Andruw Jones Homers Twice to Lead Braves

Andruw Jones is developing quite a fondness for Yankee Stadium.

Three years ago, he homered twice in Game 1 of the World Series, becoming the youngest player to hit a home run in a World Series game.

On Friday night, he connected for another pair of homers. He hit a solo shot in the fourth inning and a go-ahead, three-run shot against Mariano Rivera in the ninth that gave the Atlanta Braves a 10-7 victory over the New York Yankees at New York.

“I like the stadium, the way the fans root against you,” Jones said. “It pumps you up. You hit a home run and it shuts them up.”

Ryan Klesko homered twice and went four for five with four runs batted in, including a game-tying single in the ninth against Rivera (2-3).

Chipper Jones added a solo homer as the Braves overcame Greg Maddux’s quickest unscheduled exit in three years and beat the Yankees for the second consecutive night.

Before last Saturday, the Yankees had won 124 consecutive games when they led after eight innings. But now they--and Rivera--have wasted a pair of ninth-inning leads in a four-game span.

“What happened tonight, I had no control,” Rivera said.

Rivera, who blew a save for the third time in four appearances and the fourth time in 27 chances overall, hadn’t pitched since last Saturday’s wild 10-9 loss to the New York Mets, when Matt Franco hit a two-run single against him with two outs in the ninth.

Chicago White Sox 9, St. Louis 8--Mark McGwire hit a pair of three-run homers and matched a career high with six RBIs at St. Louis, but it wasn’t enough for the Cardinals.

McGwire has 31 home runs, three behind major league leader Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs. McGwire’s fourth multihomer game of the season gave him 57 in his career.

Magglio Ordonez homered, doubled and drove in four runs for the White Sox. Ray Durham went four for five with a homer and scored three runs as the White Sox ended a three-game losing streak.

Texas 9, Arizona 8--Todd Zeile drew a bases-loaded walk from Dan Plesac with no outs in the ninth at Arlington, Texas.

It was the second consecutive game the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks on the last pitch. Mark McLemore hit a three-run double for a 3-2 victory Thursday night.

The Rangers, having blown leads of 7-2 and 8-7, opened the ninth with singles by Rusty Greer and Juan Gonzalez against Bobby Chouinard (2-1).

Plesac took over and, after a passed ball by Kelly Stinnett, intentionally walked Rafael Palmeiro. Zeile walked on five pitches.

Philadelphia 5, Boston 4--Robert Person struck out eight and Scott Rolen’s two-run homer broke a sixth-inning tie at Boston.

Person (3-2) gave up three runs, five hits and three walks in six innings. All three Red Sox runs came on homers--Brian Daubach’s two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot by Jason Varitek in the second--as the Red Sox built a 3-0 lead.

Wayne Gomes got the final four outs for his 13th save, but had to get out of a jam in the ninth.

New York Mets 9, Tampa Bay 7--Matt Franco hit a two-run homer and Mike Piazza continued his torrid hitting for the Mets, going three for four at St. Petersburg, Fla.

Edgardo Alfonzo also drove in two runs for the Mets, who squandered leads twice before pulling away again with two runs in the sixth inning and Franco’s homer against Rick White in the seventh.

Piazza, who has taken up where he left off before the All-Star break, had a pair of RBI singles and also doubled. He’s 12 for 24 with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last six games.

Houston 2, Detroit 1--Craig Biggio’s two-out single in the ninth gave the Astros the victory at Houston.

The victory was the Astros’ fifth in a row, moving them back into first place in the National League Central. It was the Astros’ eighth victory in 12 games.

Baltimore 9, Montreal 4--Harold Baines went four for five with a homer at Baltimore and Mike Mussina got his 12th victory as the Orioles won their fourth in a row.

The four hits were a season high for Baines, who led Baltimore’s 17-hit attack with his 20th homer and a pair of RBIs. In 43 games since May 12, Baines is 59 for 147 (.401) with 39 RBIs.

Oakland 4, San Francisco 2--Gil Heredia allowed one run over 7 1/3 innings, and Ben Grieve and Jason Giambi homered as the Athletics beat the Giants for the second straight night in Oakland. Heredia (6-5), a former Giant, gave up four hits, struck out two and walked one for his third straight win.

It was the ninth victory in 13 games for the A’s, who improved to a major league best 28-15 at home.

Florida 4, Toronto 2--Alex Gonzalez drove in two runs at Toronto, including a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning, as the Marlins continued their interleague success.

The Marlins are 30-15 since interleague play began in 1997.

Colorado 6, Cincinnati 2--Pedro Astacio singled three times and gave up only four hits in eight-plus innings in a National League game at Cincinnati.

Astacio (9-8) retired 13 batters in a row before Dmitri Young homered in the ninth, helping the Rockies end a nine-game road losing streak. Dave Veres got the final three outs for his 15th save in 19 chances.