Red Sox Can’t Get Past Mendoza Line

The New York Yankees really wanted a victory, and needed Ramiro Mendoza to get it.

Mendoza retired 10 of 11 batters in relief of a struggling David Wells, and the Yankees ended a three-game losing streak by beating the Boston Red Sox, 3-2, Saturday at Fenway Park.

Mendoza (2-2) came in with the bases loaded and two out in the fourth after Manager Joe Torre conferred with pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre.

“I said to Mel in the fourth inning, ‘Where do we go here?’” Torre said. “He said, ‘Use Mendoza as far as he can go.’”

Mendoza made it into the eighth, gave up a leadoff single to Nomar Garciaparra and was replaced by Mike Stanton, who got the next two out. Mariano Rivera retired the next four batters for his 15th save in 17 chances.

“Good teams have to handle bad times. There’s no question this was a huge game,” Torre said.

Derek Lowe, who won his previous six decisions, came in leading the AL with a 1.90 earned-run average and holding opponents to a .158 batting average, but fell behind, 3-0, after two innings.

Oakland 6, Tampa Bay 0--Aaron Harang struck out 10 in his major league debut, pitching three-hit ball for seven innings at Oakland.

Jermaine Dye hit a two-run homer into the second deck in left field, and Miguel Tejada hit a two-run homer to help the Athletics win their third in four games after dropping 14 of 17.

Cleveland 3, Toronto 0--C.C. Sabathia gave up three hits in seven innings, and Travis Fryman hit a three-run homer in the eighth at Toronto.

Sabathia (4-4), making his second start since being robbed at gunpoint of $44,102 in cash and jewelry May 17 at a Cleveland hotel, struck out six and walked three to send the Blue Jays to their 11th loss in the last 16 home games.

Kansas City 6, Texas 3--Carlos Beltran and A.J. Hinch homered at Kansas City, Mo., and Roberto Hernandez became the 15th player in major league history with 300 saves.

Jeff Suppan (5-4) gave up three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings for his fourth victory in five decisions.

Chicago 6, Detroit 4--Ray Durham hit his 100th career homer and White Sox relievers combined for 4 2/3 hitless innings at Chicago.

Kenny Lofton hit a two-run double and Durham hit a two-run homer in a five-run second inning against Seth Greisinger (2-2).

Baltimore 3, Seattle 2--Travis Driskill won his first major league start, and Jeff Conine hit a two-run homer to give the Orioles their first victory at Safeco Field.

The Orioles ended a streak of 15 consecutive losses at Seattle, including 14 at Safeco Field. Baltimore’s last road victory against the Mariners came June 1, 1999, at the Kingdome.

The 30-year-old Driskill (2-0) gave up one run and four hits in six-plus innings, walked one and struck out four. He spent nine years in the minors before being called up from triple-A Rochester on April 25 and making five relief appearances.

On Friday, the Mariners transferred designated hitter Edgar Martinez to the 60-day disabled list because of a slow-healing hamstring injury.

Martinez, 39, had surgery April 13 to remove a ruptured tendon behind his left knee and re-injured the hamstring two weeks ago while taking batting practice.