One Extreme to Other for Giambi

Jason Giambi’s first two home runs for the Yankees failed to get New York a victory.

Giambi homered in his first two-bats but then struck out in his final three as the Toronto Blue Jays ended New York’s seven-game winning streak, 9-7, Wednesday night at Toronto.

“It felt good to get that first one out of the way, but I’d definitely trade it for a Yankees win,” Giambi said.

Giambi, who began the season in three-for-21 slump, hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Brandon Lyon, a drive off the window of SkyDome’s Windows restaurant in center field. He had a solo shot in the third.

“I’m starting to come around,” said Giambi, who left Oakland to sign a $120-million, seven-year contract in the off-season. “I’m starting to feel really comfortable at the plate. Hopefully, soon enough things will start working out.”

After Giambi struck out with the bases loaded in the seventh, Jorge Posada’s two-run double tied the score, 7-7.

Felipe Lopez hit a tiebreaking homer off Ted Lilly (0-1) in the bottom half and Carlos Delgado homered off Steve Karsay in the eighth.

“Giambi only drove in three runs,” Toronto’s Homer Bush said. “Our pitchers deserve some credit for getting this cat out. He went from one extreme to the other.”

Pedro Borbon (1-0) got two outs in the seventh, striking out Robin Ventura with the bases loaded, as the Blue Jays ended a five-game losing streak. Ventura has a .346 career average with the bases loaded.

Kelvim Escobar pitched the ninth and got the save in his first chance of the season.

Chicago 7, Detroit 5--The Tiger losing streak stretched to eight-- their worst start in a half-century--as Frank Thomas capped a five-run fifth inning with a three-run homer that led the White Sox to a victory at Detroit.

The Tigers, the major leagues’ lone winless team, also started the 1952 season 0-8. Detroit has lost two games since Luis Pujols replaced Phil Garner as manager.

Texas 4, Oakland 2--John Rocker got his first save for the Rangers and Rusty Greer hit his first homer since June 8 against Houston as the Rangers won at Arlington, Texas.

Rocker, who blew his first save opportunity after coming in with a 3-2 lead in the ninth Tuesday night, got three called strikeouts in the ninth to save the game for Dave Burba (1-0).

Juan Gonzalez missed the game for the Rangers because of a bruised right thumb.

Kansas City 6, Boston 2--Paul Byrd (2-0) gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings at Boston and Mike Sweeney got three hits and scored twice, ending a four-game winning streak for the Red Sox, who hadn’t lost since opening day.

Derek Lowe (1-1) gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings. It was his first start since holding Baltimore hitless for seven innings in a 3-0 victory last Friday.

Cleveland 9, Minnesota 3--Jim Thome busted out of another April slump with a grand slam and five RBIs at Cleveland as the Indians won their seventh in a row.

Thome was batting only .143 and hadn’t hit a homer before connecting in the second inning off Rick Reed (1-1).

Tampa Bay 3, Baltimore 2--Paul Wilson (1-0) gave up four hits in seven innings at Baltimore as the Orioles lost their sixth in a row.

Jason Tyner drove in a run and scored one for the Devil Rays, who improved to 4-3, tying the best mark in franchise history after seven games.