Giambi rallies Yankees

New York tops White Sox for fifth straight victory

? Jason Giambi’s second homer of the night capped a five-run rally in the ninth inning off Keith Foulke, giving the New York Yankees a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

“It’s gotten better and better every game, and now I feel real comfortable at the plate,” said Giambi, who has finally found his groove after signing a $120 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason.

New York's Roger Clemens delivers a pitch against Chicago. The Yankees defeated the White Sox on Wednesday at Chicago. Clemens struck out 11, his 100th double-digit game.

The Yankees won their fifth game in a row and completed their first three-game sweep in Chicago since May 1986. It was also their second come-from-behind victory in as many days.

“Our skipper stresses playing nine innings and not packing it in,” said Roger Clemens, who got a no-decision despite striking out 11. “We just have so many guys that can put the pressure on you. Fortunately tonight, guys were able to come through in a big way.”

The night was billed as a pitchers’ duel between Clemens and Mark Buehrle, who was trying for his ninth win. They lived up to it, as Clemens recorded the 100th double-digit strikeout game of his career and Buehrle came within two outs of the victory.

But Foulke (0-3) gave the game away, blowing his first save at Comiskey Park since September 2000.

Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his 17th save. Steve Karsay (2-2) allowed one hit in the eighth.

Mariners 5, Devil Rays 2

St. Petersburg, Fla. Chris Snelling hit his first major league home run to back Freddy Garcia (6-4) and help Seattle beat Tampa Bay. Snelling hit a two-run homer off Tanyon Sturtze (0-6), wiping out a 2-0 deficit in the fifth inning.

Ben Davis and Ichiro Suzuki added RBI singles in the seventh. Suzuki drove in another run with a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.

Red Sox 7, Blue Jays 4

Toronto Brian Daubach hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh as Boston completed a three-game sweep. Lou Merloni hit the tying homer in the seventh for the Red Sox, who are 20-4 on the road, the best start away from home in the majors since Detroit had the same mark in 1984.

Raul Mondesi and Vernon Wells homered for the Blue Jays, who have lost six straight.

Orioles 10, Athletics 5

Baltimore Jeff Conine hit two homers and drove in five runs as Baltimore ended Oakland’s four-game winning streak. The game featured seven home runs. Scott Hatteberg, Miguel Tejada and Eric Chavez connected in the Oakland third before Conine, Tony Batista and Marty Cordova answered in the bottom of the fourth. Conine’s second homer capped a five-run sixth.

Tigers 9, Indians 5

Cleveland Damian Jackson’s three-run double highlighted Detroit’s eight-run seventh inning just before thunderstorms caused a 1-hour, 41-minute rain delay. Jacob Cruz homered and Robert Fick doubled twice in Detroit’s biggest inning this season.

After starting the season 9-0 against the AL Central, the Indians dropped to 3-20 in their division since April 16.

Rangers 9, Twins 8

Arlington, Texas Todd Greene hit an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, and the Texas snapped a five-game losing streak. Rafael Palmeiro led off the ninth against J.C. Romero (1-3) with a single and Juan Gonzalez also singled. After Carl Everett was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs, Greene followed with a line drive down the left-field line that scored pinch-runner Calvin Murray.

Hideki Irabu (2-3) pitched a scoreless ninth.