Weaver Gives It His Best and Wins

Jeff Weaver called it his best start as a New York Yankee.

Weaver gave up only four hits over a season-high eight innings and Jason Giambi homered in his third consecutive game, and the Yankees beat the Blue Jays, 6-2, Sunday at Toronto.

“I’d like to think it was,” Weaver said. “I’m surprised I had as many strikeouts as I did. Toronto has a pretty good hitting club.”

Weaver (5-7) gave up one run, struck out a season-high seven and walked none for only his second victory in his last nine starts.

Manager Joe Torre said it was Weaver’s best start, especially considering the opposition.

Torre said Weaver has had three quality starts in a row and that the right-hander has sought out his advice more often in the last two weeks than he ever has since being acquired from Detroit last July.

“You can only run your head into the wall so many times before you try something different,” said Weaver, who hasn’t lived up to expectations since joining the Yankees.

“I love being here. I love the guys I’m playing with, and I want to be successful for them. If somebody else has the right formula for me to be successful, I’m all ears.

“I want to do whatever it takes to make the adjustment to win here. Hopefully, I’m leaning toward that way.”

Before the game, Torre said he didn’t know if it was a make-or-break start for Weaver, who could have been moved to the bullpen had he struggled again. That doesn’t seem like an option now.

“He’s pitching the way we thought he could pitch,” Torre said.

Catcher Jorge Posada said Weaver’s fastball and location were outstanding.

“He was a lot of fun to catch,” Posada said. “He was on. It’s probably the best I’ve ever seen him throw.”

Giambi had four runs batted in and eight in the three-game series in which the Yankees won two games. The Yankees moved two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East Division.

It’s the seventh consecutive year the Yankees have led the East Division at the All-Star break.

“If we left spring training and you told me we were going to be 21 games over .500 I’d be very satisfied, not knowing all the pot holes we had to work our way through,” Torre said. “In spite of the disabled list and all the things that went on, I’m very satisfied with 21 over .500.”

The struggling Blue Jays were 1-5 in six consecutive games against the Red Sox and the Yankees. They are nine games behind New York and seven behind Boston.

Carlos Delgado drove in two runs for the Blue Jays. He leads the majors with 97 RBIs, the third most before the All-Star break. Hank Greenberg had 103 in 1935 and Juan Gonzalez had 101 in 1998.

Detroit 3, Boston 0 -- Wilfredo Ledezma pitched seven impressive innings and Dmitri Young homered, and the Tigers ended the Red Sox’s five-game winning streak

Making his second career start, Ledezma shut down Boston’s high-powered offense and outpitched Tim Wakefield to help the Tigers improve to 12-35 at home this season.

“I just tried to make good pitches, stay positive and throw a lot of strikes,” said Ledezma, who had not pitched above Class A before this season.

Acquired from the Red Sox in the winter meeting draft in December, Ledezma (3-2) gave up six hits, struck out two and walked none.

He has pitched 12 scoreless innings since joining the starting rotation July 8.

Seattle 13, Tampa Bay 2 -- Rookie Willie Bloomquist had his biggest day in the majors, hitting a grand slam for his first career homer and driving in six runs at Seattle.

Joel Pineiro (11-5) won his sixth consecutive start. He gave up two runs and seven hits, walked one and struck out six in seven innings, improving to 7-1 in his last nine starts.

Ichiro Suzuki had three hits in five at-bats for the Mariners. He is headed for the All-Star game with a major league-leading 46 multihit games.

The Mariners won two of three in their first series against former manager Lou Piniella.

Oakland 1, Baltimore 0 -- Mark Ellis scored on a grounder back to the pitcher with one out in the ninth inning, giving the Athletics a three-game sweep at Oakland.

After Terrence Long flew out, Ellis hit a fly against Hector Carrasco (0-2) that appeared to bounce in and out of Melvin Mora’s glove as he ran into the left-field fence, resulting in a triple. Billy McMillon was walked intentionally to set up a potential double play.

With runners on first and third and a drawn-in infield, Ramon Hernandez hit a grounder to Carrasco, who turned and threw to second without looking at Ellis, who ran home to score.

Barry Zito of the Athletics gave up four hits in eight innings with two walks and two strikeouts.

Jason Johnson gave up five hits in 7 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out seven.

Chicago 7, Cleveland 4 -- Tony Graffanino hit a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning to give the White Sox only their second victory in seven games.

Magglio Ordonez also hit a three-run homer for the White Sox.