Wells, Yankees Blank Devil Rays

David Wells would have done just fine with one run. The New York Yankees decided to give him a lot more.

After Alfonso Soriano hit a leadoff homer on the first pitch, Wells and the Yankees were on their way, overwhelming the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 13-0, Thursday night at New York.

With Wells (6-1) pitching a three-hitter, the Yankees posted their most lopsided shutout since beating Cleveland, 14-0, on April 18, 1992.

“In my mind, I’m thinking it’s 1-0,” Wells said. “I have to psyche myself out and just keeping pitching.”

Wells walked none and struck out six in his 11th shutout, first since 2000. He retired the first 10 hitters, winning a day shy of the four-year anniversary of his perfect game against Minnesota.

“I had everything working,” he said.

Jorge Posada, Nick Johnson and Bernie Williams kept up New York’s early home-run barrage. The Yankees lead the majors with 62 homers, including 14 in four games.

A night after Tampa Bay got six runs in the top of the first, the Yankees scored six times in the bottom half. Tampa Bay hurt itself, tying a team record by making three errors in the inning.

It was 11-0 after four innings and by then, every New York starter had at least one hit.

Oakland 5, Boston 0--Barry Zito pitched five-hit ball for eight innings at Boston as the A’s won for only the third time in 13 games.

Jermaine Dye hit a two-run double for Oakland, which avoided being swept by Boston for the second week in a row.

Billy Koch finished the seven-hitter for Oakland’s second shutout of the year.

Boston was blanked for the first time since Yankee pitcher Mike Mussina came within one strike of a perfect game on Sept. 2 at Fenway Park.

Seattle 15, Toronto 2--Mike Cameron hit a grand slam, and Mark McLemore went five for five as the Mariners won another road game.

Cameron’s home run was his first since he tied a major league record by hitting four on May 2 against the Chicago White Sox.

McLemore’s five hits matched a franchise record and equaled his career high. He hit a three-run homer and also walked as the Mariners improved to a major-league best 16-3 on the road.

Chicago 4, Texas 0--Dan Wright pitched a five-hitter at Chicago for his first career shutout.

Wright (4-4), who gave up eight runs in 22/3 innings in his last start against the Angels, was sharp against the Rangers. He struck out four and walked one in his 21st start. Wright struck out Alex Rodriguez to end Chicago’s second shutout of the season. The Rangers have been blanked twice.

Minnesota 14, Kansas City 5--Torii Hunter homered twice at Kansas City, Mo., and the Twins hit five home runs against the Royals for the second time this season.

Jacque Jones, Cristian Guzman and Tom Prince also homered for the Twins, who added five doubles to set season highs in runs and hits (18).

Five of the Twins’ nine road wins have come at Kauffman Stadium, where Jones has hit five of his eight home runs. The Twins have hit 16 homers in 11 games against the Royals.

Baltimore at Cleveland--The game, the final scheduled meeting between the teams this season, was rained out. No makeup date was announced.