Mondesi Takes Load Off Blue Jays

Raul Mondesi might keep the Toronto Blue Jays from dumping salary.

Mondesi hit two home runs, including a tiebreaking grand slam in the eighth inning off Bryce Florie, and the Blue Jays defeated the Boston Red Sox, 8-4, Friday night at Toronto.

Before the series, Manager Buck Martinez hinted that the Blue Jays would dump salary if they lost the four-game series.

“We’re playing against first-place Boston, so we got to play every game like it’s our last,� said Mondesi, whose team is three games below .500. “If we win three out of four, or maybe four, it will be good for us.�

Mondesi, who had a day off Thursday, tied his career high with six runs batted in. He hit his fourth career grand slam.

“The owners can do what they’re going to do,� Mondesi said. “Whatever they do, I’m just here to play baseball.�

Manny Ramirez homered for the Red Sox, who have lost three in a row and six of eight.

Chris Woodward tripled off Florie (0-1) in the eighth and Shannon Stewart was intentionally walked. After Alex Gonzalez walked, Mondesi connected with two out for his 15th home run.

“I had Mondesi 0-2, but then it went to 2-2 and I’m thinking he’s looking fastball or slider, and I threw him a bad breaking ball and he did what he’s supposed to do,� Florie said.

Minnesota 3, Detroit 2--Chad Allen, recalled from triple-A Edmonton before the game, went three for four and hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning at Minneapolis to help the Twins move back into first place in the AL Central.

Allen had not played since straining his right quadriceps June 4. He was activated from the disabled list June 19 and sent to Edmonton because there was no room on the roster.

Allen homered to left-center field off Heath Murray (0-3) with one out in the eighth. The Tigers dropped to 2-8 against the Twins this year and lost their sixth game in a row.

Texas 9, Oakland 6--Mike Magnante’s bases-loaded wild pitch and an ensuing error by catcher Ramon Hernandez gave the Rangers three seventh-inning runs at Arlington, Texas.

With Oakland ahead, 6-5, Ivan Rodriguez led off the seventh with a single off Jeff Tam, advanced on a groundout and scored on Rafael Palmeiro’s single off Magnante (0-1).

Ruben Sierra doubled, Gabe Kapler was walked intentionally to load the bases and pinch-hitter Andres Galarraga struck out.

Magnante’s second pitch to Mike Lamb was three feet outside and skipped to the backstop. Hernandez retrieved the ball and his throw struck Palmeiro on the leg as he slid home with the go-ahead run.

The ball bounced into the Texas dugout for a two-base error, allowing Sierra and Kapler to score.

New York 7, Tampa Bay 5--Roger Clemens had a shutout before tiring in the seventh inning at New York, but he won his seventh consecutive start.

Tino Martinez and Alfonso Soriano hit two-run home runs, and Bernie Williams went three for three with two run-scoring singles for the Yankees, who moved 11 games over .500 for the first time this season.

Clemens (11-1), who leads the AL in victories, improved to 20-3 since coming off the disabled list July 2.

Kansas City 5, Cleveland 3--John Rocker sat and watched like everyone else as the Royals hit four home runs off Dave Burba in the fourth inning and rallied for a victory at Cleveland.

Rocker never left the bullpen during his first home game since being traded to Cleveland last week from Atlanta.

Jermaine Dye hit a two-run home run and Mike Sweeney, Raul Ibanez and Carlos Beltran hit solo home runs in the fourth off Burba (8-5), who tied a dubious major-league record for most given up in one inning.

Jeff Suppan (4-7) gave up three runs and five hits in seven innings.

Baltimore 4, Chicago 0--Rookie Josh Towers gave up six hits in seven innings for his fifth victory in seven starts, leading the Orioles at Chicago.

Towers (6-2) outpitched Mark Buehrle, who had his five-game winning streak ended as Melvin Mora doubled twice and hit a sacrifice fly. The Orioles have won four of five.