Martinez Masters Mussina, Yankees

Pedro Martinez outpitched Mike Mussina in a marquee matchup that lived up to its billing, sending the Boston Red Sox over the New York Yankees, 4-2, Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at New York.

Shea Hillenbrand had two runs batted in, and Nomar Garciaparra drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly foul out to first baseman Nick Johnson--undercut by second baseman Alfonso Soriano near the tarp. Boston beat the Yankees for the eighth time in 12 meetings and cut its deficit in the AL East to two games.

Yankee catcher Jorge Posada made a key throwing error and struck out four times, stranding the potential tying run on third in the eighth.

The Red Sox have won four in a row after a four-game skid. New York lost for only the fifth time in 16 games.

Throwing as hard as he has all season, Martinez (12-2) struck out nine to increase his AL-leading total to 158. He gave up two runs and five hits over 7 1/3 innings. Martinez walked three, hit Robin Ventura with a pitch twice and was lifted after throwing 114 pitches.

Oakland 10, Texas 0--Cory Lidle picked a spectacular way to prove he still belongs in the Athletics’ rotation.

Lidle pitched a one-hitter, giving up only Juan Gonzalez’s leadoff double in the eighth inning in a victory at Oakland.

After winning only once in his previous 12 starts, Lidle (3-8) was nothing short of masterful. He got within six outs of the 11th no-hitter in franchise history.

Minnesota 5, Detroit 1--Corey Koskie and David Ortiz homered on the first two pitches of the fourth inning at Detroit to back Kyle Lohse’s solid pitching in the Twins’ victory.

Doug Mientkiewicz had a home run as the Twins handed the Tigers their fourth consecutive loss and took a 12-game lead over Chicago in the AL Central.

Lohse (9-5) gave up one run and six hits in six innings. Johan Santana pitched three innings for his first major league save.

Baltimore 10, Chicago 4--Rodrigo Lopez pitched seven strong innings to earn his 10th victory, and the Orioles used a six-run fourth to pull away at Baltimore.

Lopez (10-3) gave up three runs and six hits to become the first rookie to win 10 games for Baltimore since Rocky Coppinger in 1996. The right-hander had a career-high eight strikeouts and walked one.

Toronto 11, Tampa Bay 8--Tom Wilson hit a three-run homer at Toronto as the Blue Jays sent the Devil Rays to their team-record 12th consecutive road loss.

Wilson homered in the sixth inning off Doug Creek (2-1).

Tampa Bay, with the worst record in the majors at 29-65, has lost six in a row overall and 14 of 15. The Devil Rays have the major leagues’ longest road skid since Philadelphia lost 12 in a row in 1999.

Kansas City 8, Cleveland 5--The Royals won their eighth consecutive game, their best streak since 1994, as Raul Ibanez hit a three-run homer at Kansas City, Mo.

Scott Mullen (2-2) relieved in the sixth, and Roberto Hernandez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save. Heath Murray (0-1) was the loser.