Baerga Doesn’t Let Red Sox Blow Lead

Carlos Baerga finally heard the cheers instead of leading them.

Baerga, who dances and hugs teammates in the dugout, hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th inning, giving the Boston Red Sox a 9-8 victory Friday night after they pounded the New York Yankees’ Roger Clemens before squandering a six-run lead at Boston.

“I enjoy every minute, every at bat,” Baerga said. “It was awesome. Everybody said it can’t happen to a better person.”

He wasn’t boasting, just confirming what teammates have said about him since he signed as a free agent in December after spending two years out of the majors. He spent most of his career with Cleveland and the New York Mets.

Another veteran, Rickey Henderson, started the winning rally with a headfirst slide for an infield single and ended it with a feet-first slide as center fielder Bernie Williams’ throw after he caught Baerga’s liner hit the mound and went to the first-base side.

Yankee Manager Joe Torre thought Henderson left third early.

“I don’t believe an outfielder is throwing me out so I don’t have to leave early,” Henderson said.

Henderson had singled off Steve Karsay (1-2) and moved to second on Shea Hillenbrand’s fourth hit of the game, a single to left. They moved up on Trot Nixon’s sacrifice bunt before Jason Varitek was walked intentionally, loading the bases.

The Yankees came back from an 8-2 deficit to tie the game with five runs in the seventh and one in the eighth after Clemens lasted only 32/3 innings, giving up seven runs, five earned, and nine hits.

The Red Sox’s second consecutive victory over the Yankees and fifth in six games this season gave them a three-game lead over New York in the American League East.

Seattle 6, Baltimore 2--Mark McLemore and Ruben Sierra homered off Scott Erickson (3-5) in the fifth inning at Seattle and the Mariners maintained their mastery of Baltimore at home.

The Orioles dropped to 0-14 at Safeco Field and have lost 15 in a row in Seattle dating to a victory June 1, 1999, in the Kingdome.

Oakland 9, Tampa Bay 8--Adam Piatt hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as the Athletics won at Oakland.

Ramon Hernandez followed Piatt with a solo home run for the A’s, who have won only five of their last 20 games. With the score tied at 6-6, Olmedo Saenz doubled off Victor Zambrano (1-4) and Piatt homered.

Chicago 12, Detroit 1--Mark Buehrle pitched a five-hitter at Chicago to become the American League’s first eight-game winner and Frank Thomas hit one of four Chicago homers as the White Sox routed the Tigers.

Thomas, Magglio Ordonez and Paul Konerko hit three-run homers and Kenny Lofton had a solo shot as the White Sox won their third in a row.

Cleveland 5, Toronto 2--Rookie Ryan Drese won his third start in a row as the Indians won at Toronto to end a four-game losing skid.

Jim Thome went three for three with two walks for the Indians, who also ended a six-game road losing skid.

Drese (5-3) gave up one run and seven hits in 62/3 innings. He struck out five and walked four.

Texas at Kansas City, ppd.--The Rangers and Royals were rained out for the second consecutive game. Friday’s game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on July 15. Thursday’s rainout will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday.