Red Sox' Papelbon sets saves record
For a second straight game, Jonathan Papelbon unexpectedly found himself in position to become Boston's career saves leader.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Papelbon was victimized by the greatest comeback in Baltimore Orioles history. Yesterday, after the Red Sox staged an improbable rally of their own, Papelbon got his coveted save.
Boston used a four-run ninth inning to pull even, Julio Lugo singled in the tiebreaking run in the 11th and Papelbon emphatically closed a 6-5 victory over the host Orioles.
Papelbon got three outs for his 20th save this season and 133rd with the Red Sox, breaking the team record held by Bob Stanley.
"Obviously, it feels good," Papelbon said. "When I set out to be the closer of the Boston Red Sox, there were definitely a lot of goals in sight and this was one of them."
On Tuesday night, Papelbon yielded the key hit in the eighth inning of a game in which Boston's bullpen blew a 10-1 lead before losing 11-10.
In other games:
* At Kansas City, Joe Mauer went 3-for-3, raising his average to .392 and backing pitcher Glen Perkins (4-4) in the Minnesota Twins' 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Kansas City catcher Miguel Olivo served a one-game suspension for an argument with an umpire in Pittsburgh last Saturday.
* At New York, Alex Rodriguez hit a tiebreaking homer, Andy Pettitte (8-3) pitched seven strong innings and the Yankees beat the Seattle Mariners, 4-2.
* At Arlington, Texas, Hank Blalock hit two home runs, including a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth to lead the Rangers over the Los Angeles Angels, 7-5.
* At Oakland, Jason Giambi and Jack Cust hit two-run homers, Dallas Braden (6-7) ended a four-start winless stretch and the Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers, 5-1.
* At Cleveland, Jose Contreras pitched eight superb innings and the Chicago White Sox won their fifth straight, 6-2, over the Indians. Contreras (3-7) allowed two runs and five hits, while striking out eight and walking one.
* At Toronto, Ricky Romero (6-3) pitched four-hit ball over eight innings, Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Scott Rolen each homered and the Blue Jays ended the Tampa Bay Rays' seven-game winning streak with a 5-0 victory.
Noteworthy
* A federal judge rejected Roger Clemens' bid to revive some of his defamation claims against Brian McNamee, clearing the way for the former trainer to file his own suit against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
McNamee has told federal agents, baseball investigator George Mitchell and a House committee that he injected Clemens more than a dozen times with steroids and human growth hormone from 1998 to 2001. Clemens has denied using performance-enchancing drugs.
* New York Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady will have Tommy John surgery on his right elbow after re-injuring it during a minor league rehab game. He had the same surgery in 2001.
* Shortstop Mike Aviles, Kansas City's player of the year last season, will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and be sidelined for up to 12 months. *
