3 runs (1 unearned) and 7 hits in 6 2 /3 innings as Chicago beat host Kansas City. Floyd was 0-4 in five career starts at Kauffman Stadium and 1-7 in 10 starts against the Royals.
TWINS 11, TIGERS 4
Denard Span tied a modern-era record with three triples and also had a single, a walk and five RBI as host Minnesota beat Detroit.
RED SOX 8, RAYS 5
David Ortiz hit a three run home run with first base open to break a fifth-inning tie, and John Lackey (9-3) won his fifth consecutive decision as host Boston beat Tampa Bay.
ATHLETICS 4, ORIOLES 2
Vin Mazzaro (3-2), who started in place of Dallas Braden (elbow stiffness), allowed 1 run and 3 hits in 6-plus innings as Oakland beat host Baltimore for its fourth consecutive victory.
INDIANS 5, BLUE JAYS 4
Fausto Carmona (7-6) improved to 3-0 in five career starts against Toronto and host Cleveland got its third consecutive victory.
National League CARDINALS 8, DIAMONDBACKS 0 Albert Pujols had 2 two-run home runs, a double and five RBI, and Adam Wainwright (11-5) pitched into the seventh to improve to 8-0 with a 1.49 ERA at home as St. Louis beat Arizona. Wainwright also had an RBI single and two walks.
PHILLIES 9, REDS 6
Raul Ibanez ended Arthur Rhodes’ record-tying streak of scoreless innings with a run-scoring double in the three-run 10th as Philadelphia beat host Cincinnati. Rhodes (2-2) hadn’t allowed a run in his past 33 appearances, tying the major league season record.
CUBS 3, PIRATES 1
Alfonso Soriano hit two home runs as host Chicago beat Pittsburgh.
BREWERS 7, ASTROS 5
Prince Fielder hit two home runs, and Yovani Gallardo (8-3) pitched six innings and hit a home run and host Milwaukee beat Houston.
NATIONALS 7, BRAVES 2 Craig Stammen (2-2), called up from Class AAA Syracuse earlier in the day, gave up 2 runs and 5 hits in 7 1 /3 innings to end streaks of 9 starts without a victory this year and 10 road starts without a victory as Washington beat host Atlanta to end a five-game losing streak. Stammen was sent to the minors June 6 to clear room for rookie Stephen Strasburg.
Tuesday’s games NATIONAL LEAGUE Florida 7, NY Mets 6
at San Juan, Puerto Rico Philadelphia 9, Cincinnati 6, 10 innings Washington 7, Atlanta 2 Chicago Cubs 3, Pittsburgh 1 Milwaukee 7, Houston 5 St. Louis 8, Arizona 0 Colorado at San Diego, (n) LA Dodgers at San Francisco, (n) AMERICAN LEAGUE Oakland 4, Baltimore 2 Seattle 7, NY Yankees 4 Cleveland 5, Toronto 4 Boston 8, Tampa Bay 5 Chicago White Sox 4, Kansas City 3 Minnesota 11, Detroit 4 Texas at LA Angels, (n)
Sports, Pages 22 on 06/30/2010